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As those who know me will attest, I absolutely love Notting Hill Carnival.

There’s something about the chaos of dancing in the roads, the window-shaking bass frequencies and unchained collective hedonism that connects us deeply with the essence of joy at the heart of the human condition.

Sure, you’ll need your wits about you at the odd times, but it is still my happy place.

Getting stuck in with the heaving throng is a physical reminder that such times of unified abandon are ephemeral, extraordinary by definition, and most precious for that reason, too.

And it’s quintessential London. A multi-million two fingers up towards those who try to sew division in the face of our glorious shared cultural fusions.

The way our city has customised the pagan, Latin and Caribbean roots of the Carnival tradition, given it a distinct London accent via the fixed soundsystems, homegrown musical styles and West London’s shabby-meet-chic streetscape, is something which should swell us all with pride (even those for whom the act of actually attending is their idea of a worst nightmare).

And amongst the event’s unique cultural dialect, is it’s street art lexicon.

In recent years, I’d noticed the distinctive cat, by locally-born-and-raised artist ‘ABOTZ’, was appearing all over Carnival - freshly painted on the hoardings that go up at the start of the weekend to protect shops and front gardens, and also on hundreds of posters - making the cheeky feline as ubiquitous to the visual vibe as cans of Red Stripe and scattered nitrous balloons.

So I tracked him down, keen to hear more about the statements his work is making, where you can find it, and how on earth he manages to blanket the whole of Notting Hill so comprehensively with his character art every August Bank Holiday weekend.

Welcome to Abotz, who kicks off another season of talented Guest Editors taking the reins each week here at Camdenist…

Guest Editor: ABOTZ

I go by Abotz - born and raised in Kilburn, North West London.

The streets was where I learnt and mastered my craft', and tagging was my first form of expression, my way of being seen.

Over time, I started to move beyond just the letters. I wanted to leave messages, and give people something to connect with. That’s also how my character work started to evolve - it became less about claiming space and more about creating messaging with it.

The cat faces are fun, nostalgic and easily absorbable pieces of artwork. They balance out the seriousness of my quotes.

We are a consumerist society, so the pound signs represent a society that’s obsessed with money. I’ve always felt that an obsession with money stems from its absence.

The entire city is my canvas; under bridges, on rooftops, shutters…

Camden has always been special, as there’s an energy here that matches my work.

I’ve painted near the Lock, along Kentish Town Road, and even some low-key cut-throughs you’ll spot if you explore.

I’d say I’m definitely the artist most associated with Carnival now. Since Covid I haven’t missed a single year. I’ve been painting down there since 2010-2011, but the reopening after Covid was when I introduced the posters, and the local community’s really embraced it, which means a lot.

It’s all about spreading good energy, a bit of fun - Carnival is honestly my favorite time of year. Someone once told me they’d seen my work so much during Carnival that they saw it in their dreams… that kind of feedback reminds me why I do it!

What happens between the boards going up and Carnival starting, it’s fast and fleeting. It all goes down in a tight window and that’s part of the beauty. I don’t want to take the magic out of it by saying much more ;)

I don’t think it needs to be fully understood, just appreciated for what it is. There’s power in the mystery. For a lot of us in the graffiti scene, it’s a yearly tradition.

Every year, I design merch which sells out online, so a pop-up is something I’ve wanted to do for a while.

Community is really important to me, so bringing the street energy into a space where people can interact more directly is really cool. So we have a stall at Open Art Market on Tavistock Square in Portobello next weekend, Sat 16th Aug, which is the one before Carnival, and it’s going to be buzzing.

You’ll find affordable prints, a limited edition Carnival t-shirt (or two, or three!) and a live spray activation on your garms, too.

Then over the bank holiday, Carnival itself is the essence of the community. You’ll enjoy floats, sound systems, dancers, jerk smoke filling the air, and - if you keep your eyes open - art everywhere.

Look out for fresh pieces on the hoardings, as graffiti culture is also a huge part of Carnival.

You’re sure to see Abotz in every corner 😼

Don’t forget to take photographs and tag us @abotz_artwrld

Do you have Camden Town Vision?

With reclaiming the streets for dancing, art and community merriment in mind in this week’s Camdenist, what a good opportunity to flag that Camden Council are currently doing one of their public consultations where they invite us all to ‘have your say’ and help shape the Camden Town Vision.

With the pedestrianisation trial bedding in now on the high street, a slew of events coming up while the sun is still out, and plenty of bold ideas about the big issues facing the area - from safety to tourism, and retail to live music and cultural venues - there’s a real chance to improve Camden Town’s standing for everyone, but only if the thinking is imaginative enough.

Yes, it’s a damn challenging place at times, stuffed with gormless hordes taking selfies, relentless traffic and noise, but also still brimming with world-class events, a thumping creative heartbeat despite the crazy rent prices, and a fantastic industrial-meets-cosmopolitan heritage that is renowned in the farthest flung reaches of the globe.

