The story of Oakham's Piano Café is one of triumph over adversity.

The last 18 months or so have been undeniably tough on music lovers, with the usual venues for live music closed.

Yet despite the difficulties presented by the pandemic, Dave Graham's upbeat response was to open a record shop, encouraging people to enjoy music in their own homes while live music was put on pause.

Dave had previously run his thriving music agency, DG Music, from the premises on South Street before diversifying and restyling it as a shop and cafe.

Now the two businesses are run side by side, complementing one another – and Oakham had its first record shop for three decades.

Dave said: "Vinyl has had such a massive resurgence and I think people were delighted to have the opportunity to browse in a record shop again.

"Oakham hadn't had a record shop for 30 years or more – there used to be one in the Market Place, Tracks, and many people will remember it."

For music lovers and musicians

The Piano Café has been keenly supported by the local community and quickly became a destination for music lovers, bringing visitors from elsewhere in Rutland and beyond and has even caught the attention of the wider music industry, including local 70s legendary rockers, Showaddywaddy.

Since it first opened last summer, well over 1,000 records have been sold.

Each day Dave and his team welcome people who bring in once-loved record collections for re-sale. The shop currently stocks more than 4,000 expertly curated best quality second-hand vinyl records and has access to over 100,000 more.

While specialising in jazz, folk and prog rock, the shop also sells new re-issues by big name favourites and run a popular vinyl finding service.

They have some rare items in stock too, like a first pressing of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon and the highly sought-after Beatles fan club Christmas flexi-discs.

As one might expect, Dave is an ardent fan of vinyl and the experience it offers.

He's keen to promote the benefits of owning a turntable and enjoying the pleasures of listening records old and new.

Dave said: "We live in a world of the playlist where we skip from one track to another.

"People don't tend to listen to the records that weren't hits, which of course is the majority of a band's library. When you listen to the whole side of an album you are listening to it as it was crafted and meant to be heard; it's like a musical journey."

Visitors to The Piano Café are welcomed to spend as much time as they like browsing through the albums, listening to music played on the equipment the shop sells, while enjoying a tea or coffee. There's seating inside the shop and outside too.

Dave said: "I truly believe that the future of the high street is about mixed retail. Shopping needs to be more experiential. I would love to have another larger Piano Café with a wine bar, a record shop at the back, a piano and live music. That's my dream!"

Known locally as the Music Man, Dave is no stranger to the music industry. He is a popular former Oakham School pupil and music teacher, a musician's agent, and talented professional musician.

Dave is now looking forward to a 100-plus date tour with Showaddywaddy as saxophonist and guitarist, which begins next month (September) and runs through until 2023, the year that marks the band's 50th anniversary.

He added: "It's been fantastic to perform in front of audiences once again!"

DG Music and The Piano Café are at 61 South Street, Oakham (opposite Tesco supermarket) Opening hours are 10am to 5pm.

The shop stocks a wide range of secondhand and new (re-released) albums, music-related merchandise, and British-made Rega turntables, amps and speakers priced from £275 for a turntable, £419 for a full system with amp and speakers. A range of coffee and teas are available.

Live music performances are filmed and recorded within the Piano Café for broadcast on YouTube and other platforms.

Full details can be found on the websites www.dgmusic.co.uk and www.thepianocafe.com

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