Best Notting Hill Carnival soundsystems 2022

One of the country’s most respected selectors pumps out dub and roots. Aba Shanti-I is most loved for his annual long-renowned sound systems at Notting Hill Carnival where he has been a resident since 1993.

Find them where East Row meets Southern Row.

This family-friendly spot puts on a blend of soulful house, gospel, afrobeats and classic soul for those wanting to escape the busier and bassier stages Carnival has on offer.

Find them where Bonchurch Road meets Portobello Road.

Strictly reggae roots (and some flag waving). The award-winning Mikey Dread, Jah T and Ras Kayleb have been bringing reggae to this spot since 1979. 

Find them where Leamington Road Villas meets Westbourne Park Road.

The Different Strokes crew promise a riotous mixture of hip hop, jungle and drum ’n’ bass. Originally formed by Daddy Noddy, it's now led by his eldest son, RiperDon.

Find them where St Luke's Road meets St Luke's Mews.

As the name suggests, disco (and a healthy dollop of house) are on the menu here. London party starters DJ Giovanni and Mister Hustler first took their spot on Powis Square in 2009.

Find them on Powis Square, between Colville Terrace and Talbot Road.

Carnival veterans Michael ‘Tempz’, William ‘EQ Profile’ and Linett ‘Thunderbird’ together form the core of the legendary Disya Jeneration sound system, running since 1985. Since Linett was one of the first female DJs to play at Carnival, the crew have been at the forefront of Carnival’s culture each year.

Find them on the corner of Westbourne Park Road and Powis Terrace.

Expect underground UK talent and fresh sounds alongside old-school anthems. These guys have been at Notting Hill since 1994 playing a party mix of jazz-funk, jungle, funky house, reggae, dancehall and rare groove.

Find them on the corner of West Row and Kensal Road.

Time to boogie with TFB and their sterling selection of R&B, hip hop and old-school soul on a 50,000kw system. They may be based on the edge of Carnival, but this team’s mix of R&B and garage always manages to set things off regardless.

Find them on the corner of Sutherland Place and Talbot Road.

Run by Gaz Mayall, the DJ behind London’s longest-running one-nighter, Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues, this stage serves up a thick slice of ska, rock ’n’ roll and rocksteady.

Find them on Talbot Road (between Powis Mews and Ledbury Road).

Peaceful reggae, soca and Latin vibes from this crew, led by DJ Megus. The soundsystem formed in 1987 and GI is short for good intentions.

Find them on the corner of Adella Street and Kensal Road.

A don of London’s reggae scene, Gladwin Wright boasts one of the world’s best reggae collections. His soundsystem has been going for over 40 years and was spun off from Wax Unlimited Record Store, the shop that Gladdy ran for 14 years in Stoke Newington. 

Find them on Portobello Road, between Golborne Road and Oxford Gardens.

UKG, party songs, dancehall and soca from the eight-man-deep crew.

Find them on the corner of Middle Row and Conlan Street.

After some bass in your face? Then head to this classic reggae system.

Find them on the corner of Oxford Gardens and St Lawrence Terrace.

A destination for funky US house fans since 1991, run by Keith KCC and his brother DJ Mel.

Find them on the corner of Munrow Mews and Wornington Road.

A haven for ragga and reggae fans. So Solid Crew’s MCs Romeo and Megaman first appeared here as teenagers.

Find them on St Luke’s Road, between Tavistock Road and McGregor Road.

The legacy of one of Jamaican music’s most respected sound scientists continues. Head here for reggae and bashment from the Tubby crew new and old.

Find them on Clydesdale Road.

Head here to bust out those sexy Latin dance moves you've been practicing. DJ Sylvester, who founded the system, cut his teeth putting on nights with Gilles Peterson in the late ’80s.

Find them on the corner of Portobello Road and Chesterton road.

The sounds of Jamaica, Grenada, New York and London in a W10 postcode.

Find them on Thorpe Close.

As the name suggests, this is a sweet spot for fans of lovers rock, soul and soca.

Find them on the corner of Hazelwood Crescent and Golborne Road.

Soulful house, funk and R&B jams by this crew.

Find them on the corner of Lonsdale Road and Ledbury Road.

Located at the top of Ladbroke Grove (by the big Sainsbury's) since 1989, Mastermind Roadshow have played at Carnival for more than 30 years. Expect R&B, hip-hop, soul and reggae, with a number of live PAs taking to the stage on both days.

Find them on Canal Close

A simply gawp-inducing reggae system that pumps out some of the thickest, vinyl-based bass in the area. Operated by entrepreneur and original soundsystem scientist DJ Sterling.

Find them where Westbourne Park Road meets Ledbury Road.

Get ready for some dancehall jugglin' as the MCs and DJs of Nasty Love bring some beat-matching madness to the stage. As well as reggae and revival, there will be plenty of bashment to get the party started.

Find them on Colville Houses.

Following the passing of the legendary Daddy Vego, his son Dexter takes over this destination for all things Jamaican and reggae-related.

Find them on the corner of All Saints Road and St Luke’s Mews.

Looking for a break from the reggae and R&B? Pineapple Tribe have been bringing their blend of hard house, breakbeat and techno to proceedings for more than a decade, and is sure to get any crowd moving.

Find them on the corner of West Row and Southern Row.

One of Carnival’s biggest systems returns, pumping out hip hop, R&B, dancehall and jungle.

Find them on the corner of Colville Terrace and Colville Square.

The Rapattack Roadshow was established in 1984 and has its origins firmly rooted within the NottingDale/Grenfell community. This year Rapattack is returning to its roots with a classic blend of mainly ’70s, ’80s and ’90s vinyl while spreading a message of peace, love and harmony. Prepare to be thoroughly entertained with soul, jazz, funk, House, hip-hop and dance classics.

Find them on the corner of All Saint's Road and McGregor Road.

Specialising in reggae, lovers rock and R&B, the distinctive RBS green speaker stacks have been at Hazelwood Crescent since ’89.

Find them on the corner of Adair Road and Hazelwood Crescent.

This iconic system was founded in the ’70s in Lewisham and is considered one of the pioneering collectives with a history of raising great toasters and performers. Names like Maxi Priest, Tippa Irie and Smiley Culture all cut their teeth here. 

Find them where Chesterton Road meets St Lawrence Terrace.

Julie Henry and Marilyn Dennis are back again this year with their female-fronted system and its selection of awesome soul, ragga and R&B.

Find them on the corner of Telford Road and Ladbroke Grove.

The Sir Lloyd soundsystem has been established on this spot since ’79. Shy FX has dropped by in recent years to take over the turntables, but you can expect two days of R&B and reggae regardless of who shows up. 

Find them on the corner of Leamington Road Villas and Tavistock Road.

Hip hop and ragga beats from this veteran soundsystem founded by a DJ named Sir Walter Riley (The Dude) in the ’70s.

Find them on Golborne Road (opposite Trellick Tower).

Sweet and melodic JA and UK sounds from this young crew who’ve taken on Jah Observer’s famed spot.

Find them on Ledbury Road, between Talbot Road and Colville Terrace.

This huge street-corner rig has a genre-spanning music policy ranging from soca to dubstep. Built under Noel Gardner's trusty vision, his son and friends made their first appearance at Notting Hill Carnival in 2009. 

Find them on the Southern Row corner of Bosworth Road.

Fast, colourful and full of energy, this family-friendly system busts out reggae and soca.

Find them on the corner of Portobello Road and Raddington Road.

This Notting Hill Carnival institution is closely tied to its Trinidadian roots. Main man Courtney has taken over from his late father Lincoln.

Find them on the corner of Faraday Road and Athlone Place.