So let’s help reduce some of the crap bits and amplify the vibrancy that lurks just beneath all the cliches, by contributing our views.

You don’t need to be a resident - just to have an opinion, but I suggest constructive positives are better than gripes and moans, especially if you really want to see something change, right?

The process closes on 31st Aug, so do give it a moment of your time in the days ahead. Then the draft Camden Town Vision doc will be published in the autumn for moving on to the next stage.

FRINGE 2025

450+ shows, so what to go see?

Camden Fringe is currently packing ‘um in all month at over 40 established venues and quirky pop-up spots, as the best alternative theatre, stand-up, challenging new plays and downright oddball shows descend upon the neighbourhood.

This week I’ve been speaking with Joy Nesbitt, writer and director of Scenes With Black Folk, a new play featuring four unnamed ‘somebodies’ as they delve deeply into the everyday experiences of Blackness.

From identity and pride, to racism, the long shadows of history and the absurdity of today’s rules around what it means to be Black as viewed under the white gaze.

It comes to Camden Fringe at a time when our complex relationship with race shows no sign of getting any simpler, and the absurdity and comedy of the situation makes for a striking night of modern theatre. Read the interview here.

TWO MORE FRINGE SHOWS TO TRY

🛸 The Saucer is an original comedy inspired by real events that transpired back in the groovy ‘n swinging old 1960s, when a UFO sighting drew hippies, curious locals, military officers and a scandalous visiting Queen. Showing Thurs 14th - Sun 16th Aug at St Paul’s Church in Camden Square.

🛏️ Swedish Furniture Store - The Musical follows Spatula Lady on her journey through the eternal flatpack and home furnishings one-way system, where she encounters a range of eccentric characters, each contributing life lessons, surreal experiences and energetic musical numbers to the proceedings. At The Courtyard Theatre on Sat 9th - Sun 10th Aug. 

FESTIVALS

Jazzie B, Bollywood and Honey D

💥Local musical hero and lyrically named (after being royally honoured) Jazzie B OBE headlines his own Soul II Soul Back 2 Life Cafe pop-up, which has been a Friday night fixture at Hawley Wharf these past few weeks. Catch the main man playing on stage down there tonight, Fri 8th Aug.

🍧Then, next weekend, follow Jazzie for a day beside the seaside, as he’s opening up the new Felixstowe Loves weekends series, the first of which runs 15th - 17th Aug, kicking off with the Soul II Soul man’s beachfront set on the Friday, and live music and DJ sets, an art trail, workshops, wellbeing classes and stalls across town all weekend. Hope on the Overground to Stratford and grab a Greater Anglia service via Ipswich for a spot of coastal cultural discovery.

🥻 Hawley Wharf is also the setting for the Camden Market Bollywood Mela weekender, Sat 9th & Sun 10th Aug, as the party continues from the epic recent bash at Coram Fields to bring traditional and contemporary dance performances to the canalside, plus encounters with South Asian performance company Nutkhut's giant walkabout puppets Dolly & Rocky, stilt walkers and a beautiful Elephant. There’s also live music, DJ sets from Samani Dillon, family crafts, authentic food stalls, a beautiful tuk-tuk and rikshaw display and a lively parade to check out.

🎧 There’s a chance to catch a total Chicago house music legend as Krankbrother presents Honey F*ckin Dijon In The Park just up Camden Road in Finsbury Park on Sat 9th Aug which still has tickets available if you’re quick. She plays alongside a line-up of equally big draws including Horse Meat Disco and Kerri Chandler too.

…and some of your comments

“It's a fantastic idea and welcome addition to the area, but we really need a more mainstream cinema especially with the closure of the Camden Odeon”

“I’m someone who still goes to the cinema several times a year with the children. There's nothing like watching a movie on a big screen, with a great sound system, and no one being distracted by their phones. I also enjoy listening to the shared gasps, laughter, and screams of other cinema-goers. It remains to be seen what this new cinema will be like, what sort of shows they will put on, and how accessible these will be for family outings..”

“The whole saga of promising an unviable small cinema as a planning sop to locals demonstrates to me that councilors (and other decision-makers elsewhere) far to easily can wield serious power to make non evidence-based calls, rooted in nostalgia, emotive dreams and unrealistic fantasy high streets. An art gallery funded by wealthy patrons is clearly the only way such a thing can happen today - Camden’s Curzon struggle and Odeon have thrown in the towel is the face of everyone lost in their handheld screens - so it’s quite fantastic that this more realistic cinema venture somehow happening on the very same road!”

Thank you for being a Camdenist reader. Your attention is never taken for granted, especially if you’ve got this far down the email(!)

Particular thanks also to our new paying subscribers. Upgrading (by the equivalent of less than half a cup coffee per week) massively helps keep this show on the road.

If you’ve considered going Premium but haven’t done so yet, perhaps this month is a good one to start? We’ve got more truly special guest editors in the pipeline, and some tasty events to invite you to. Plus, you’d really make my day, too. 😊

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