Ray's Gigs

Daily news and reviews of gigs bars clubs restaurants product launches films theatre fashion shows books art galleries hotels competitions interesting places to visit ...and much more!

Sunday 28 August 2022.

Sunday 28 August 2022...I went to two events today... 1.30pm to 6.45pm THE NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL returns to West London. It was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid. Dancers, steel bands, sound systems ,crowds, etc are all over the Notting Hill and nearby areas. This is Europe's biggest street festival with two million people attending every year — dodging the crowds isn't an option. If you need to bring a bag, make it a small one (the crowds and noise are a pickpocket's paradise). As I lived in Shepherds Bush , i went to Notting Hill Carnival many times from the 1970s onwards. I can remember back in the 1990s when i had more energy , I would do three nights of bands and camping at Reading Festival Fri, Sat, Sun...come home Monday morning , have a quick shower and change of clothes and head down to the Carnival on the Monday afternoon. There are people everywhere, and very crowded in some places. The atmosphere is fantastic with the various music sounds pounding out loudly. We have invites for the WRAY & NEPHEW hospitality area who have taken from RED BULL as the main sponsors of the carnival.We have a choice of six complimentary WRAY & NEPHEW rum cocktails along with jerk chicken and rice, and end up staying there three hours. They had their own toilets with no queues which is always a bonus as big queues for them in some of the outside public areas and some locals charging folks £3 to use their toilets. Also plenty of seats. It was a great afternoon here and all over the carnival...so much fun. Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum is the original rum of the Jamaican people and it has been distilled and bottled there for nearly 200 years....it is strong stuff as its 63% as most runs and vodkas are 40%. then JEAN PAUL GAULTIER'S Fashion Freak Show at The Roundhouse. This is the final show of the 52 performances they have performed here on this run. It started 10 mins late at 7.40pm which was handy, as we rushed over from NH Carnival. It was the same very enjoyable visual show as two days ago, scroll down for my full review. As it was the last night I was hoping for a couple of celebs or even a live appearence from JPG himself, but did not see anyone down on the floor seats at tables area. -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Saturday 27 August 2022...two events in Windsor today. 3pm to 7pm Windsor is as popular as ever with tourists, as there must be at least 20 coaches parked by the station. The racecourse is around 20 mins walk from the train station. Big queues in the area if you come by car. A nice sunny day and several thousand are here, including lots of glammed up females. The first race was at 3.55pm and i saw five races before I had to depart. Ronan Keating was on after the eight races, but I had to give him a miss. His booking agent said Ronan was coming in by helicopter. Very nice to be at the horse races every now and then. then 7.30pm to 2.30am 21st birthday party for my niece Luisa. Around 30 folks here with lots of drinks and food. A great party.