It’s Cowley Road Carnival weekend. Remember Cowley Road Carnival? Once upon a time it used to actually happen on the Cowley Road. Well it’s back, barring some last-minute organisational kerfuffle that sees it being shelved in favour of a summer fete in South Park (again). And in either case, Skylarkin’ Soundsystem will still be bringing up the curtain on the weekend’s festivities.

The Hempolics: Formed in 2009 by producer/engineer Grippa and recently returned from extensive recording sessions in Jamaica with Faithless sooth-sayer Maxi Jazz, The Hempolics take on the classic UK reggae sounds of Matumbi, The Cimarons and Smiley Culture and give them a distinctly 21st century feel, taking in dubstep, drum & bass, garage and soul.

Count Skylarkin & Indecision: Now better known as ‘Man of Science’, the star-gazing selector behind dubbed-out disco sessions We Are Elements, Indecision delves back into the crates of ragga, dancehall and hip-hop that first inspired him to cause havoc with a crossfader in his teens. Ably assisted, of course, by The Count – who has played every single Cowley Road Carnival since its inception.

More information at www.facebook.com/events/126361117570856. Tickets available from www.wegottickets.com/event/225969