If the idea of a ‘music city’ came from anywhere it almost certainly came from London.
The UK capital has been the launching pad for the world’s biggest acts and attracted plenty more from around the world.
While in the 60s and 70s the city’s rock scene would make music that would reverberate across the world through the likes of Iron Maiden, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols, The Who, Pink Floyd and Queen the 90s would see London popularize Oasis, Blur, Coldplay and Radiohead.
If the world’s most famous musicians didn’t start in the city than they would flock to it, hoping to soak up the culture that has defined London. David Bowie, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix top off an exponentially long list of names that looked towards this British capital for inspiration.
London may have made its name in rock music in the early days, but the metropolis would shake off this tag and embrace diversity, as it became one of the cities around the world where the birth of dance music would take place.
Considering London is one of the most multicultural urban sprawls in the world with 30% of its eight million population born outside of the UK, it doesn’t take a genius to ascertain why a myriad of influences have impacted on the sounds being crafted in the metropolis.
Inevitably the city that breeds world class acts and attracts the rest is also home to many a fan. Almost every notable tour has made its way through London with the biggest taking place Brixton Academy, London Astoria and Hammersmith Apollo. Needless to say when we say music mecca we mean it in every sense of the word.
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Today London sits alongside the most revered music metropolises because just like the famous cities of New York and Paris it is home to a rich cultural history.
So rich in fact that’s impossible to fully appreciate just how much of a role London has played in the history of popular music.
What you can do though is take advantage of this king-sized music scene and see where recent icons such as Adele and Amy Winehouse paved their way to stardom and find the next big thing.
Shop
Rough Trade East, 91 Brick Lane
Opened in 2007 the latest UK addition to the chain has around 5,000 square feet of floor space to appreciate music. If not for the huge collection of recorded music, a quarter of which is vinyl, than for one of the many headlining gigs that has fans queuing for blocks. Every music item here has its own written description, while you can chill out at the fair trade café and the cosy little couch area, which also has computer access.
BM Soho, 25 D’Arblay St.
Dance music fans we’ve found your home. With the place shamelessly stocked with club music and club music only BM Soho aren’t looking to please a large base of music fans. Start from the basement where drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, bassline and UK garage can be found and make your way up to the ground floor for some house, minimal and techno. You can test out sounds through the comfort of the store’s headphones and turntables and even purchase your own DJ equipment as well.
Revival Records, 30 Berwick St.
When Reckless Records sunk Duncan Kerr gathered some of the left over stock and opened his own store in Soho. Rather than stick to the dance music that characterised the former mini-chain Kerr allowed for Revival Records to sell everything from rare records, to drum ‘n’ bass, punk, reggae, jazz and everything in between. You’ll also find CD box sets, limited edition releases and DVDs here as well.
Listen
The Old Blue Last, 38 Great Eastern St
Run by the folks over at Vice this music venue has had the press salivating since 2004. With the praise ranging from the venue’s respected jukebox to its ability to book bands before they break The Old Blue Last is a haven for 20 something indie types who can’t get enough of live music. Little wonder they’re calling it as the home of Britain’s music future.
The Half Moon, 93 Lower Richmond Rd
Labelled by many as one of London’s greatest music establishments the music history contained in these walls is astonishing. If you want to stand in the same venue that hosed Kate Bush’s debut performance, saw U2 sell out their first gig and hosted the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello and Steve Marriott Half Moon as got a few treats for you. With live music every night from well-known artists to unsigned acts the much-lauded jukebox has over 100 CDs from the new and old alike.
The Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway, NW1
With each passing era this music house has hosted different scenes in their prime. In the 70s it was home to Madness, the 80s brought Rockability by and now indie kids are kicking about with £6 getting you four bands on any given night. Pay a visit and you might just catch the next Blur, Arctic Monkeys, Billy Bragg, The Killers or Coldplay.
See
Abbey Road
What’s there to say that you don’t already know? The site of music’s most iconic image, the cover for Abbey Road is as synonymous with London’s tourism as The Beatles are with music. Of course the zebra crossing outside of the Abbey Road studios is far more popular now then when the Fab Four participated in the 10-minute photo shoot, but regardless of whether you want to witness the famous landmark firsthand or recreate your own photo Beatles fans can’t miss this.
Denmark Street
Better known as the Tin Pan Alley the streets connection with popular British music is undeniable. With each side lined with music stores and venues there is an abundance of history to reminisce over here. Including studios where The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and The Kinks recorded albums in basements in the 60s. That’s not to mention 6 Denmark St where the The Sex Pistols lived in the mid 70s and created anthems such as ‘Anarchy in the UK’. Today you can find any number of up and coming musicians looking to replicate such successes.
British Music Experience, The O2 bubble, SE10 0DX
Taking up 20,000 square feet in the The O2 entertainment district on the Greenwich Peninsula this museum was opened in 2009 by a private performance from The View. The British Music Experience tracks the history of their music industry from 1944 onwards. The interactive museum includes timelines, showcases and exhibits on DJs, the anatomy of a pop star and much more. Famous artifacts like Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust costume, Elton John’s glasses, Spice Girls outfits and an Amy Winehouse dress are also on show.
London Acts You Should Check Out
Savages – Facebook
This London based four-piece are the one of the biggest breakthrough rock acts in 2013. The post-punk revival sounds of their debut album, Silence Yourself, made huge critical waves across the world. Listen to the live performance of ‘Shut Up’ below.
Jon Hopkins – Soundcloud
Starting out by performing keyboard for Imogen Heap and producing and contributing to albums by Brian Eno, Coldplay and David Holmes this producer also composed the soundtrack to the 2010 feature film Monsters. However Hopkins major breakthrough came in 2013 with his Mercury Prize nominated Immunity.
Avec Sans – Soundcloud
Currently based in London this electro duo made up of Alice Fox and Jack St. James make sweet 80s tunes full of synthetic bursts of energy. Only founded in early 2013 Avec Sans are fast rising through infectious cuts such as ‘Hold On’, which you can listen to below.
