Rough Trade

Hello! Here is Rough Trade:


This store (also record label) is a MUST for all music fans. As you can see on the pictures above, they have a pretty wide range of vinyl records, sorted out by genre. There are also some record players on the store so you can listen to the records before you actually buy them. But it doesn't end there. There's also a little café in the entrance, with some chairs and tables, where you can have coffee (obviously), other beverages, and food.

And for those of you who are not real fans of vinyl records, you can always browse through the cd section:


Another really interesting thing about the store is that sometimes they hold "instores", small free shows where bands usually come to play songs from their newest record. For instance, in May 2007 Lucero played a few songs, or recently, on December 2009, Yo La Tengo played as well. Although places are limited, so what you need to do is come get a wristband (you have to check their site in order to know when to do it) or, if places are still available after there are no more wristbands, it's first-come, first-serve. Here is a picture of First Aid Kit playing an instore a few weeks ago:


There's also a really cool photobooth where you can have your pictures taken, it's one of the few left where all four pictures are different. The background is black and you have the logo of the store on the top left corner (left? right? don't really remember), but sadly it's 3 pounds. You have to change the three pounds for a token on the counter, and instert it once you are inside of the booth. I must insist that you read the instructions before you actually insert the coin (yeah, I didn't read them, I'm extremely smart), because if you don't then you'll have approximately 40 flashes on your face all of a sudden, and the result will be you with a weird face. Which may be what you're looking for, who knows!


The store you see on these pictures is the one located on the East of London (Liverpool Street, to be more exact). There's another store on the West, although I haven't been there (yet). Besides, this Rough Trade is right next to Brick Lane, an awesome street, so you can walk around and discover a lot of little nice stores and vintage shops.

You can check this link for more information about the store.


And that's pretty much it! I hope you like it. I certainly do.