UPDATE: Mangrove Steelband will now be having their final rehearsals in the Tabernacle Courtyard Tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow night. It will finish at 9.00 pm due to noise restrictions. The Tabernacle is on Powis Square W11.
The following is from Matthew at Mangrove. Please read this and give your support. It is important.
PREPARATIONS FOR CARNIVAL 2011
MANGROVE STEEL BAND PRACTICE ON ALL SAINTS ROAD 25TH & 26TH AUGUST
We are contacting businesses and residents of All Saints Road to seek their support for our
local steel band to be able to continue a tradition that has been taking place since 1980.
RBK&C have advised us that a Temporary Entertainment Licence will now be required for
these ‘performances’ to continue with much restricted hours. Mangrove would like to point
out that the band’s appearance on All Saints Road is not intended to be a performance, and
no action has ever been taken to advertise or attract an audience.
We would propose that the band sets up both evenings by 8pm and rehearse until 10pm on
Thursday 25th and midnight on Friday 26th. It has been our custom and practice to set up
in the street order to give our young members the experience of playing on the float and
in the open prior to taking part in the Panorama steel band competition in Kensal Road on
Saturday 27th August.
Our young people have been working hard practising every night in Tabernacle so they may
give their peak performance at Panorama and this is the goal they work towards throughout
the year.
Over the years we have gathered informal feedback from businesses and residents and the
general view expressed has been:
• These informal rehearsals attract large numbers of people to All Saints Road giving a
very positive and happy ‘vibe’ to the street. Restaurants and the off-licence have
reported a welcome increase in business on the evenings the band is on the road.
• There has never been any unpleasant incidents or criminal activity during these
rehearsal sessions
• Local families look forward to coming to the street to support their local band and to
meet their friends and neighbours in a safe and informal setting
• The people of Notting Hill show extreme patience each year as up to 2 million people
come onto our streets, and many local families enjoy this annual pre-carnival get
together prior to being invaded by the outside world
• SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING THIS POSITIVE MUSICAL ACTIVITY BY OUR
LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD BE A WELCOME COUNTERPOINT TO RECENT
DISTURBANCES AND PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE TO BE
SEEN IN A POSITIVE LIGHT.
WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT BY SIGNING OUR PETITION TO RBK&C.
MANGROVE STEEL BAND – MANAGER MATTHEW PHILLIP 020 7243 9999
EMAIL: matthew@mangrovesteelband.com WEBSITE: www.mangrovesteelband.com
MANGROVE STEEL BAND PRACTICE ON ALL SAINTS ROAD ON THURSDAY 25TH AND FRIDAY
26TH AUGUST 2011
We the undersigned would like to declare our support for Mangrove Steel Band to continue
their 30-year tradition of bringing the young band members to All Saints Road to practice on
their carnival float from 8-10pm on 25th and 8pm-midnight on 26th August. We welcome the
positive activity offered by Mangrove to local young people throughout the year.
This annual tradition brings a festive atmosphere to the street and will be a welcome
counterpoint to recent disturbances in the area which impacted on at least one business.
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