Record Store Day Shops - Day 10 - Container Records in Brixton
Container
Records *You won’t be able to contain
your joy*
49 Brixton
Station Road, Brixton, London SW9 8PQ
07977
300074
containerrecords.com; info@containerrecords.com;
@containeruk
Monday-Wednesday
11am-7pm
Thursday-Saturday
11am-8pm
Sunday
12-6pm
Established
2015
Stock:
Vinyl, Pre-owned, Tickets, T-shirts
Nearest
station - Brixton
Container
Records is housed in a genuine shipping container in Pop Brixton where all the
traders sell from old shipping containers. It is part of a community initiative
that has transformed a disused plot of land into a ground-breaking space that
showcases the most exciting independent businesses from around the Brixton
area. It encourages new businesses by offering a substantial discount on
renting the containers. It is a brilliant idea that more councils should start.
It is home to 53 independent businesses including restaurants, retailers,
street food traders, designers, digital start-ups, a community barbershop, a
youth radio station and several social enterprises.
Although
the shop is particularly strong on Afrobeat, electronic music, hip hop, world,
grime, house and jungle, most genres are covered. Owner Jack Christie has a
background in music, having traded records online, run his own Techno label and
managed a nightclub in North London. In 2014 Jack started noticing a ringing in
his ears and was diagnosed with tinnitus. It was time to move away from a
career that involved working in an extremely loud environment. Due to Jack’s
condition you may notice the music is slightly quieter at Container than it is
in some shops.
Jack
always wanted his own record shop being inspired by memories of his school
holidays visiting his grandparents farm house near Porthmadog in North Wales.
Those
holidays involved his parents taking him to Cob Records. Having previously
shopped at Our Price, Jack was blown away by the musty crate-digging, archive
vibe of Cob. It left a lasting impression on him influencing his career choice.
Although
not exactly the Sistine Chapel, the ceiling is brilliantly decorated, and it is
by some distance the most atmospheric container you will ever visit. Jack
stocks some eye-catching T-shirts. My favourites are Britain’s Goth Talent, and
one that lists the most whimsical names of local DJ’s including Airdnb;
Beatloaf; Ket Dealy; Pariah Carey; Eighth of Base; Niche Lorraine; Definitely
Moby.
The shop
had only been open a few weeks when David Bowie died in January 2016. Brixton,
Bowie’s birthplace, was suddenly full of news media. Jack received a phone
call from Sky News asking if they could come and shoot in store with
ex-Sex Pistol Glen Matlock. They asked if the shop had some David Bowie
LPs in stock. The idea was for Glen to pick some out of the racks, take them to
the counter were Jack would sell them to him. It was to be broadcast on the
evening news. Jack agreed, but then realised he had nearly sold out of Bowie
vinyl. Much to the dismay of his customers, Jack had to hide the Bowie
selection. Sky News came and shot their story, although they didn't buy any of
the records for real.
You can’t
fault Jack’s commitment. He even has the Container Records logo tattooed on his
leg. He also hosts regular punk gigs at local venue The Windmill. For those
planning a visit on Record Store Day don’t worry about the shop being too
small. Jack hires out the container next door for the day.
Check out 220 more independent record shops in the book 'The Vinyl Revival and the Shops That Made it Happen'
Look out for the film based on the book. The Vinyl Revival' which is released April 13th
Comments
Post a Comment