The RecFest 2023 recap

The Mall in Wood Green was taken over by our free festival The RecFest 2023, organised by The RecordShop. On Saturday 12th of August, the corridors (and even some stores) got filled with laughter, dance and the most phenomenal national and international acts. A free festival for the Wood Green community and everyone in London.

The event opened the doors to everyone, adults and kids alike, allowing them to drop in throughout the day and enjoy live music, workshops, and creative activities. The festival had lots of little surprises around every corner.

Spread over five areas (the MainStage, the RecStage, the Rooftop, TFL stage and Wilko Space), over 300 visitors grooved to the music of over 60 acts on the line up.

The MainStage

At the MainStage, the festival opened with welcoming words of The RecordShop’s founder Mary Otumahana. Then we blasted the best tunes in the first DJ set of the day by DJ Dymond. Right after, the Tottenham-based world champion youth dance company Steppazs wowed the public, not only due to their amazing dance moves, but also because they were the youngest performers of the festival (only ten years old!).

Well-known and up-and-coming artists such as Ronan, Mr Jones Loud Music Group, and the Spanish group ADS Kru were part of the showcase.

The line-up on the main stage was headed by Spanish artist Icy Amane with her fusion of dancehall and soca and bilingual flow. South London artist Fullavibes also represented the tropical islands of Jamaica and Guyana, giving a show full of raw vibes and excitement. 

And of course, let’s not forget how the emerging group of innate rockstars Everything in Mono conquered everyone’s hearts on the MainStage, and even some stores (really!), making their guitar solos roar through the mannequins and stalls. And what a treat that was!

Even more fun

Right above the MainStage, the audience was enjoying the summery vibes at The Rooftop, with views over London’s Wood Green. The Mall’s rooftop transformed into an exciting beach bar, with fantastic DJ sets throughout the day and refreshing drinks from RedBull & BrewDog. Cheers to that.

And the fun didn’t stop there! Downstairs, at The RecordShop, people enjoyed a massive variety of crafts and handmade treats in the Local Business Market. The shoppers and exhibitor alike enjoyed the melodies of renowned talent of promising local musicians such as AlexandreTheGreat, Cyka Psyko, and Slam Jam. Nigerian artist and producer 705, also put a smile on everyone’s faces with his fusion of African afrobeats, R&B and hip-hop.

And as if that wasn’t enough, YesYesKat and Teelo Vasiliou discussed everything about being a creative in the Haringey Borough and gave dazzling tips to upcoming artists to succeed in an insightful creative panel talk. 

The little ones had their share during the festival too. They participated in a circus drop-in session with group Splats Entertainment, a ukulele class with Amy Clare Tasker, and an interactive illustration and visual art workspace. And of course, there was some face painting, as well. Because, who doesn’t get happy from face painting?

A total success

The RecFest 2023 was an entire success, hosting more than 300 visitors and the best UK-based acts and global acts to promote inclusivity and a cross-cultural exchange. The initiative created a chance for greater exposure, empowering artists to connect with new audiences and industry partners.

The tunes and dances made for sure everyone smile. Sure you can’t wait for next year’s RecFest to happen, right?

The RecordShop announces The RecFest, a free festival featuring local and global talent

The RecordShop presents The RecFest, a brand new festival for the local community, featuring performances by some of the most interesting up-and-coming musicians in London and the world. Supported by the Arts Council, Haringey Council, O2 Telefonica/Virgin Media, and The Mall (Wood Green), the RecFest is part of The RecordShop constant commitment to supporting new musical talent while providing a free space for music fans to gather and celebrate creativity.

On Saturday 12 August from 11:00 am to 10:30 pm, The RecFest takes place in The Mall in Wood Green and aims to attract over 300 visitors bringing local businesses, creatives & audiences to enjoy a day of music and fun. The event opens the doors to everyone, adults and kids alike, allowing them to drop in throughout the day and enjoy live music, workshops, and creative activities by booking a free ticket. The initiative serves as an opportunity for higher exposure, allowing musicians and creatives to access new audiences while also making industry contacts. 

The line-up on the main stage will be headed by artists such as Spanish artist Icy Amane who has developed a bilingual, versatile flow the public will not forget. ADS KRU is an ensemble that has revolutionised the streets of the most important cities in Spain, using rap as a tool for social transformation. The evening will culminate with a performance by artist dancer and choreographer Slim Iggs from Nigeria, whose dance moves will get the public dancing along. With a fusion of dancehall and soca, South London artist Fullavibes will represent the tropical islands of Jamaica and Guyana, giving a show full of raw vibes and excitement.

Expect also to hear a fusion of African afrobeats, R&B and Hip-Hop Music when seeing Nigerian artist and producer 705, he will play a mixture he calls afro-fusion, matching his African heritage with Western inspirations. The RecordShop founder and main organiser of the event, Mary Otumahana a.k.a.  WondRWomN, will share her intricate wordplay over jazzy, modern, or old-school hip hop beats all the way through to hard-hitting EDM and more unique styles.

