Norman Jay & Sancho Panza…Up On The Roof at The Prince Of Wales | 22nd July
‘An ode to our favourite corner of Carnival’
Up On The Roof…summer parties on the stunning rooftop terrace at Brixton Clubhouse right in the heart of Brixton. Expect a diverse fusion of everything from soul & disco to house & hip-hop from some of the most influential DJs of the past 30 years.
For the next installment of ‘Up On The Roof’, we thought we’d stage a little ode to our favourite corner of the biggest street party in Europe, prescribing not just the talents of one Carnival King, Good Times legend Norman Jay, after the spectacular Easter Sunday launch party, but also Notting Hill legends Sancho Panza, with founders Matt Brown & Jimmy K-Tel spinning after an extended Good Times 3 hour set from Norman.
As the Good Times founder, Member of the British Empire and all round good egg, Norman helped us christen ‘Up On The Roof’ this Easter Sunday. He has represented the entire spectrum of black music, from soul, funk, disco, reggae and jazz, right through to the more contemporary sounds of house, garage and drum’n’bass.
Norman’s legendary Good Times sound system, has been the go-to spot at Europe’s largest street party, the Notting Hill Carnival, for 30 years.
Good Times was THE party that changed the face of the Notting Hill Carnival and which has become a Summertime fixture at festivals worldwide. Jay set up his first sound system, Great Tribulation, in 1979 with his brother Joey which became Good Times in 1981, the start of a 30-year residency at Notting Hill Carnival. Norman changed the face of the music played there, introducing a range of gritty, soulful styles to complement the predominantly reggae-based sound systems. The move paved the way for the open-minded Carnival we know today, with Good Times still at its core.
His Paradise Garage-inspired ‘High On Hope’ club night, involvement in iconic label ‘Talking Loud Records’, and his long-running show on both the pirate and legal Kiss FM have all helped Norman to become one of the most loved and respected DJs in the UK today, his tireless work having earned him many accolades – he has appeared on the BBC’s Question Time – and received an MBE for his work in 2002, the first time any DJ had received such an accolade.
From churches to canals, warehouses to boats, Sancho Panza know how to throw a shape, throw a party and how to make special spaces turn magical. Reknowned above all for their annual shindig for 10000+ people on Middle Row on the August Bank Holiday; just around the corner from Norman’s Good Times bus; Matt Brown & Jimmy K-Tel are well versed in playing outdoor spaces, and we’re looking forward to getting down to them ‘Up On The Roof’ after Norman.
