Hi everybody,
I will be in London for a few days and plan to go shopping for irish trad music cd's, since it is quite difficult to buy the stuff over here in Germany (other than via the web). Can one of you recommend a shop that specializes in ITM?
Thank you
Good question. I've never been able to find a specialist Irish music shop in London. Since I don't live in London anymore, I'm out of touch with any new developments, but Zavvi (formerly Virgin Records) by Tottenham Court Road tube had a fairly good selection last time I looked.
A few years ago, I set about seeking out a shop specialising in Irish music, thinking there *must* be such a thing somewhere in London, and was led to a small newsagent's and general stores in Willesden Green. There was some interesting stuff there (I picked up a CD of radio archive recordings of Denis Murphy from the '50s) - and fair play to the proprietor - but, hardly an extensive collection.
I hope someone more up-to-date with London affairs will be able to be more helpful.
I'm afraid that Zawi is long gone, though there's still a branch of HMV on Oxford Street (on the north side a little way east of Oxford Circus). It used to have a reasonable Irish section upstairs, though it was far better for English folk (I'm using the past tense because I haven't been in the store for three years). If you head there, you're also very near Berwick Street on the south side of Oxford Street where there are several independent record stores, including Revival Records and a branch of Music and Video Exchange, which might have secondhand Irish CDs.
The problem is that getting hold of independent Irish releases in London can be pretty difficult, so it might be worth your while having a look at the Copperplate Distribution website http://www.copperplatemailorder.com/. If there are things there you want it's possible that Alan might allow you to collect them from him.
Yeah the HMV on Oxford St is probably your best bet, as far as I've been able to find, at least. But downstairs, rather than upstairs! I guess something's changed there since MacCruiskeen's time It has a "Folk" section and a "World" section (two titles which mean absolutely nothing, of course), but I think then it also has small "Irish" and "Scottish" sub-sections, etc. But they don't categorise the CDs down there very well, so I'd check all of it.
ITM shop in London?
ITM shop in London?
Hi everybody,
I will be in London for a few days and plan to go shopping for irish trad music cd's, since it is quite difficult to buy the stuff over here in Germany (other than via the web). Can one of you recommend a shop that specializes in ITM?
Thank you
# Posted on December 13th 2010 by hessian
Re: ITM shop in London?
Good question. I've never been able to find a specialist Irish music shop in London. Since I don't live in London anymore, I'm out of touch with any new developments, but Zavvi (formerly Virgin Records) by Tottenham Court Road tube had a fairly good selection last time I looked.
A few years ago, I set about seeking out a shop specialising in Irish music, thinking there *must* be such a thing somewhere in London, and was led to a small newsagent's and general stores in Willesden Green. There was some interesting stuff there (I picked up a CD of radio archive recordings of Denis Murphy from the '50s) - and fair play to the proprietor - but, hardly an extensive collection.
I hope someone more up-to-date with London affairs will be able to be more helpful.
# Posted on December 13th 2010 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: ITM shop in London?
I'm afraid that Zawi is long gone, though there's still a branch of HMV on Oxford Street (on the north side a little way east of Oxford Circus). It used to have a reasonable Irish section upstairs, though it was far better for English folk (I'm using the past tense because I haven't been in the store for three years). If you head there, you're also very near Berwick Street on the south side of Oxford Street where there are several independent record stores, including Revival Records and a branch of Music and Video Exchange, which might have secondhand Irish CDs.
The problem is that getting hold of independent Irish releases in London can be pretty difficult, so it might be worth your while having a look at the Copperplate Distribution website http://www.copperplatemailorder.com/. If there are things there you want it's possible that Alan might allow you to collect them from him.
# Posted on December 13th 2010 by MacCruiskeen
Re: ITM shop in London?
Yeah the HMV on Oxford St is probably your best bet, as far as I've been able to find, at least. But downstairs, rather than upstairs! I guess something's changed there since MacCruiskeen's time
It has a "Folk" section and a "World" section (two titles which mean absolutely nothing, of course), but I think then it also has small "Irish" and "Scottish" sub-sections, etc. But they don't categorise the CDs down there very well, so I'd check all of it.
# Posted on December 13th 2010 by Joe CSS
Re: ITM shop in London?
Also quite difficult to buy in London
Two shops that maybe worth trying if you are in the Oxford Street area -
Hobgoblin London
24 Rathbone Place , London, W1T 1JA
Rays Music shop in Foyles - Charing Cross Road
They both used to sell some but not a great selection of ITM not sure if they still do (or even if Rays is still going)
# Posted on December 14th 2010 by Gromit
Re: ITM shop in London?
Thank you for the informations- I surely will check these places out.
# Posted on December 16th 2010 by hessian
Re: ITM shop in London?
The shop in Willesden is called Mandy's. It sells irish food, gifts, papers, CD's etc. It is in Willesden High Road.
# Posted on December 20th 2010 by gabriel