Notting Hill Carnival may not officially kick off until the Bank holiday weekend, but the celebrations are starting early.

On Wednesday 19 August, Girls I Rate are joining forces with Nando’s for Locked In with Madison B — an exclusive pre-Carnival takeover celebrating Caribbean music, culture, Black creativity and women shaping the future of the industry.

The guest-list-only event will feature live performances, DJ sets and open-mic moments, with a soundtrack spanning Dancehall, Soca, R&B, Funky House, Amapiano and Afro-influenced sounds.

Madison B will be joined by The SunDivas, Monifa Goss, Portia Walker, DJ Emz and DJ Ambra, bringing together talent from across the UK and Caribbean diaspora.

The takeover also reflects the wider mission of Girls I Rate. Founded by British-Jamaican Grammy-nominated songwriter Carla Marie Williams MBE, the organisation has engaged more than 10,000 young women since 2016 through mentorship, songwriting camps, live events and career development opportunities.

It’s also a fitting way to begin one of London’s biggest celebrations of Caribbean culture by putting women from across the diaspora front and centre before Carnival weekend even begins

With complimentary Nando’s, giveaways, networking and plenty of music promised, Locked In is setting the tone before Carnival hits the streets.

The Beat London will be there capturing the action!