Back in its long and languorous heyday, Denmark Street — aka Tin Pan Alley — had a lot going for it music-wise: songwriting studios, gig venues, music magazines, record labels, guitar shops... but apparently* it never had a record shop.
That's about to change, as Rough Trade — one of the most celebrated record stores and labels around — announces it's setting up shop on the central London street in mid October.
The Denmark Street store will cover two floors and sell a spectrum of musical genres on vinyl, plus books, clothing and merch. It won't, however, host live music performances.
The store joins a bunch of other Rough Trade ventures in London, including stores in Brick Lane, Notting Hill, Barbican (that one's a pop-up) and Soho. The latter of these — which is pretty close to the Denmark Street venue — will rebrand as Rough Trade Vintage, and focus on selling pre-loved records.
There have, quite understandably, been concerns over the gentrification and sterilisation of Denmark Street as it's been redeveloped in recent years. Last year, Pete Watts, who has written a fascinating book all about the street and its melodious heritage, told us: "It's cleaner and tidier now, which is a bit of a shame but a strange thing to complain about I suppose. Many of the guitar shops are still there but it's a pity that so many of the historic pokey offices in the floors above have been turned into bedrooms for a boutique rock-themed hotel."
Even skeptics will admit that 'Tin Pan Alley' (named after New York's own clamorous collection of songwriters and publishers) is beginning to recapture some of its brio, thanks to the opening of music venue The Lower Third, and now Rough Trade too.
*This is what we've been told. If you know otherwise, let us know!
