DISCOVER TRACKS CHOSEN BY DJ TARGET, KATY B, DJ ARTHI AND SEVEN ICONIC UK RECORD STORES, AS WELL AS COCKTAILS SPECIALLY CREATED FOR EACH GENRE.

On June 17th, to mark World Music Day, we reimagined what a record store could be – fusing crate-digging culture with the energy of a listening bar, backed by a world-class sound system and even better cocktails.

Whether you made it through the doors or just want to recreate the vibe from home for your next social gathering, here’s the full lowdown – including curated playlists and perfectly matched Monkey Shoulder cocktails.

MEET THE CURATORS

Three musical trailblazers, three completely different crates, one unifying brief: share the tracks that influenced you.

DJ TARGET – Grime Pioneer & BBC 1Xtra Presenter

DJ Target’s journey started in the Garage scene with Pay As You Go Cartel, paving the way for primetime DJ slots at BBC Radio 1 & BBC 1Xtra. Growing up with the likes of Wiley and Kano, Target’s journey as a ‘grime kid’ sparked both underground and mainstream success. 

Recognised as founder of chart-topping group Roll Deep, Target is a radio broadcaster, presenter and author. His versatile selections and dedication to spotlighting artists has become make or break for upcoming UK rap talent. 

PAIR WITH THE COCKTAIL 'DAMN.'

• 30ml Monkey Shoulder Original

• 15ml Plum Liqueur

• 15ml Grape Juice

• 100ml Ginger Ale

• Garnish with Long Lemon Twist

Method: Pour all ingredient over ice into a highball glass

KATY B – UK Dance Queen

Peckham-born singer and songwriter Katy B is best-known for her work in the UK dance scene. Since her debut album 'On A Mission' was nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2011, she quickly became a champion of British underground sound. 

Seamlessly fusing genres such as dubstep, R&B, funky house and UK garage, Katy is a deeply respected luminary with deep roots in rave and pirate radio scenes - often handpicked by top producers to lend her legendary vocals.

PAIR WITH THE COCKTAIL 'BEALE ST.'

• 60ml Monkey Shoulder Original

• 10ml Pecan Syrup

• 1 Dash of Orange Bitters

• 100ml Ginger Ale

• Garnish with a Pecan & Orange Peel

Method: Add ingredients to a rocks glass with a large cube of ice then stir for 2 minutes.

DJ ARTHI – Genre-Fusing Powerhouse

Multi-hyphenate talent Arthi has made the biggest headlines over the past year as a DJ. Alongside her Rinse FM radio residency, her ability to effortlessly blend dancehall, garage, afrobeats and bhangra grooves with heavyweight bass music creates mixes that choreographers simply dream of. 

Spinning at festivals like Glastonbury and All Points East have made her a household name, with her self-titled Arthi Hard party touring multiple cities around the UK.

PAIR WITH THE COCKTAIL 'KIMBARA'

• 40ml Monkey Shoulder Original

• 10ml Cointreau

• 10ml Lime Juices

• 100ml Cherry Soda

• Garnish with an Orange wedge

Method: Add all ingredients to highball glass filled with ice.

MEET THE RECORD STORES

No record store, no party. These seven shops brought crates packed with rare finds, fresh presses, and genre deep-dives curated by those who live and breathe vinyl.

SISTER RAY - LONDON

Sister Ray Records, founded in 1989 by Neil Brown, is a legendary Soho record store known for its passionate staff and deep love for vinyl. Named after the Velvet Underground song, it has survived the highs and lows of the music retail world, from its early days among a vibrant community of independent stores to becoming a key player in the vinyl revival and Record Store Day movement.

EASTERN BLOC - MANCHESTER

Eastern Bloc Records, established in 1985, quickly became a cultural icon in Manchester’s music scene. Known for championing acts like the Inspiral Carpets and hosting legends like The Stone Roses, it’s long been a hub for cutting-edge sounds. Today, it continues to thrive, specialising in vinyl and CDs across drum & bass, jungle, dubstep, house, techno, and electronica.

SWORDFISH RECORDS - BIRMINGHAM

Swordfish Records is an independent record store in Birmingham with roots dating back to 1979, when it first opened as Rockers in Hurst Street. Over the decades, the shop has evolved through changing locations and shifting music formats - from punk and acid house vinyl to rare psych reissues and avant-garde Japanese releases. Swordfish continues to thrive as a hub for vinyl lovers, collectors, and curious diggers, backed by a rich in-store history and a devoted following that includes everyone from John Peel to Dave Grohl.

KLANG TONE RECORDS - STROUD

Klang Tone Records is an independent record store and label based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, founded by Sean Roe and Ritsuko Hidaka. Specialising in jazz, electronic, and experimental sounds, the shop reflects Sean’s eclectic taste - ranging from Japanese music and Afrobeat to avant-garde jazz and reggae - making it a treasure trove for discovering records you never knew you needed.

DIGGERS CLUB RECORDS - CARDIFF

Diggers Club Records started as a tiny appointment-only shop and has grown into a hidden gem in Cardiff Bay. Known for its deep crates and global reach - especially Japanese imports - it’s been called an Aladdin’s Cave for collectors. With thousands of records spanning genres from Latin 45s and Nigerian funk to house, jungle, jazz-funk, and anime soundtracks, it’s a digger’s dream for both newcomers and seasoned heads alike.

STRIP JOINT RECORDS - GLASGOW

Strip Joint Records is a proudly independent, vinyl-only record store based in Glasgow, Scotland, nestled inside Strip Joint Glasgow restaurant and bar. Specialising in both new releases and classic sealed records, the shop also operates online, shipping worldwide to the UK, EU, USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Whether you're crate-digging in person or browsing from home, Strip Joint Records is all about keeping the vinyl spirit alive.

HONEST JON’S - LONDON

Honest Jon’s has been serving West London’s most vibrant community, in more ways than one, since 1974. In the ’80s the shop moved to its current Portobello home, where Clare also launched the Boplicity label with a mission to reissue jazz greats. As it expanded, it increasingly became an informal university for music lovers; the shop counts Roger Beaujolais, Neil Barnes of Leftfield, The Wire founder Anthony Wood, Gilles Peterson and James Lavelle within its alumni.

PAIR WITH THE COCKTAIL 'GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES'

• 20ml Monkey Shoulder Original

• 10ml Fresh Monkey

• 15ml Simple Syrup

• 20ml Grapefruit Juice

• 50ml Pale Ale

• Garnish with a Mint Sprig and Grapefruit slice

Method: Add the Monkey Shoulder, Fresh Monkey, Simple Syrup and Grapefruit Juice to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice then top with the Pale Ale and garnishes.

WORLDWIDE FM TAKEOVER

Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide FM are also on the star-studded line-up, providing an exclusive pull of global gems to celebrate their ongoing partnership ‘Studio Monkey Shoulder’ designed to spotlight international grassroots talent.

PAIR WITH THE COCKTAIL 'COOLEY HIGH HARMONY'

• 50ml Monkey Shoulder Original

• 25ml Raspberry Syrup

• 20ml Lemon Juice

• 20ml Egg White

• Garnish with a Raspberry Sugar

Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and then strain into a Coupette glass and garnish.

Now you have everything you need. We hope you enjoy listening and discovering new tracks and cocktails.

The full playlist from Monkey Shoulder Records can be found here.

For more cocktail inspiration...