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Fancy a detour from the kaleidoscopic parade at Carnival? Here’s Time Out’s A-Z of 2023’s soundsystems
It’s nearly time to congregate on the streets of Notting Hill and soak up the loudest tunes London has to offer on the sweet long bank holiday weekend. While you’ll find heaps of live music, vibrant costumes and dancing during the parade at NHC, Notting Hill Carnival is also famous for its 36 official static soundsystems, with their incredible DJs, that famously (and with enough bass to register on the Richter scale) soundtrack the two-day party.
On every corner of W10 this Bank Holiday weekend, you’ll find different soundsystems blending old-school reggae and dub with bashment, hip hop and more. From chest-rattling dub riddims to samba-sonic Latin music and Caribbean Carnival anthems, you’re bound to find something that gets your feet moving. To give yourself a headstart, we’ve mapped all 36 soundsystems so you can grab a prime spot for raving.
On Carnival Sunday and Monday, 36 static soundsystems will play from noon to 7pm at various locations across the parade map, which you can find here.
Check back nearer the date for the official locations of each soundsystem.
Here’s Time Out’s A-Z of Notting Hill Carnival soundsystems this year:
One of the country’s most respected selectors pumps out dub and roots. Aba Shanti-I is most loved for his annual long-renowned sound systems at Notting Hill Carnival where he has been a resident since 1993.
Find them where East Row meets Southern Row.
This family-friendly spot puts on a blend of soulful house, gospel, afrobeats and classic soul for those wanting to escape the busier and bassier stages Carnival has on offer.
Find them where Bonchurch Road meets Portobello Road.
Strictly reggae roots (and some flag waving). The award-winning Mikey Dread, Jah T and Ras Kayleb have been bringing reggae to this spot since 1979.
Find them where Leamington Road Villas meets Westbourne Park Road.
The Different Strokes crew promise a riotous mixture of hip hop, jungle and drum ’n’ bass. Originally formed by Daddy Noddy, it's now led by his eldest son, RiperDon.
Find them where St Luke's Road meets Lancaster Road.
Carnival veterans Michael ‘Tempz’, William ‘EQ Profile’ and Linett ‘Thunderbird’ together form the core of the legendary Disya Jeneration sound system, running since 1985. Since Linett was one of the first female DJs to play at Carnival, the crew have been at the forefront of Carnival’s culture each year.
Find them on the corner of Westbourne Park Road and Powis Terrace.
Expect underground UK talent and fresh sounds alongside old-school anthems. These guys have been at Notting Hill since 1994 playing a party mix of jazz-funk, jungle, funky house, reggae, dancehall and rare groove.
Find them on the corner of West Row and Kensal Road.
Run by Gaz Mayall, the DJ behind London’s longest-running one-nighter, Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues, this stage serves up a thick slice of ska, rock ’n’ roll and rocksteady.
Find them on Talbot Road (between Powis Mews and Powis Terrace).
A don of London’s reggae scene, Gladwin Wright boasts one of the world’s best reggae collections. His soundsystem has been going for over 40 years and was spun off from Wax Unlimited Record Store, the shop that Gladdy ran for 14 years in Stoke Newington.
Find them on Portobello Road, just off Chesterton Road.
UKG, party songs, dancehall and soca from the eight-man-deep crew.
Find them on the corner of Middle Row and Conlan Street.
After some bass in your face? Then head to this classic reggae system.
Find them on the corner of Oxford Gardens and St Lawrence Terrace.
A haven for ragga and reggae fans. So Solid Crew’s MCs Romeo and Megaman first appeared here as teenagers.
Find them on St Luke’s Road, between Tavistock Road and McGregor Road.
The legacy of one of Jamaican music’s most respected sound scientists continues. Head here for reggae and bashment from the Tubby crew new and old.
Find them on Clydesdale Road.
Head here to bust out those sexy Latin dance moves you've been practicing. DJ Sylvester, who founded the system, cut his teeth putting on nights with Gilles Peterson in the late ’80s.
