Speakers Corner Quartet

London

An independent recording and rehearsal studio based in Hither Green. It's a very special spot for us because we use it for most of our rehearsals. There's a huge sense of community, and it's where we've centred our music. If you know, you know. Everyone from Dennis Bovell, Tirzah and Sampha have been through the doors. We'll be rehearsing for our Rally show there too.

The Room Studios is run by a great team with an incredible level of care. It is also situated in an artist studio hub. You might go in to record or rehearse and come out with a newfound sense of inspiration and like-minded collaborators. 

When we're rehearsing at The Room Studios, you'll find us at Saka Maka, with our bellies and hearts full. Saka Maka's Nithin has provided us with a food home for years now. The menu is tandoor-centric, a mixture of modern and classic British Indian food. The service is warm and the food comforting. It's been such a landmark spot for us that we also shot some press photos there! 

One of our favourite record stores in South London. A great overall variety of genres and you'll always be able to find gems there. It's the kind of record shop where you'd just hang out for the day. Lorenzo makes you feel at home and if you're not sure what you're looking for, his recommendations are always on point. 

Silk Road is the worst kept secret in Camberwell. An institution for Xinjiang cuisine and an ode to the legacy of the Silk Road route. We thought we lost this gem in 2023 but they're back! This is simple, no frills traditional cooking that packs a punch. This is not a place that welcomes the European idea of slow dining haha, enjoy your food and go. We always order the charcoal-grilled cumin lamb shish skewers, the hand-pulled noodles, the dumplings and the home-style cabbage. The portions are generous and great value and it's great place to start the night before you move on to whatever quests you've got planned.

Great spot for second-hand gems of the audio-visual kind. the shop is run by good peeps with even better intentions for the creative community. This is a huge goldmine for diggers looking for cameras and lenses! There's also MPCs, hi-fis, vintage synths, drum machines, musical instruments, you name it, if you take your time, you'll find treasure!

There's a lot of debate on what constitutes a good Jamaican spot and everyone has their opinions. We chose Maureen's because it's like going to your Aunty's house for a meal. There's something very special about it, because you're literally in her yard, it makes you feel like you're home. Maureen's a formidable woman, she's always giving back to the community in so many ways, and shows so much care and love. Look out for the jerk pan smoke billowing behind her wall and you're in the right place. If the weather is good, you'll also be able to pull up to eat too.

All the classics are great there, curry goat, jerk chicken, fried chicken, oxtail. There's also a very naughty option to have a platter if you can't decide. Go hungry and show Maureen some love.

This is a very special spot, again run by good people with great intentions for the community. We need more people like this to run record stores like this! It's a special trifecta of record store, bar and dub-plate cutting!

Records wise, this is a haven for underground dance and electronic music. It's a proper community feeling thanks to Dexta. It's a place you go to listen to what's new in music, hang out and sink a couple of beers. The events program is pretty solid too, there's an open decks night as well. 

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Jacob Alon

Edinburgh

Loyal, affordable and reliable. I usually go there after rehearsing with my band or recording at my friend’s studio Knockwood. When I’m there I get the falafel wrap meal (without the yogurt sauce), and I sit downstairs at the big round table.

One of the most welcoming and magical queer cafes I may be biased as I used to work here, but this is a place of true community and kindness. Not to mention the delicious coffee and cozy loving vibes

An iconic queer dj collective and club night. Their slogan is something like “everyone welcome …” (nb. look at insta bio)- This is a safe space and would like to be respected in that way. Cvnty outfits, fabulous divas, and genuinely great tunes.

Found at the bottom of Leith Walk. Cheap coffee. Queer coded & friendly - big lgbtq+ book sections.. Quiet, cute, soft spot for the more introverted days.

Check out the Late with Kate at bannerman’s bar in the fringe at 12am every night. Cult following iconic and hilarious, although the bar staff might not be the friendliest… Part of the PBH free fringe too!

Best for a nice greasy spoon. A reliable hangover cure. There are two spots - Meadows and Princes Street. I get the big vegan breakfast if it’s sunny, or I’ll get a takeaway and sit in the meadows

Mistica glamour’s show (look up desc!).. Probably the only queer bar/club in Edinburgh I would go to. DJ Rochet Rabbit is a beautiful queen - leave them a tip!

I always go here when I need new guitar strings or when I’m seeking some new inspiration from a strange and peculiar instrument 

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Merca Bae

Madrid

First stop: my go-to barbershop in Lavapiés. A proper night out starts with looking your best. Tito and Mayo will have you fresh and ready.

Central Madrid has become quite hostile to locals (it feels more like a theme park nowadays). But this market still keeps the neighbourhood’s essence alive. A perfect spot for a few pre-party drinks.

One of my go-to restaurants when I’m organising parties. Amazing Chinese food, right in downtown, cheap and authentic. Don’t miss the eggplant with garlic sauce and meat, it’s impressive.

A classic cocktail bar in the heart of the city. I always go for an after-dinner drink. My favorites: the “Cielo Raso” and the “Bronx”.

One of Madrid’s most iconic clubs, which opened in 1989. Like most venues here, the independent promoters are the ones that keep it interesting. Some of the city’s most cutting-edge collectives like Post Club and BRRRRRAP have held events here, Fridays or Saturdays mainly. I co-organise the ‘MERCABR5AP’ party at Siroco with BRRRRRAP, a collective that’s been active for over 12 years. It’s a small venue (around 180-capacity), and could definitely invest in a better sound system and also improve conditions for promoters, but for me still feels like home.

