Dress up, get down

The last long weekend of the summer is always something special. While the official Carnival activities are over by sunset, Londoners in search of after-hours entertainment are generously served.

Amid the countless nights on offer, the MTV Base Lounge on Sunday night stands out for its combination of R'n'B/hip hop stalwarts and young bucks; top guest will be Philadelphia scratch supremo (and original Will Smith cohort) Jazzy Jeff, who'll also commence a string of Jazz Cafe dates next week. There are also sets from Shaun Escoffery, rapper Ty, and soulful talents Jay Sean (the vocalist on Rishi Rich's upcoming single) and Amy Winehouse. The party will be filmed for future broadcast, so expect a crowd who dress up to get down.

Clubbers can warm up perfectly for the weekend tonight, as veteran groover Norman Jay presents his Good Times Warm Up Party, supported by B Side residents. It's actually nowhere near the Westbourne Grove site of his famous Good Times soundsystem/bus, but there's no mistaking his uplifting mix of rare groove through to disco and house, and the intimate environs of Brixton venue Plan B should do nicely.

Arguably the original 'superclub', for better or worse, Ministry Of Sound has undergone refurbishment, and features a spate of all-nighters over its bank holiday Urban Weekender.

Particularly worth noting is tomorrow night's Smoove pre-Carnival spesh, spanning R'n'B, bashment, ragga and garage with resident Masterstepz, soundsystem heroes Rampage and assorted MCs. The truly hardcore wind-up at Cosa Nostra's eighth Birthday on Monday night, which blasts UK garage, hip hop and d'n'b, with guests including UK duo Rodney P and Skitz, Nicky Blackmarket and the Get Rich Crew.

It's not just about smooth grooves, of course. For a brilliantly spiky, sparky Saturday alternative, Egg's Haywire night offers the bizarre yet moreish electro brand of Radioactive Man (aka Keith Tenniswood) and various luminaries from his Rotters Golf Club label, including sometime sidekick Andrew Weatherall and live act Decal, plus Ivan Smagghe. Mat Carter and Rick Hopkins offer more funked-up rhythms in the Loft at this newish King's Cross haunt.

Long-running Hoxton bash Off-Centre can still pack a punch in its breakbeats to boogie repertoire over three floors. This Saturday's guests include drum'n'bass pioneer Jumpin' Jack Frost, wonderfully sage accountant-turned-dubmeister DJ Derek, plus residents Patrick Forge, Ross Clarke and the Shoreditch Twat promising a 'Carnival classics' selection.

A crucial twist of Latin spirit comes from 14-piece London-based combo Quilombo Do Samba, whose entertaining combination of live batucada and sparkling costumes is quite unforgettable.

Tonight, B Side presents Good Times Warm Up Party, Plan B, 418 Brixton Road SW9, 8pm to 4am, £5 before 10pm, £7 after. Tel: 020 7733 0926. Tube: Brixton

Tomorrow, Smoove, Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street SE1, 10.30pm to 5am, £10 adv, £12 door. Tel: 020 7378 6528. Tube: Elephant & Castle