It’s time to dust off your tweed jacket, your most obscure tote bag and that battered copy of The Collected Works of Oscar Wilde: legendary indie label Rough Trade is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a weekend-long shindig at the Southbank Centre.
Featuring performances from Pulp and Scritti Politti, as well as fellow signees such as caroline, the event is one July 17-19. There’ll also be ‘cross-arts performances’, a record fair and author appearances at An Evening With Rough Trade Books. The weekender coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain and the building of the Royal Festival Hall, making it a bonanza for British institutions.
Among the many unmissable events, award-winning playwright and screenwriter Hannah Patterson will present her debut novel Ungone with a performance from Ana da Silva of post-punk legends The Raincoats. The caroline show will also feature a set by My New Band Believe, the latest project from former black midi member Cameron Picton.
In a development that is endearingly beyond parody for the indier-than-thou label, Jarvis Cocker will also present a screening of northern kitchen sink classic Kes, featuring a live orchestral performance of its soundtrack.
What’s the full line-up?
Good question, fair question. Here’s a handy event listing:
- An Evening with Rough Trade Books: July 17, 7.30pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall
- Pulp: July 18, 7.30pm, Royal Festival Hall
- Hannah Patterson: Ungone – The Play: July 18, 3pm, Purcell Room
- Scritti Politti: July 18, 3pm and 8pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall
- Kes live soundtrack July 19, 5pm, Royal Festival Hall
- caroline & My New Band Believe: July 19, 7.30pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall
How do you get tickets?
We’re glad you asked! Here’s what you need to know:
- Southbank Centre Members can grab tickets from tomorrow (April 15)
- General sale begins the day after (April 16)
Rough Trade began life as a record shop in Notting Hill in 1976, before becoming a record label a couple of years later with signees including Stiff Little Fingers and the aforementioned Raincoats. The label famously signed The Smiths in the mid-‘80s, achieving huge mainstream crossover success in the process. After proving its longevity by releasing records by the Libertines and the Strokes in the early 2000s, Rough Trade opened a second store in Shoreditch in 2007.
Rough Trade Records founder Geoff Travis said: ‘This year means it’s 50 years since the day the first shop opened its doors on Kensington Park Road… Someone said we should celebrate! So here we are with a weekend takeover of the Southbank Centre. Come and celebrate with us.’
Plus: The best music festivals in London for 2026
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