Tell us a little bit about your store? What's the vibe?

We wanted to bring the record store experience back to basics, simply - good records, good service, good instore events, give the opportunity to customers to meet fellow music fans, to drink and dance 'til very late.

Can you remember the first record you sold in the shop? And the last?

The first record was ‘Protomartyr - The Agent Intellect’ to our good friend and old colleague from Rough Trade.
The last record was 'Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' to a young local girl on the recommendation from her mum. It always makes me happy to see teenage girls visit the store, I always hope they remember their record store experiences as fondly as I did.

Do you remember the first record shop you went in to? And do you remember the first record you bought?

It was Banquet Records in Putney, I bought a Fishbone record and I remember they gave me a promotional kite. I think from that point I was there nearly every weekend until it sadly shut down. I spent a lot of time and money at Rough Trade in Neal’s Yard when I was a teenager too, the staff were so knowledgable and they introduced me to music I would have never normally be exposed t

What is your favourite record shop (apart from your own!) and why?

Reckless Records in Soho is easily one of the best shops in London, they have a constant stream of incredible second-hand records coming through the store each week, I always leave with something special.
I also love Low Company, Crypt of the Wizard and the BBE store, all Hackney based and offering a superb selection of vinyl. We’re lucky to have such great neighbours.

What's your most memorable record store experience?

Too many weird and wonderful memories to list, they say never meet your heroes but recommending records from behind the counter to the likes of Nick Cave, Patti Smith, and Iggy Pop are definitely memorable highlights.

What's the best gig you've ever been to?

Either Tom Waits at the ‘Rat Cellar’ Dublin or Tom Jones at Ceasar's Palace Las Vegas.

What's your all-time favourite book?

Into The Wild - Jon Krakauer

What's your all-time favourite film?

Stranger Than Paradise... of course.

What would make up your desert island discs?

Miles Davis - On The Corner
OM - Conference Of Birds
Red House Painters - Red House Painters I
Dorothy Ashby - Afro Harping
Cymande - Cymande
Arthur Russell - Love Is Overtaking Me
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres

Who would form your all-time Festival line-up? (past & present)

Another tough question but I’d pay good money to see any of these guys on the same bill:
Lijadu Sisters, Albert Ayler, Eden Ahbez, Melvins, Tom Waits, The Gun Club, Alice Coltrane, Oh Sees.

What's your all-time favourite record?

I always dread when people ask me that question and can never answer it, but for this year it’s definitely the new Jon Hassell record ‘Listening to Pictures’ and the debut album from Tirzah ‘Devotion’, both a breath of fresh air and complete works of genius.

OTHER RECORD STORES