Deviation Carnival Session - Sun 29 August

Your Sunday night Carnival after-party is sorted, my friends.

Check out this tasty little number from Deviation, taking place on City Road in east London.

DJ Zinc playing a back-to-'95 jungle set? Rinse FM founder Geeneus comin atcha with the funky, alongside dubstep's lady of the moment, Katy B? Noodles of Groove Chronicles getting jiggy with the classic garage? Do I LOOK like I'd miss such a thing? Hell no.

Deviation Carnival Session
Sunday 29 August
@ Camp Basement
70-74 City Road, London EC1Y 2BJ
10pm-5am
£10 all night

Click here for the full info.

Notting Hill Carnival - Red Bull Stage

The Red Bull Stage is returning to Notting Hill Carnival for the third year running. Much like Rizla, Red Bull is a corporation that definitely knows its urban stuff, and here it's managed to pull another wicked lineup out the bag.

Diplo and Switch are headlining with their electro-dancehall pseudonym Major Lazer - definitely an act you should make a beeline for in any event. The recently-resurfaced Sticky (remember Ms Dynamite's 'Boo'?) is playing garage and funky, while dubstep meister Joker is playing, er, dubstep.

Also on the lineup is the legendary David Rodigan (catch him at Plan B in Brixton on the Saturday night) as well as Drop The Lime, who graced the decks at Fabric this weekend.

Sadly, unlike everywhere else at Carnival, the Red Bull stage is a ticket-only event. However, Gravity Skank has learned that the guestlist opens tomorrow, Monday 16 August. Visit www.redbull.co.uk/carnival for your chance to join the party.

Notting Hill Carnival - a Gravity Skank guide

It's nearly time for Europe's biggest street festival, Notting Hill Carnival, which runs every year over the August Bank Holiday (Sunday to Monday).

I have a love-hate relationship with Carnival. On the one hand it's an awesome party showcasing the best of the capital's unrivalled music scene. Nothing beats dancing in the street to jungle, right? Plus there's the added bonus of all that gorgeous Caribbean food, (hopefully) some glorious summer sunshine, the dazzling carnival outfits and the prospect of running into old friends along the route and sharing the good vibes.

I used to live along the route and that year was the best for me - mainly because it meant I didn't have to pay to use a skanky loo in someone's house. And I can cope with some of the down-sides to carnival, too. Following the processions, there's always a point where the heaving crowds get a bit too much (I use the Underground so am well used to being crushed into a stranger's armpit). And some sound systems - such as Norman Jay's Good Times - get so full early on, you simply won't get in.

But the biggest problem with Carnival is all the eeedyat rudeboys who cause trouble. It can become an annual showdown of yoot rajjiness sometimes. Last year I witnessed so much violence I swore I wouldn't go again. However, in fairness, lots of people had a great time last year and didn't have the same experience as me, so perhaps I was just in the wrong places at the wrong times.

A few tips from Gravity Skank for this year's event:
1. Know the route. And more importantly, get to know the back routes.
2. Take your own booze!
3. If you want to avoid hassle, go on the Sunday (kids day) or catch the last of the processions on the Monday night - sound systems end around 7pm but processions can go on after this.
4. On the other hand if you want to catch one of the big sound systems, get there early. 
5. Know your after parties... you WILL want to keep dancing.
6. Try and get on the Red Bull guestlist (see my next post for details).
7. Don't forget your rave horn...