As if to acknowledge the bigger picture, this year's Caribbean carnival in Alexandra Park is renamed The Commonwealth Carnival. The Saturday start kicks off with a procession at 12.30pm, on July 27.
Thereafter the expanses of the park, and no doubt some of the surrounding streets, will be filled with good music and good vibrations. Following on, the Sunday sees the Caribbean Manchester Sunsplash Music Festival touching down - or perhaps blasting off. Either way, despite the fact that Manchester is not Kingston, nor even Rio, this year's carnival could be a bit special.
Of course this year is Games year, providing pause for all sorts of reflection among the broad Caribbean diaspora resident in Manchester. In particular, 2002 sees ex-pat Jamaicans celebrate a 40 year anniversary of their independent Commonwealth state.
Not that any of the Caribbean community need much of an excuse for a party. DJ Dolla, the DJ on SuperFreshFM 100.7, and proprietor of Floss Mode Recordz which overlooks the park on Princess Road, laughs at the prompt and agrees: "Yeah, carnival could be special. Black people don't need an excuse for a party… and there'll be many sound systems out."
Dolla himself plays twice on the Saturday - a stage set and once in a marquee. Considering its been a tricky year (again) for the Caribbean community, in terms of shootings and inept media coverage, I ask Dolla about this year's vibe. "Previous years there's been gang rivals in the park," Dolla says. "But there's been meetings. There's going to be more police. It could be a special carnival."
So, you must reach carnival for an incomparable kind of firework display for the senses. There won't be any arrivistes from the city centre posh apartments. And it's beyond the pale for Northern Quarter cronies with their 'identikit-cool' lifestyles and 'one-block' localised celebrity. For carnival weekend is a time for all Mancunians - anybody resident here - to come out in the sunshine and celebrate.
Commonwealth Carnival, Sat, July 27. Procession starts 12.30pm & Caribbean Manchester Sunsplash Music Festival, Sun 28 July. Alexandra Park, Princess Road/Alexandra Road. Floss Mode Recordz, 57 Princess Road, (232 8319).
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