Tin Pan Alley campaign calls for musicians to stand up for it

Organisers of the Save Tin Pan Alley campaign, which aims to maintain London’s Denmark Street’s status as a centre for the music trade, have called for more support from musicians and are looking to organise a benefit gig.

Denmark Street, also known as Tin Pan Alley and an historic centre for music shops in London, is being redeveloped on the North side which will means the demolition of surrounding streets such as Denmark Place, St Giles Circus [aka St Giles High St] leaving only its façade – as well as demolition of the first two floors of the former Saxophone Shop at number 21 Denmark Street.

Since May 2014 the campaign has been suggesting that the street becomes known as a ‘Heritage Zone’. Denmark Street is already designated as an area of ‘special interest’ by Camden Council’s 2010 stipulation. This ensures that the developers – Consolidated – have to adhere to music related retail outlets ‘exclusively’. In other words the shops must be leased to music related retail, only. But with reduced shop space due to the demolition of 50 per cent of the rear of each guitar shop now rapidly under way, and with rising rents looking likely, the future looks uncertain.

Campaign organiser Henry Scott-Irvine has called for more support from well-known musicians in raising awareness of the situation and hopes that manufacturers may also be able to entice their endorsing artists to become involved.

He said: “Pete Townshend, Engelbert, Glen Matlock, John Robb, Little Barrie of Primal Scream and The Bermondsey Joyriders have all been very helpful in promoting the cause of our campaign and the Save TPA Committee would also like to make this known to a  wider public.

“English Heritage and The Georgian Group have been working in conjunction with our committee too, which comprises of nearly all of the PRS Board, alongside executives from The MPA, The MU, The MCPS, BASCA, The Music Venues Trust, Music UK, Music Heritage UK and the GLA’s Music Officer Paul Broadhurst. Sir Keir Starmer QC MP has been helpful, too, as has Councillor Sue Vincent from The London Borough of Camden who is looking into rate reductions on our behalf.” 

The campaign is hoping to organise a fundraising concert with major music names who have bought instruments in the street.

Find out more about the campaign here and read Phil Ryan’s excellent piece on it right here.