By community correspondent Jack Claydon

Kingston is well known for its expansive shopping opportunities and its thriving nightlife with clubs like Oceana, but what many people don’t know about is Kingston’s thriving music scene. This scene is headed by Banquet Records who organise gigs and also sell records at their shop along Eden Street. I am writing to inform you of how good this company is and how it should be more recognised for the work it does.

It was only the 28th of January when I had my first experience of what Banquet Records has to offer. They organised an all ages gig at their venue, The Hippodrome, where a relatively unknown band called Hadouken! played to a crowd of about 200. I was in this crowd and at the end I felt that I had ripped off Banquet Records as the tickets at a cost of £8 plus the album was unbelievably good value for the fun time I had. The music was loud but not uncomfortably and there was a safe atmosphere with staff on hand to watch out for any issues. Me and my friends had a great time and at the end the band signed CDs for the crowd. My only possible gripe is that the set they played was relatively short but this is such a minor whinge.

Enough of my experience, Banquet Records offer so much more with many famous bands playing instore and at the Hippodrome for them. Examples include Vampire Weekend, We are Scientists and You Me At Six. These bands have all had certain success in the UK charts. This shows how top bands recognise this label as a great a good producer of entertainment and therefore we should start to recognise them more too. Moreover the staff are incredibly nice and friendly and chatty as well. They all have extensive music knowledge and are happy to help.

Banquet Records don’t just offer bands all age’s events either. Their “New Slang” involves many top bands playing to an 18+ crowd where the atmosphere, I can only assume, would be electric. They also hold special club events such as Valentines and Halloween specials where DJs play music all night long.

So what can we do to help? We can help get Banquet Records recognised by going to their store and attending some of their fantastic events. We need to help this company as they are one of the last of a dying breed of independent record labels where the big corporations control the charts. Music is for the people and Banquet Records certainly gives it to them.