Rough Trade East

Rough Trade East resides in the heart of hipster-land, on Brick-lane in Shoreditch. Despite it's hipster-y hipster-ness, it's actually a really cool spot, so don't let that put you off. 

Decked from wall to wall with CDS and vinlys, the shop boasts one of the best, most eclectic variety of records. It's got a bit of everything. A true selling point are the events Rough Trade East put on from small live shows, record-signings and meet&greets. I happened here for the show & signing of James Vincent McMorrow, which is going down in the top 3 of my favorite shows in my life. While that's mostly due to how impressive McMorrow is as a performer, I think Rough Trade East is also due some credit. 

The stage, which looks make-shift, cramped and a little bit like it's going to fall apart, allows the audience to be right up close with the performer. Also, I felt it was due to the setting that I only saw 3 iphones out taking videos, snapchats, instagrams the entire performance. There was one polaroid (could you be more hipster)?! But I loved it. 

Loved that the crowd was there to actually watch the performance, loved that it was respectful - no pushing, no chains of people trying to squeeze their way to the front. I truly felt that this was owed to Rough Trade East, which seems to have some magical aura, where the people who visit the shop and consequently, attend the events they put on, are there, purely, for the music. 

Justly world-famous, Rough Trade East is a mecca for music fans and from experience, it's incredibly easy to blow a fortune here.  There's a small cafe, knowledgeable staff, a wide-range of music covering pretty much every sub-genre imaginable and regular free/pre-order bonus gigs - some of the worlds newest and finest appear.  Struggling to think of a better music store in London.

You walk in and you feel a bit of an east London vibe, music playing in the background, a cafe in the front, then books and of course all the rows of cds and vinyls. The staff is really nice when you approach them and the infamous photobooth is great for a tangible memory. They throw events and free gigs quite often, and there are always people sitting drinking their coffee working away at the front. I try not to go in there too often because I end up broke after every visit. It is definitely one of those places where you could stay for hours and not get bored (if you're a music fan).