Above the main stage, The Rooftop in The Mall will transform into a beach bar, with exciting DJ sets throughout the day and refreshing drinks from RedBull & BrewDog. The RecordShop will feature a local business market and its renowned talent of promising local musicians, as well as engaging panel talks by experienced industry professionals. Workshops during the festival will include a circus drop-in session with group Splats Entertainment, a ukulele class with Amy Clare Tasker, and an interactive illustration and visual art workspace.About The RecordShop: The RecordShop is a social enterprise that aims to bridge the gap between young musicians living in inner-city London and lifestyle brands. We are an independent grassroots organisation that has built a network of 800+ registered users and partnered with global brands including O2 Telefonica, Samsung, Dr Martens, Tottenham Hotspurs, Sofar Sounds, Volunteering Matters, and RedBull, helping them reach millennial audiences.

For further press information, please contact: Mary Otumahana, mary@therecshop.co.uk Tickets are free but should be booked via Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/nhj8c79s

The RecFest

We’re hosting our brand new festival for our community at The Mall (Wood Green)! Get ready for a full day of music, workshops & much more all brought to you by our award-winning social enterprise. We will have a lineup of artists including WondRWomN, Icy Amane, Slim Iggs, J.Ibz, ADS Kru and many more TBA! Buy your tickets now.

The RecShop Open Mic Experience

The RecShop has one of the best Open Mics Wood Green has to offer. From FREE studio time, to amazing live acts, we’re an overall great hangout spot and you can experience us in action this Saturday. 

Come along to our last open mics of 2022, which will take place on the 3rd and 17th of December from 7pm-10pm. Don’t miss out on your chance to perform or enjoy your local talent on our stage. 

The RecShop is a place where you can be yourself in a safe environment. We’re waiting for you.

Book your FREE ticket here.

Ishmael

RecShop daily drop-ins

The RecShop is one of the best safe spaces for young creatives aged 11-25, you can swing by and indulge in the comfortable studio space for recording, producing and engineering. Not only do we have studio space, we also have spaces for you and your band to rehearse and perform.

At The RecShop we supply your music and leisure needs. You can enjoy playing ping pong, whilst developing your professional skills in our multi-purpose music space. Whether its educational or creative, you can enjoy The RecShop experience, play piano, learn to drum or utilise our free desk space for homework, job applications, work, printing CV’s and not to forget our free wifi. Drop by between Tuesday & Friday.

Sign up now!!

[YOUTH]

Ojay

Ebi Fusion’s Plant Based & Artisan Market

From providing the best possible start for our youngsters with fresh quality produce, to buying local arts and crafts and supporting artisans, local markets provide a perfect opportunity to make a difference and, whats more, Ebi Fusion enables everyone to enjoy a great experience.

Join us tomorrow from 10-6pm for a vegan friendly day!

 

Back 2 Eden with She Speaks Faith!

She Speaks Faith is a platform for a community of sisters to connect and grow in Christ. On Saturday 27th August She Speaks Faith launched their first event – Back 2 Eden – a night of faith, empowerment, transparency and love, which featured the word of God, testimonies, group discussions, performances and food stalls.

The Open Mic Experience

The RecordShop Wood Green is the best spot for open mics, studio time and an overall amazing hangout spot. You have to experience what it’s like being here. 

With free music and affordable snacks and refreshments, it’s hard to go wrong.

It’s a welcoming atmosphere with an array of activities for you to take part in while enjoying the spontaneity of who will be performing, let alone the diverse mix of genres. 

We would like to invite you to view our fascinating performers and if you’re an artist, don’t miss out, we’re waiting for you.

The RecordShop is a place where you’re free to be yourself, a safe place to unwind and let go.

Whether you want to perform or attend – join us here – https://tinyurl.com/4xj7a7b7

Students of The RecordShop

The RecShow – Artist Accelerator Wrap Up!

On the 25th of June, our incredibly talented musicians from our latest Artists Accelerator Academy performed in front of an audience and showcased what they have been up to; from singing different types of genres including R&B to playing the bass guitar, they were amazing. Special mention and huge congratulations to Greta, Charlotte, Judah and Ikran for their amazing commitment and enthusiasm they put into the program. Below are photos you can check out and videos will be available on our social media platforms (such as Facebook and Instagram) to check out more of their performances! 

This event was also a mash-up with our Open Mic event which we hold every Saturday evening till 9 pm. We had amazing performances, including three original songs from Planet Janet, Jakob and more! It is an open-to-all event where you can come along and perform for free. It is a warm, welcoming and wholehearted environment where everyone is extremely supportive and uplifting of one another where you can relax, get a drink and just enjoy your evening. 

Rojda Aslan