Today and tomorrow a million plus people will converge on Notting Hill for the second largest street party in the world after Rio.
The first Notting Hill Carnival took place in 1959 and was organised by journalist and activist Claudia Jones.
In the 1950s race relations were poor in the UK and for the newly arrived Caribbean diaspora the situation was harsh and depressing. Ms Jones' carnival sought to brighten the spirits and hopes of those early immigrants.
Years on, the Notting Hill Carnival still retains the Caribbean flavour but it has now become a proud celebration of London's multi-culturalism!
Shy FX's track Raver featuring Kano, Donaeo & Roses Gabor came out about two years ago but it remains in our opinion a great musical illustration of the Notting Hill Carnival spirit.
The track mixes the old sounds of the Caribbean with the new sounds of London. And the video was shot around Notting Hill and features cameos by movers, shakers and shapers of our rich British music scene:
