Head in Glades Shopping Centre celebrate Record Store Day with live performances by local bands
4:36pm Saturday 16th April 2011 in Your news By Kelly Smale
RECORD shops may find it hard to compete against high street chains but one independent store is fighting back.
Head, based in the Glades Shopping Centre, Bromley, has been celebrating Record Store Day with in-store performances by local bands.
It is the second year the shop has taken part in the national event and more than 70 people queued up outside the store this morning (April 16) to join in.
Record Store Day is a celebration of independent music stores.
Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists across the world perform.
“There’s quite a lot of stuff here that HMV do not stock and it’s important that shops like us keep running.”
He added: “The staff have all been brilliant, more than a manager could ask for. Music matters but the staff matter too.”
Five bands took to a small stage in the shop which included Cellarscape, Sean Stapleton, Tali Febland, Keston Cobblers’ Club and Josh Beech and The Johns.
She added: “Supermarkets are the problem. They can offer exclusives which just cuts us out completely.
“When people come her they can flick through and talk to staff and have staff recommendations.
“Support your local record store because they are more likely to go under.”
The store also held a raffle to raise money for the NSPCC.
First prize was the rare Nirvana Hormoaning LP, followed by a BBC radio 6 music LP and a goody bag from the store Lush.
Sophie Rutherford and her mum Joyce, left Bangor on Thursday and took two coaches, a boat and a train to get to the store today (April 16).
The 17-year-old was celebrating her birthday and only found out her idol was performing in the middle of the week.
Sophie said: “I saw about it on his Facebook and on twitter. I know him from Burberry campaigns and saw his songs on You Tube.”
She added: “He’s just so good looking obviously and he’s a model. I really want to work in fashion and I really like his music.”
Her mum, Joyce, said: “We have joked that it’s been a two day camel ride.
"It has cost around £700. It would have cost more but we couldn’t get flights at such short notice.”
Sophie, who is in the middle of taking her A-levels, even took her coursework along to finish for school next week.
Lead singer Paul Terry, who put the group together, was joined by guitarist Niki Jones and violinist Carole Carpenter.
Speaking about Record Store Day Mr Jones said: “I think it’s really nice that everyone’s fighting back a bit. Bringing in live music is a real neat idea.”
While Mr Terry said: “Bands don’t ever form to have a marketing strategy they form to write music and it feels like its come full circle.”
Ms Carpenter said: “I think it’s really encouraging seeing people go back to independent shops instead of going to HMV.”
