Berwick Streets Record Store Day

An ideal Easter weekend at Berwick Street’s Record Store Day 2014

The independent record stores and retailers of Berwick Street Soho are joining forces this Easter weekend to celebrate Record Store Day on Saturday 19 April. The free outdoor gig will see 7 artists perform on the Berwick Street main stage, with retailers hosting in-store activities throughout the day.

This is the one day that independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate their love of music. Limited edition vinyl and CD’s are released exclusively on this day and many will only be available in Berwick Street’s record stores.

From 8am on Saturday morning, locate and purchase those in-demand limited edition releases from the record shops. Berwick Street has been a destination for vinyl record collectors since the 1980’s and home to central London’s largest concentration of thriving independent record shops; Reckless Records, Sister Ray and The Music and Video Exchange as well as Sounds of the Universe around the corner on Broadwick Street, Black Market Records on D’Arblay Street and Phonica on Poland Street.

Enjoy live music, bands and DJs performing throughout the area. Berwick Street will be showcasing a range of British music talent from 12 - 7pm on the Main Stage, which will be located at the crossroads of Berwick and D’Arblay Street. The line-up will be announced a week before the event.

Over the past couple of years Berwick Street has also attracted more independent fashion and lifestyle shops, restaurants and bars, alongside its famous fabric shops and fruit and food market; all retailers will be getting involved in Record Store Day. Find DJs, music quizzes and parties in stores. Oliver Spencer will be hosting a party in store including a vinyl fair, drinks and a DJ. Weekend Offender will be offering discounts on clothing along with free hair-cuts in-store for customers who make a purchase.

Cass Art will be celebrating all things vinyl art and calling all music lovers on the street to get involved and be creative. Nudie Jeans, Foot Patrol and Underground Shoes are all unique to Berwick, and their flagship stores will also be thriving with activity on the day.

Also on the day the traditional Fruit & Veg market will be open as usual with a variety of world street food traders, including Napoli style pizzas served by Pizza Pilgrims from the back of a converted Piaggio van and Jerusalem Falafel, the most delicious freshly-made falafel wraps ever tasted.

Berwick Street is also home to a selection of London’s newest and most in-demand restaurants, so book a table for dinner and a drink to finish off your Easter Saturday in style. Polpetto is the newest addition to the Berwick community at which Soho-girl Florence Knight is the executive head chef. Polpetto serves small plates of classic Venetian dishes, and features an aperitivo bar with an open kitchen. Ember Yard also opened at the beginning of February and has had an incredible reception, this tapas restaurant takes inspiration from Spanish and Italian methods of cooking over charcoal, it is the latest concept to emerge from the Salt Yard Group.