The Bands

 

Costume Bands Costume or 'mas'  bands as they are known are the backbone of Carnival. Mas is short for Masquerade, it has it's roots in the days of slavery in Trinidad. Throughout the year, the black slaves were forbidden to play musical instruments or wear costumes, except for six weeks before Easter, at the time of the European Carnival. The black slaves quickly developed the art of elaborate and fantastic costume making, satirising their situation as Africans enslaved in the Caribbean. Every year, it has been estimated, one million hours go into the creation of ever more elaborate and colourful costumes. And as every new and fabulous creation is unveiled one wonders how they do it in the time. The competition for best Mas on the Road is fiercely contested. The winners will be decided at the judging point on Westbourne Grove on Bank Holiday Monday.But as always, the real winners are the crowds that enjoy this marvellous spectacle, a labour of love for over fifty Mas Bands, parading the streets of Notting Hill  (entry and exit points for carnival bands)
Steelband Britain first fell in love with the infectious sounds of Steelband when the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra came to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1951. Strangely, the rapturous reception given to this compelling art-form acted as a catalyst for the development of Steelband back in it's birthplace. Steelband, as a twentieth century art-form grew side by side in popularity with Calypso. The Best Steelband on the Road will be decided at the judging point at Great Western Road.
Sound Systems Static Sound Systems have been part of The Notting Hill Carnival for the past 20 years. In the early days, the sounds of reggae and roots rhythms may have been appreciated by largely Jamaican youth, but they were frowned upon by the Trinidadian Carnival status quo. After a confusing period of musical street warfare, with Mas and Sound System waging a campaign of decibel attrition along the main Carnival route, common sense reigned and a glorious compromise was reached. Now Sound Systems occupy the central streets, whilst the sounds of Soca and Mas, Calypso and Steelband dance their way along the famous Carnival route. Sound Systems are now officially recognised as the fifth element in the Carnival experience and this year there are over fifty Sound Systems to choose from.
Float Over 100 floats will adorn the streets of Notting Hill over the two days of Carnival.  They carry an array of Carnival activities, including steel pan, Calypso and Soca Sound Systems and all feature vibrant colours and music. There will also be a number of unexpected vehicles on the three and half mile procession including a miniature Royal Navy aircraft carrier and a float dedicated entirely to bananas. All the bands circumnavigate the Carnival route once only and will travel in a clockwise direction finally returning to their original base.  On average this  takes the bands between 6 - 8 hours, so it is easy to get a good view of the bands if you attend Carnival in the afternoon.