Find them on the corner of Portobello Road and Chesterton road.
The sounds of Jamaica, Grenada, New York and London in a W10 postcode.
Find them on the corner of Cambridge Gardens and Thorpe Close.
Soulful house, funk and R&B jams by this crew.
Find them on the corner of Lonsdale Road and Ledbury Road.
Located at the top of Ladbroke Grove (by the big Sainsbury's) since 1989, Mastermind Roadshow have played at Carnival for more than 30 years. Expect R&B, hip-hop, soul and reggae, with a number of live PAs taking to the stage on both days.
Find them on Canal Close
A simply gawp-inducing reggae system that pumps out some of the thickest, vinyl-based bass in the area. Operated by entrepreneur and original soundsystem scientist DJ Sterling.
Find them where Ledbury Road meets Dartmouth Close
Following the passing of the legendary Daddy Vego, his son Dexter takes over this destination for all things Jamaican and reggae-related.
Find them just past the roundabout on All Saints Road and Lancaster Road
Looking for a break from the reggae and R&B? Pineapple Tribe have been bringing their blend of hard house, breakbeat and techno to proceedings for more than a decade, and is sure to get any crowd moving.
Find them on the corner of West Row and Southern Row.
One of Carnival’s biggest systems returns, pumping out hip hop, R&B, dancehall and jungle.
Find them on the corner of Colville Terrace and Colville Square.
The Rapattack Roadshow was established in 1984 and has its origins firmly rooted within the NottingDale/Grenfell community. This year Rapattack is returning to its roots with a classic blend of mainly ’70s, ’80s and ’90s vinyl while spreading a message of peace, love and harmony. Prepare to be thoroughly entertained with soul, jazz, funk, House, hip-hop and dance classics.
Find them on the corner of All Saint's Road and McGregor Road.
Specialising in reggae, lovers rock and R&B, the distinctive RBS green speaker stacks have been at Hazelwood Crescent since ’89.
Find them on Hazelwood Crescent where it meets Bosworth Road
This iconic system was founded in the ’70s in Lewisham and is considered one of the pioneering collectives with a history of raising great toasters and performers. Names like Maxi Priest, Tippa Irie and Smiley Culture all cut their teeth here.
Find them where Chesterton Road meets St Lawrence Terrace.
Julie Henry and Marilyn Dennis are back again this year with their female-fronted system and its selection of awesome soul, ragga and R&B.
Find them on the corner of Telford Road and Ladbroke Grove.
The Sir Lloyd soundsystem has been established on this spot since ’79. Shy FX has dropped by in recent years to take over the turntables, but you can expect two days of R&B and reggae regardless of who shows up.
Find them on the corner of Leamington Road Villas and Tavistock Road.
Hip hop and ragga beats from this veteran soundsystem founded by a DJ named Sir Walter Riley (The Dude) in the ’70s.
Find them on Golborne Road (opposite Trellick Tower).
Sweet and melodic JA and UK sounds from this young crew who’ve taken on Jah Observer’s famed spot.
Find them on Ledbury Road on the corner of Talbot Road
Fast, colourful and full of energy, this family-friendly system busts out reggae and soca.
Find them on the corner of Portobello Road and Oxford Garden.
This Notting Hill Carnival institution is closely tied to its Trinidadian roots. Main man Courtney has taken over from his late father Lincoln.
Find them on the corner of Faraday Road and Athlone Place.
The sights, sounds and smells of Notting Hill Carnival can be overwhelming. Navigate your way through this year's Carnival with our map of the main parade, bars, toilets and tube stops.
Who cares that summer’s nearly over when there’s still the Notting Hill Carnival to look forward to? Carnival traditionally takes place on the bank holiday weekend at the end of August, and its vibrant outfits, banging music and strong Caribbean liquor make for a perfect party combination. For the full Carnival experience, check the warm-up events and afterparties that we’ve mapped out below, and if you're heading to the main procession, remember to consult our parade route map beforehand. RECOMMENDED: Read the full Notting Hill Carnival guide
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