Something Else

The Leeds Carnival has a reputation among carnival watchers as the most exuberant and friendly of them all. Yorkshire seems to have taken this injection of Caribbean culture to heart as more than 100,000 people are expected at Porternewton Park, Harehills Rd on Monday 29 August.

The first rumblings get under way on Friday when the women of Leeds compete, in full regalia, for the title of 'Queen of the Carnival'. This takes place from 8 o'clock onwards at the Leeds West Indian centre, (LWCI) Laycock Place. There's music from the North Stars Steel Band and comedians, Jefferson and Whitfield, of Real McKoy, raise the laughs. Admission is pounds 4. There are no official proceedings on Saturday, although sources tell me that there are some all-night parties going down. Sunday commences with a massive reggae concert in Porternewton Park featuring top boys of the ragga world, Terror Fabulous and Daddy Screw, who fly in especially from Jamaica.

Later there's The Big Reggae, Soul, Hip- hop and Jungle All-nighter at the LWCI featuring the UK's champion reggae sound Saxon Studio, admission pounds 5. On Bank Holiday Monday is the carnival parade . The procession of floats leaves the park at 2 o'clock, making a circuit of the Chapletown district, returning at 5 o'clock. Jerk chicken, rice and peas as well as grub from around the globe will be in plentiful supply. Then as the sun goes down there is 'The Last Lap Dance' at the LWIC where revellers 'whine' their bodies to the sexy sounds of Soca and Calypso.

Further info about the carnival: 0532 374505

(Photograph omitted)