Every year thousands of hopeful carnival goers apply for the golden ticket… entry to the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System under the Westway. The party which provides amazing music acts, all the rum and punch you can drink as well as much needed shelter (this was a huge deal this year!) proved the highlight of carnival yet again.
The spirit of Carnival charged full throttle through the crowd under the Westway, defying the rain-soaked pavements and somber skies to bring the heat for the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System.
Under cover the party raged all day, kicking off proceedings with RBMA alumnus Kalbata, who’s set with Mixmonster channeled the dub influences of their recent album Congo Beat The Drum with help from MC Clapper Priest. Bristol bass-hounds Jus Now’s set was buoyed by a surprise appearance from dancehall MC Serocee, firing up the crowd with the help of some fancy-footworking dancers, followed by Brazilian trap-kings Tropkillaz.
Mixpak Sound System welcomed surprise guests and grime wunderkinds JME & Skepta and their Boy Better Know cohorts, before Jamaican reggae selectors Protoje & Yaadcore blessed the RBMA crowd with their first ever UK appearance.
Building to an explosive crescendo with original compadres of UK house Basement Jaxx, celebrating the drop of their new album Junto, the duo and their five live vocalists whipped the already frenetic crowd into euphoria, ready for a rapturous closing set from dancehall provocateurs The Heatwave, who’s mix of reggae, roots and bass-trembling soca rhythms rounded the day off with an unforgettable bang.
