Puregroove closes Smithfield record shop
In sad news for the capital’s record-buying public, Puregroove – superlative Farringdon, London, record shop – will be closing its current location. Though the excellent puregroove.co.uk will continue stocking and flogging excellent records through a relaunched website, they will stop selling music and hosting in-stores and the venue will change names. Puregroove will reopen from a new location in 2011, and the team will reopen a new venue from the 6-7 West Smithfield . The record label, which has released music from Hundred in the Hand, Phenomenal Handclap Band, Joy Formidable and Micachu, and distributed releases from associated labels Transparent, Hit Club, Neon Gold and 77s, will, of course, continue as ever.
Puregroove started in its current location from June 2008. Instores have included Graham Coxon, Edwyn Collins, Little Boots’ first gig, Erol Alkan, Joe Goddard, Metronomy and Marina and the Diamonds. Before we moved into our current home, the tables at 6-7 West Smithfield served as our unofficial offices, and we wish Simon and everyone else involved the best of luck in whatever they do next.
Below is the statement posted on the website.
It is with some regret to announce that Pure Groove will be closing the record shop department in its current 6-7 West Smithfield location from Tuesday 20th July. Recent developments in the building have made staging events impossible and we have decided that it’s time to call it a day for music in-store. We’ll be shutting on 20th July for a period of renovation so keep an eye on the exciting new venture coming soon to Smithfields. We’re sure you’ll be just as excited as we are about it.
However, it’s far from the end for Pure Groove. Our new website launches in August and we’ll be developing the online content and retail sections, plus there will be more space and scope given to the amazing labels we work with. In addition, we’ll be putting on an increasing amount of events in other locations, much like the hugely successful Born Ruffians and School Of Seven Bells shows we recently put together. In addition, we’ll be hosting special pop-up shops at festivals, featuring special showcases on the day from some of the artists playing at the events. And in 2011, we’ll be opening a new bricks and mortar outlet in a new location, which we hope will feature all of what made 6-7 West Smithfield (and 679 Holloway Road!) so vibrant, plus bringing something new to London’s already buzzing musical heartland.
Returning to the present! For all of this week, we’ll be selling hard and fast to clear old stock, so head down 11am-11pm each day as everything must go! We’ll also be hosting another record fair on Sat 17th July from 12-5pm with bargains galore! And the last EVER instore at Pure Groove will be on Monday 19th July with our new signing Spark playing live at 8pm! Should be emotional!
So it’s the end of a chapter for Pure Groove but the dawn of a new one. We loved every minute at 6-7 West Smithfield, from the infamous events like Mumford & Sons, Noah & The Whale and Late Of The Pier playing unique sets, to the screenings of great movies like No Distance Left To Run, to the showcase of hundreds of new bands (some at lunchtime slots which became a staple of many punters’ workdays!) that became superstars or vanished into obscurity!
We would like to pay tribute to everyone that made the space such a special environment – the bands, the DJs, the artists, the filmmakers but most of all, the people that came and brought a smile and a genuine love of music through the door. We’ll see you all soon!
