The promised land

August Bank Holiday is a busy weekend in clubland, with promoters across the country keen to take advantage of an extra day out of the office and almost guaranteed rainfall. 

But while bank holiday festivals seem to sprout like mushrooms on a damp and forgotten kitbag, the undisputed daddy remains the Notting Hill Carnival, that million-strong festival of all that’s good in the world. Bar the occasional street violence, of course, but you can’t have the good without the bad. 

Of course the festival procession itself is all done by 7pm, and no self-respecting galivanter goes home at 7pm on bank holiday Sunday. What are you going to do? Watch Antiques Roadshow? You really care that much about old clocks some biddy found in her garage?

No, you care about dancing with your pals. Which is why, if you possess any sense, the Sunday’ll see you nipping down to The Paradise for a jolly good knees up in the company of the Ninja Tune stable. Old-school party maestros Coldcut lead proceedings and have invited a bunch of their mates along. Of course, these mates just happen to be world-class DJs Adrian Sherwood, Ross Allen, Sticky and bassy house supremos The 2 Bears rather than ‘Gary who doesn’t know when the afterparty’s over’, so it’ll probably quite a fun time.

Of course Monday’s normally a day for nursing sore heads and avoiding emails, but wouldn’t you rather be bouncing around to the strongest bass-infused talent the UK can muster? No? Then go home, you pansy.

Hardier souls will be throwing their gun fingers in the air at Deviation’s takeover, where Benji B, DJ Zinc, Martelo and Oneman will be providing the rewinds, pullups and general badmanning as only they know how. Those emails will just have to wait until Tuesday. 

WHEN? Sunday 26th & Monday 27th August

WHERE? The Paradise, Kensal Green

LINE-UP? Coldcut, The 2 Bears, Sticky, Benji B, Martelo, Oneman + more

TAX? £10-£15

TIMES? 12pm-3am (Sunday) 12pm-2am (Monday)

Words: Tom Banham