Tonic Music @ Tim Burgess’ Merch Market

Tonic Music attended Tim Burgess’ Merch Market at the Troxy in London - here is how it went...

Tonic Music kick-started the new year with Tim Burgess (The Charlatans) Merch Market at east London venue, the Troxy on Sunday 11th January. 

This free event welcomed over 100 artists to sell their merchandise and take home 100 percent of the profit, with around 5,000 music fans coming along to support artists and buy their merch. 

As well as this, a variety of performances, live interviews and more merch stalls took place in two other participating venues, The George Tavern and The Clement Attlee. 

The Charlatan’s frontman launched the massive merch market last year in Manchester, after frequently campaigning against venues taking an unfair cut of band merch sales from artists. 

JAMES WALSH

Transforming the Troxy’s entrance into Foyer of Love, Tonic Music brought a buzz to the merch market by providing a Tonic Lounge, consisting of the Team Tonic offering information about our services and selling Tonic Merch (of course!), along with rare signed items, a sofa allowing music fans to take a breather, as well as our founding patron Terry Hall’s iconic piano. 

The Specials’ frontman was a firm believer in the power of music and how it can help to aid mental health recovery stating, “music can pave the path to light even in the darkest of places”.

JAMES WALSH AND DEANO MUNFORD

“Playing one of my own songs on Terry Hall’s piano was a surreal moment. He has been one of my heroes for as long as I can remember, so using his piano felt really special.”

FINN SEXTON (Monumental)

So, in honour of Terry Hall, the Tonic Lounge in the Foyer of Love had many special guests that took the mic, together with The Rifles’ Deano Mumford playing Terry’s piano throughout the day.

DEANO MUNFORD (The Rifles)

Special guests that performed in the Tonic Lounge were The Rifles’ vocalist Joel Stoker; Starsailor’s James Walsh performing his song Good Souls and Something by The Beatles; Darlings frontman and guitarist Steve Marriott Dos Anjos (Small Faces’ frontman, Steve Marriott’s, nephew) covering Small Faces Lazy Sunday Afternoon in tribute; the FOLK DRAMA performing an elegant set; singer-songwriter Finn Sexton from Monumental, performing a not yet released original song Life You Had, and of course Tim Burgess performing with Deano covering Our Lips Are Sealed (originally sung by Terry Hall) and Labi Siffre’s It Must Be Love. 

TIM BURGESS AND DEANO MUNFORD

JOE STOKER (The Rifles)

THE FOLK DRAMA

Tonic Music understands how economically difficult the live music industry is currently, affecting everyone from artists to venues, promoters, and music fans. 

Buying merch is the most meaningful way of supporting an artist, as well as going out and about and wearing it with pride. 

Every Tonic Music t-shirt bought at the Merch Market helps us to support 

music communities access free therapy sessions, peer groups, skills workshops and training courses.

“Everyone who popped by to purchase our merch or just to find out who we were was lovely and had plenty of great chats. The event itself was superb. If you have not been to the Merch Market yet keep an eye out for the next one, it is not to be missed!” 

DAVE CLARK (Tonic Music Event Coordinator)