18 respected labels are teaming up to host a special record fair – the Independent Label Market – in Soho, London, on May 21.

The event is the  brainchild of Angular Records, home to the likes of These New Puritans, Wetdog and Gyratory System. A press release tells us more about the idea behind it:

“Independent Label Market is a follow up event to Record Store Day which is being held on the 16th April, and will further raise awareness of the exciting music produced by independent labels from the UK and beyond.

The event will take place on Berwick Street, where the founders / heads of these labels will sell their wares directly to the customers, at that traditional goods exchange – a market stall.

Armed with flasks of tea and punnets of 7”s, each label boss will man their own stall and spend the day meeting their public – and where better to launch this than on Berwick Street, where the first market appeared in 1778.”

Confirmed participating labels are: Domino, Rough Trade, Bella Union, Tri Angle, Merok, Angular Records, House Anxiety, Roundtable, Heavenly, Transparent, Weird World and Moshi Moshi, with another five to be anounced in two weeks’ time. More information here.

Berwick St is currently home to Sister Ray (pictured), Revival Records and the Music & Video Exchange. Though several much-loved shops have met their end in recent years, Soho remains London’s foremost record-buying hub, with the aforementioned plus Phonica, Blackmarket, WyldPytch and Sounds Of The Universe all within spitting distance of each other. It’s also where you’ll find the FACT office, for obvious reasons.