Man singing and playing guitar.
Andrew Ashong was one of those who played an acoustic set of songs in Langham Street for “You Need This!”, organised by If Music for Record Store Day UK.

There was a time when Fitzrovia boasted more record shops than Soho, apparently. Now since JB’s Records moved to Waterloo and On The Beat in Hanway Street has closed there is only one remaining… and on any other day you’d have to look hard to find it. In fact we didn’t even know it was there.

But on Saturday 19 April, as part of Record Store Day UK, a small crowd gathered in the afternoon sunshine on Langham Street to enjoy a free acoustic performance presented by Fitzrovia’s last remaining record shop which was very much visible.

Musicians on the street.
Jean-Claude Thompson steps onto the street to hear the Paragons of Goodness (Nathan Wacey, guitar; Greg Blackman, vocals).

For the past few years Jean-Claude Thompson of If Music — and a specialist in vinyl recordings — has been holding a low-key live music event on the doorstep of the building which hides his second floor record shop. It’s the only time the shop is visible unless you happen to notice the small sandwich board parked on the pavement.

Four piece band playing live outside.
Keyboard player Jessica Lauren.

On Saturday there was live music from Inigo Ugarteburu, Jessica Lauren, Paragons of Goodness, and Andrew Ashong.

If Music, 36 Langham St, London, W1W 7AP.

 

Langham Street, W1W