5 Steps With Uncle Dugs: Carnival Special

Yes it’s that time of year again, London’s Notting Hill Carnival is almost upon us and we thought we get you all in party spirit with a special Notting Hill themed 5 steps feature with Carnival connoisseur Uncle Dugs ahead of his hotly anticipated performance for Boxfresh presents Rinse at the Rough But Sweet Soundsystem alongside the likes of Skream, Ms Dynamite, Katy B and Elijah & Skilliam to name but a few.

So with plans to grab a redstripe, a couple of patties and maybe some plantain we thought we’d let Dugs explain just why Carnival is such a special event. Check it out!

The rise of Jungle

My number 1 carnival memory of all time has to be in 1994 when Jungle music really burst through and literally blew up every single sound system. As a die hard Junglist it was such a proud moment walking round hearing all my favourite tunes banging out of every speaker box on every street corner. Up till this point Jungle was a real underground sound but for me this was the moment when it really sunk in that Jungle music had taken over the streets of the UK. Tunes like ‘Code Red’ by Conquering Lion aka Rebel MC and Burial by Leviticus aka Jumping Jack Frost had people jumping around like crazy in the streets of Notting Hill. Big up all original Junglists still here 20 years down the line!

Convincing my Dad to join the party

In 2012 I took my Dad to his first ever Notting Hill Carnival. I had tried unsuccessfully for years and years to try and get him to come but up until this point he would never budge – even though my Sister actually lives on the Carnival route (30 seconds from where the Rinse stage is this year funnily enough) and he would never even entertain the idea of coming. But to my surprise in 2012 he actually said to me that he fancied checking it out to see what it was like, so on the Sunday we drove down and gave him a taste of the carnival vibes and guess what? He absolutely loved it! Seeing him smiling and having fun amongst all the carnival craziness is a memory that with live with me forever.

The View & The Vibe

Every year from the 1st time I went carnival at some point I always find myself looking down Ladbroke Grove at 1000’s and 1000’s of mad for it party people smiling and having fun whilst bubbling to the sounds of carnival,, It really is a breathtaking site when you get yourself to a higher view point to take in the whole street from top to bottom. I swear you can almost taste the vibes in the air, smoke coming from the food stalls mixed up with the most colourful costumes and floats whilst all the revellers party on to whatever music is closest to them.. Its one of them things that is always guaranteed to bring a massive smile to my face and is always one of them perfect carnival photo opportunities

Making New Friends

The people I meet year in year out at carnival are not only a great memory but also one of the main reasons I go back year after year after year. Its funny because many of my friends won’t go to carnival because they assume there is gonna be trouble because of the way it’s sometimes portrayed in the press but my experiences of it are the exact opposite. This year is my 24th carnival without missing one since I started going. I go both days, every year and the people I have met and partied with through these times are some of the happiest loveliest people I’ve ever been around. Real carnival heads care about the carnival and hate anyone that causes trouble. I’m sure if you calculated it you would find more smiles per square meter at carnival when its on than you would find anywhere else in the UK that weekend! 

Not Wanting It To End  

My final favourite carnival memory is not ever wanting it to end! Every year the sounds get shut down at 7pm on the Monday and even though there is always somewhere to go afterwards I never want the actual day to end. I’m usually up round near Trellick towers / Golborne Rd at that time of the day so walking back through the middle of where all the madness has taken place down Portobello Road and Ladbroke Grove and seeing empty roads where only an hour or so before you couldn’t move is always a bit surreal; almost like a ghost town with systems packing down, food stalls wrapping up and worse for wear people looking for an after party. I must admit we do always find something to do afterwards but its like settling for second best after we have all had such a mental day partying on the streets of Notting Hill.

Signing Off 

To sign off I just have to re-enforce in case you hadn’t noticed, I flipping love carnival! Big up all the organisers, the workers, the stall holders, the people that live in Notting Hill who don’t complain, the float organisers / drivers and dancers as well as everyone else that has helped to make it my favourite weekend of the year every single year for almost a quarter of a decade now but mostly I have to big up all the party people that turn up every year and make it such a great occasion to be a part of.. See you on the streets guys,, dont forget your whistles and horns.. Peace,

Uncle Dugs xxx