Original design by Sissey
It’s jazz junkies. It’s long queues outside. It’s the birthplace of UK’s greatest guitar heroes and the British music business that sent echoes across the earth.
Kick the clocks back in time and take a two-step to the days of Twist and Shout. Whether you are drinking a strawberry daiquiri with your best friend or lover, the music can take you anywhere.
Soho, the district known for it’s magically neon night life, is a haven for live music and entertainment. After all, there’s nothing quite like a sweaty, jam packed room where you can dance the night away with your mates.
Paul Betts of Spice of Life McMullen’s pub, agrees that pub culture is what makes the streets light up at night.
“It’s the rich heritage….we’ve had highlights like Paul Simon and Bob Dylan play at our pub,” said Betts. When asked what keeps his customers coming back, Betts said that it’s a mixture of results.
“We have a bit of an eclectic musical scene here which keeps things fresh and appeals to a large audience. We also have a good selection of music and events and our food menu gets changed twice a year. Also atmosphere is huge…ours is generally laid back…and a good audience mixes it up.”
Named in honour of Prince George of Denmark, it was once a strip of recording studios. Denmark Street, only about 100 yards in length, is a tiny yet compelling area jammed with rich historical legacy. The modest street was a springboard to the careers of megastars like the Rolling Stones, Donovan and the Kinks. From the raw talent of the Beatles, to the spectacular guitar riffs of teeth picking Jimi Hendrix, this street marks the birthplace of the UK’s greatest musical legends.
Huddled towards the end of the street you’ll find Regent Sounds – about the size of a postage stamp. It gives you a whimsical feeling of the past.
“We love it when people say they come back to visit our shop,” said Dominic Alari, manager at Regent Sounds.
“We get people from all over the world coming. You really have to take it all in and it’s great when our customers keep coming because you are most welcome.”
The recording studio-turned-guitar-shop unearths treasures from the past. Vintage vinyl album covers dot the walls. Black and white oldie posters give off a nostalgic feel. The shop, with polished electric and acoustic guitars hanging from the wall, has a relaxed vibe, with savvy, friendly dudes in skinny jeans willing to assist. You may even find an employee strumming on a Fender guitar, eager to help you choose that perfect match.
There was a time when this street was a bustling hot spot. Singers, songwriters and publishers alike would hustle and meet to break a deal. Places like Cafe Giaconda – which no longer exists – is where musicians like Elton John and David Bowie would hang.
Telstar, the tune admired by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was created in part by songwriter Guy Fletcher. Fletcher also worked on this famed street and contributed to the guitar section of the song that Thatcher loved.
But the area has also been in danger of the phrase “the death of Denmark street” since its conversion into musical shops. It could be in danger of becoming too “Disneyfied” as some have put it, which means being too touristy, taking away from its natural beauty and charm.
So is it in danger of losing its original authenticity?
Jimmy James of Wunjo Guitars seems to think that the spirit of the music can still be kept alive.
“There is definitely a vibe and a scene here…especially with the people who socialise,” said James. “People work here and frequently use this street and it is very much part of the heritage of the British music scene.”
At Wunjo Guitars one can find banjos, mandolins and ukuleles are scattered throughout the shop. James, who has been with Wunjo for over nine years, says that it’s the friendly atmosphere that draws customers back to this place.
“We aren’t just a “faceless brand” where you go get any old guitar. It’s that charm and that rich history that keeps people coming back here. It’s why we see customers returning from all over the place…all over the world. We build relationships with individuals and we help them seek out that perfect instrument based on their needs and budgets. We even have customers contacting us when they return home asking us to ship to them!”
And James’ favourite guitar hero of the past?
“Jimi Hendrix of course, because we both share the same first name.”
So it’s the baristas. It’s the streets. It’s the people which make the area so powerfully irresistible and captivating. It’s the history that ties the past with the future. What remains is the thumping heartbeat of the raw and reckless musicians beforehand who paved the path for those dreamers to follow.
It’s the Sound of Soho.
Original Design by Sissey
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