The BAS London Notting Hill J’ouvert 2018

Emancipate and Play Yourself!!

Fourteen years ago the London Jouvert celebrations was revived and Ladbroke Grove was invaded by revellers adorning themselves in oil, mud, powder or brightly coloured paint depicting the celebration of emancipation. The pre-dawn tranquillity broken by the sweet strains of steel band music in West London and masses of people chipping down the Grove in true Trinidadian style.  

Ebony, London All Stars and Endurance had the revellers chipping down the Grove in true Trini style to the sweet strains of steelband music coupled with the copious amounts of alcohol they consumed. That combination certainly had them enjoying themselves fully. The rhythm section certainly added to the ambience. London All Stars won the 2018 Bomb Tune Competition with their rendition of, ‘Love is in the Air.’ 

This all steelband event, provides lively steel band music, which is well received by the public and is constantly growing in popularity. The British Association of Steelbands continue to work laboriously to ensure its growth is sustained through the inclusion of more steelbands and masqueraders and maintain its status of being an important ingredient of the cultural fabric of Notting Hill Carnival.

As usual, the celebration started from Sainsbury’s car park at the top end of Ladbroke Grove on time at 6:00 a.m. The rhythm section entertained the gathering crowds with pulsating beats until the trucks carrying the steelbands rolled off down Ladbroke Grove. The steelbands snaked along Ladbroke Grove as the revellers swelled to great numbers filling the air with a mist of powder whilst covering each other with brightly coloured paint. The London Jouvert celebrations saw conventional steelbands and the traditional rhythm sections playing along Ladbroke Grove and turning around at the bottom of the Grove and returning to Sainsbury’s car park.  

When the celebration ended at 9:00 a.m. the revellers were begging for more. Everyone is looking forward to more successful Jouvert celebrations in the future and BAS continues to work laboriously to ensure its growth is sustained through closer working relationships with the various Carnival partners/entities.

2019 should see an increase in steel bands on the road for Jouvert as this event continues to grow in stature.