Since the pandemic, most of the most exciting parties have moved out here. Solid clubs, serious respect for sound, and really interesting line-ups. No names mentioned, gotta keep the secret location vibe alive. 

Right now, I think this is the most exciting neighbourhood in Madrid — although gentrification is creeping in fast. It's packed with recording studios, art galleries, dance schools, and more… It still keeps that authentic neighbourhood feel.

When The Club Feels Like Home: Merca Bae's Madrid

City Daze

Start at Alexandra Palace and enjoy the incredible views over London. Then, head towards Highgate Woods. Peaceful and green, full of tall trees and little clearings perfect for sitting down, taking a breath and soaking it all in. You feel a world away from the hustle. If you want to continue, Queen Woods is right next door and is home to one of the loveliest woodland cafe’s around. 

Bushy Park is a beautiful alternative to Richmond Park for those who want to wander through wide open spaces, tall grass, roaming deer, listen to the sound of woodpeckers and stare at big skies. There are lots of hidden trails taking you through pockets of woodland, streams and ponds making for a lovely adventure. The perfect recipe for regulating your nervous system and inspiring creativity. While it’s a little bit further out than the rest of the routes, you can still get there by bus from central London. 

While Hampstead Heath holds the limelight and rightly so, Golders Hill Park and the Hill Garden & Pergola offer a quieter, lesser known alternative. This route winds through beautiful gardens, ponds, shaded woodland paths, and leads you to the Pergola - a raised, ivy-covered walkway with crumbling stone columns and gorgeous views over the flowers below. Golders Hill itself is full of surprises - there’s a deer enclosure and a small aviary where you can spot owls among other birds. It’s a calm, open space with ponds, a café, and plenty of benches to pause on. If you’re looking for the beauty of the Heath without the crowds, this is definitely a detour worth taking.

Start in the bustle of the market and head towards Mare Street and King Edwards Road. After a short stretch, the path opens into Victoria Park where you can have a wander among the tree-lined paths or cut across the open fields. From there, the route dips onto the canal and winds through more industrial surroundings past old warehouses, murals, and the echoes of raves gone by before reaching Hackney Wick. A walk that mixes calm and character with plenty of chances to stop and take in the surroundings.

Hackney is where it all started for us! This is where City Daze was born and where we (Rose and Zoe) became friends, psychologists and walking guides. Start from Walthamstow Wetlands and head down towards the Marshes - both mystical in their own right. Tucked in East London, the Marshes stretch wide with wild paths and pockets of stillness that make the city feel miles away. There are hidden corners everywhere, from open fields to secret woodland trails, but the area around the Middlesex Filter Beds is our go to. 

Pack refreshments as you’ll likely get lost in the marshes' charm and lose track of time. 

If you’re looking for a mix of history, green space and classic views, the route from Cutty Sark to Greenwich Park and the Royal Observatory is a must. Head off from the Cutty Sark Ship and walk uphill into Greenwich Park for the most beautiful London skyline and the chance to visit the Royal Observatory and Prime meridian line. 

It’s a lovely route that blends a day out in the city with the vast open space you’d typically get in the countryside.

The Three Brockley Peaks is a loop linking Hilly Fields, Blythe Hill, and One Tree Hill - three underrated high points in South London with some of the best panoramic views across the city. It’s a walk that takes you through green pockets, woodland paths, and open skies, showing just how much nature South East has to offer. Perfect for golden hour or a slow Sunday reset.

Battersea Park is a green gem right by the Thames, perfect for a walk and talk meet up. It’s got everything: wide open lawns, water, woodland trails, and a cool sculpture garden. We’d recommend heading down Terrace Walk towards the London Peace Pergoda for the views. You’ll spot swans, squirrels, and plenty of locals out for a stroll or picnic. 

If you find yourself overwhelmed in central London and looking for a beautiful park to unwind, within a few minutes you can be among flowers, wildlife and history. The Green Park & St James Park circular is the one. Tucked behind Buckingham Palace this route offers a breather in the heart of the city. Pause by the water or watch the Pelicans roam around before heading back into the charming chaos of the city. 

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sailorr

Los Angeles 

We ordered Escargot, oysters, chicken salad that had papaya in it. It’s all just street food that you’d find on the side of the street in Vietnam, a lot of people just eat stir-fried snails and season it with lemongrass, tamarind, garlic. It’s super tangy and spicy, it’s so good!  

There’s this spot for desert. They have these really good avocado smoothies and a lot of good coconut smoothies, but they also have my favourite desert. In English it’s called green honeycomb cake—it’s a green pandan that’s chewy, almost has a mochi-like texture, but it’s a cake. 

Their guoi cuon is really good—the summer rolls. I honestly haven’t tried much else on the menu, I literally just go there for that.

They have a pop up shop that sells clothing, books, just random things! I love it there. 


I haven’t had time to go enough, but I used to go a lot visiting my family. You can find clothes, incense, jewellery—you can get your grillz done there if you wanted to! I got mine done in Atlanta, but I’m manifesting that Johnny Dang makes my next set, only cause he’s Vietnamese. 

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"Anyone who says you can't take it with you has never seen me pack" - Dolly Parton

South London Calling

Trippin

What's New

See The World

That Carnival Feeling

"Anyone who says you can't take it with you has never seen me pack" - Dolly Parton

South London Calling