A VETERAN reggae DJ says he is fighting to keep the music alive after Swindon’s Afro-Caribbean carnival was axed for another year.

Michael Carty, better known as MC Ranks, also spoke out about a lack of diversity in the town's music scene.

The DJ has been playing in Swindon for 10 years, including a popular residency at a night called Destiny and Desire in the former Brunel Rooms. He has also presented a show on Swindon 105.5 since the community radio station started four years ago.

“The carnival was a multi-cultural event and something a lot of people looked forward to,” he said. “I organised the entertainment side and we were being helped by the council. They gave us some money and we held fundraisers for the rest. But a few years later they decided we didn’t fit the criteria and they sent the money to other groups.

“The event was for the whole community and the main stage could have a crowd of anything from 5,000 people up. This year it looks like it won’t happen for a second time unless a sponsor comes out of nowhere.

“The council is not helping us, but I don’t place the blame on them. We need the community to be able to support the event financially and up until now that’s not happened.”

The event was organised by the Swindon West Indian Caribbean Association and had been running since 2000. The carnival, at Buckhurst Field, in Walcot, also landed a £9,400 lottery grant in 2007 for workshops, a marquee, stage, PA, lights and promo material.

While a family fun day is planned at Swindon Supermarine for April 28, there is little else on the same scale.

“In Swindon, apart from the radio show, what is there?” said Michael. “It’s been eight years since there’s been a regular night for reggae, dancehall and urban music.

“I was going to take over a pub or a club myself but I looked at the costs and saw what a massive gamble it would be. I wouldn’t say there was a massive West Indian community in Swindon, but there is a big community, and enough people from different backgrounds who like the music to support a night.”

Michael, who works as a Thamesdown Transport bus driver, first learned to DJ in his bedroom before going on to rub shoulders with some of reggae’s biggest stars, including Jimmy Cliff and Mavado.

MC Ranks celebrates four years with Swindon 105.5 at the Grapes Hotel on Saturday. For information email mcranks@hotmail.co.uk.