Pub vinyl takes over the local watering hole, with West Ham supporters herself proclaiming it as a perfect pairing
In the heart of north east London, a unique gathering took place last Saturday at The Forest Tavern pub. A pop-up shop named Dig a Little, specializing in second-hand records, brought a fresh wave of musical enthusiasm to the establishment, attracting people of all ages, including some young adults who were rummaging through the crates with eager eyes.
The event, initially met with a hint of snobbery, quickly transformed into an inclusive celebration of music. The patrons of The Forest Tavern, known for keeping to themselves, found themselves engaged in conversations about the vinyl records, their history, and the artists behind them.
Dig a Little, a local group that travels around the UK, curated a thoughtfully designed space with warm lighting, comfortable layouts, and sound systems optimized for high-quality listening. This created an environment where strangers became friends through common musical interests.
For new vinyl enthusiasts, advice regarding equipment was offered. Beginners were encouraged to invest in quality turntables designed to minimize wear, such as those with adjustable tracking force and anti-skate controls. A good cartridge and stylus were highlighted as crucial components, as they directly affect sound quality and record longevity.
The pop-up shop served as a focal point where people not only bought records but also sampled them through mini listening sessions, attended pre-release parties, and connected over the tactile and cultural appeal of vinyl records. This sense of community was further reinforced by leveraging social media and local influencers for promotion and organizing events tied to local music festivals.
The resurgence of vinyl sales was evident at the pop-up shop, with younger attendees heard asking their parents if they could get a turntable to play their new purchases. Even the clientele of The Forest Tavern, diverse as it is, with West Ham football fans, students, young families, yuppies, pensioners, and couples, found themselves drawn to the magnetic allure of vinyl.
An older patron at the pop-up shop even gave a lesson to a young man about the importance of older artists like Aretha Franklin and Sister Sledge over newer ones. The writer, a regular at The Forest Tavern, expressed that the community aspect of vinyl is what makes it special and that events like Dig a Little's pop-up shop are effective in getting young people into hi-fi.
One minor incident occurred when the writer mentioned preferring Peter Gabriel over Phil Collins, despite the organizer placing a Phil Collins record as a prestige piece. However, it was quickly brushed off, embodying the spirit of inclusivity that the event fostered.
The Forest Tavern, normally hosting standard pub events, was taken over by Dig a Little last Saturday, marking a significant shift in the establishment's atmosphere. The event served as a testament to the power of music in bringing communities together, a revival of the soul of music that seems to be resonating strongly in our modern world.
- The pop-up shop, Dig a Little, offered advice for new vinyl enthusiasts about investing in quality turntables with adjustable tracking force and anti-skate controls.
- People at the pop-up shop connected over the tactile and cultural appeal of vinyl records, using social media and local influencers for promotion.
- Strangers at the pop-up shop became friends through common musical interests, conversations about the vinyl records, their history, and the artists behind them.
- Music lovers rummaged through crates at the unique Dig a Little pop-up shop, attracting people of all ages at The Forest Tavern pub.
- Attendees were encouraged to sample records through mini listening sessions, and some even organized pre-release parties at the pop-up shop.
- Younger attendees heard at the pop-up shop asked their parents if they could get a turntable to play their new vinyl purchases.
- The writer, a regular at The Forest Tavern, expressed that the community aspect of vinyl is what makes it special and that events like Dig a Little's pop-up shop are effective in getting young people into hi-fi.
- Dig a Little created an environment optimized for high-quality listening at the pop-up shop, with warm lighting, comfortable layouts, and sound systems.
- Older attendees at the pop-up shop even gave lessons to young patrons about the importance of older artists, such as Aretha Franklin and Sister Sledge, over newer ones.
