This weekend should be one of the biggest of the summer in Bristol, with thousands of people descending on St Pauls to rave away the day at the annual Afrikan Caribbean carnival that normally takes place on the first Saturday of July.
Alas, this year, there is no carnival, and all of us who love ear-splittingly loud music, overpriced jerk chicken and warm Red Stripe are, quite rightly, pretty gutted.
But as we all know, Bristol loves to party - so here are some of the best raving options for those of you looking to fill that carnival-shaped hole in your lives this weekend...
FRIDAY:
Ruffnek Ting, The Attic, Friday 9pm-2am, Free before 9.30pm £3 after
Bristol's legendary jungle and D&B outfit Ruffnek Ting stops by Attic on Friday night for a bass-heavy session featuring some of the recently reborn imprint's in-house talent and the one and only Kenny Ken. And while Kenny Ken, sadly, won't be playing back to back with Kenny Ken, he will be supported by two-way sets from Dazee & Jinx and Vytol & Habitat, with Carasel on mic duties alongside Megatron.
Keysound Sessions: Bristol, Take5 Cafe, Friday 10pm-late, £5/£8
If you like your bass music straight from the cutting edge, then this 100-capacity bash in Stokes Croft's tiny Take5 Cafe is you this Friday night. Joining label bosses Dusk & Blackdown will be a bunch of the finest 140bpm experimentalists around, with Murlo, LHF, FACTA and Parris bringing the bassweight, all hosted by local don Koast MC. If you plan on reaching we suggest you grab a ticket in advance - this is a guaranteed roadblock.
Idle Hands, Cosies, Friday 10pm-late, £3/£4
Stokes Croft's (actually, Bristol's) finest record shop return to Cosies in Portland Square on Friday for the latest round of their bi-monthly parties, with main man Chris Farrell playing all night long alongside Falling Up's Andy Mac. Expect impeccably selected disco, boogie, dub, techno, house and whatever else they feel like playing.
Thekla Presents, Thekla, Friday 10pm-late, Free (with registration)
Thekla's in-house summer party brings a quality selection of bass-heavy talent to town on Friday evening, with entry free for those organised enough to get onto their website and register in advance. Digital Soundboy staple Dismantle tops the bill, joined by Capital Xtra's Coco Cole, the rapidly rising Distro and local lads Sly On. Desert Island Disco take care of the top deck.
SATURDAY:
Who Cares Day Party, Lakota car park, Saturday 11am-10pm, Free (donations requested)
After hosting stages at Glastonbury and Love Saves The Day in recent weeks, the Who Cares team return with a very special all-day outdoor rave in Lakota car park, with all profits going to local charities. Promising a bunch of A-list bass-music talent plucked from the impossibly strong Who Cares resident roster (including Jus Now, pictured), plus some very special guests, all playing outdoors in St Pauls, this is as close to carnival as you'll get this weekend.
2Gether As One, Blue Mountain + various venues, Saturday 12pm onwards, £8
Another daytime bash stepping in to fill the void, 2Gether As one kicks off at midday on the roof terrace of Blue Mountain, promising music, BBQ food, entry to a bunch of different venues later that night, all for just £8.
Cubana Summer Party, Lakota & Coroner's Courts, Saturday 9pm-late , £9-£15
Cubana returns on Saturday night with a massive party at Lakota and the adjacent Coroner's Courts, featuring over 40 artists playing across six rooms. Lakota's main room sees live shows from Donaeo, Jus Now and Foreign Beggars, while DJs Plastician, Hatcha, Swindle and Royal-T keep things busy over in the Coroner's. Local support comes from the likes of OH91, Distro, Spiney, K-Stylez and more.
Se7en Saints, The Love Inn, Saturday 10pm-4am, £3
Head to The Love Inn on Stokes Croft on Saturday night for a fund-raising party for the Se7en Saints initiative, which plans to erect murals in St Pauls featuring and celebrating seven iconic figures who've risen from the area to make their mark on the world. Some of Bristol's most legendary DJ talent will be playing on the night, including DJ Krust & Flynn back to back and Smith & Mighty.
Ruffnek Diskotek Carnival Jam, Cosies, Saturday 10pm-late, £3
There might be no carnival this year, but the guys at Ruffnek Diskotek don't care - they bring it to Cosies every month all year round, and this Saturday is no different. Resident badmen Dubboy and Atki2 are joined by Afro Caribbean Party's DJ Wally for another night of bashment, soca and carnival music - entry is just £3.
Ghettospheric's Total Summer Badderation, The White Bear, Saturday 5pm-late, Free
Ghettospheric return to Bristol with a bunch of their favourite local DJs for a summer special at The White Bear on Saturday. The always on-point Kelly Twins are joined by Tom D, Andy Clarkson, Ed Eldridge and Ghettospheric themselves, with BBQ food and, of course, plenty of booze, on offer from 5pm.