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YES! St Paul's is back! And she’s bolder and more beautiful than ever!

Notting Hill’s smaller – better – sibling hit the streets at the start of July in a furor of colour, rhythm, culture and chicken.

Less than a week after Glastonbury, weary faces suddenly discovered the real world isn’t as bad as it seems and braved the sunshine to come out and join the party. Those that didn’t get tickets, either kicked back in the heat, absorbed themselves in rhythmic sound, or made damn sure they made up for missing out on Glastonbury.

The procession, as it left Portland Square and passed through Bristol’s finest back streets, kept the young and old thoroughly entertained with drums, costumes and various antics. As it danced, the trained ear headed toward the plethora of music; every stage fixated on bass.

The main stage saw a headline act by Johnny Clarke, as the smaller tents did whatever they felt best. In the glorious sunshine it simply didn't matter, everyone was there to have fun. In the later hours, the surrounding stages became a hive of almost-secret gigs. Rumours, messages and phone-calls would spread throughout the crowd, and, as one stage kicked off, it was worth racing off down a side alley to watch another highlight.

Joker, Appleblim, Toddla-T, Redlight alongside many other talented artists stepped up to the plate across various stages. On more than one occasion that unique feeling of ‘right time, right place’ swept through the masses.

Alongside the music, stalls clamoured to serve infamous dishes: mutton, goat and chicken, curried, stewed and jerked, chopped, hacked and smashed. Blissfully ignoring a few interesting health and hygiene practices, all customers buried heads deep into their food and came up thoroughly satisfied.

The variety of faces that bustled around St Paul's during the weekend are a true testament to the changing perception of the area. Minimal police presence and a warm, calm, friendly atmosphere within a proud community setting; this is now a family event, as well as a teenage/twenty-something playground. A rare balancing act…

In total, some 70,000 people were recorded to bounce through the streets to what has been acclaimed as ‘the best St Paul’s Carnival ever’. It’s hard to disagree, where else can you have this much fun for free?

St Paul's is, without doubt, the highlight in Bristol’s summer calendar. If you missed her this time around, then get your diaries out now – it’s only 300 and something days to go until next year’s.

Words: George Scrivener

Photo: Cameron Sweeny

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