DASH THE HENGE: WHERE GENRES COLLIDE AND COMMUNITY THRIVES

In the heart of South London, where DIY spaces are under constant pressure, Dash The Henge has carved out a defiantly independent home for outsider art. More than just a record shop, it’s a hub for live music, exhibitions, book launches, and community connection. We sat down with the team to talk about their ethos, their refusal to compromise, and what it means to keep grassroots culture alive in 2025.

What does the name “Dash The Henge” mean to you, and how does it reflect your ethos?

We believe in preserving and conserving outsider art and if we can pebble dash Stonehenge to boot then its a win win.

You’ve built something genre-fluid and defiantly independent. Was that intentional from the start, or did it evolve with the community?

We always intended to cross genres as it’s what we love, we’re music fans not genre fans, so it was natural to stock music across all genres. We also wanted to build a shop that everyone can find something they like, whether that’s genre or budget dependent… We’re an independent and proud of it, there’s a lot of major players about that fly the indie flag which technically they are but economically they’re far from it.

What does “grassroots” mean to you in 2025 especially in South London, where DIY spaces are under pressure?

Grassroots is where it begins, we’re proud to be part of a DIY movement, it’s tough for shops like ours and other DIY venues but we firmly believe that together we are stronger hence always looking to collaborate with like-minded people and businesses.

You host live music, exhibitions, book launches, and more. How do you decide what belongs in the space and what doesn’t?

We don’t gate keep, never have done, people approach us to play the shop, launch a book, put on an exhibition, we can tell in a second if it fits with our ethos so rarely turn anything down and that has helped us cultivate a rich and vibrate programme of events.

What’s the hardest part of running Dash The Henge right now? Is it financial, emotional, or something deeper?

Financial! Emotionally it’s joyous, paying the bills less so.

I’m also going to ask you what’s the best part, being a very independent entity ourselves, I kind of feel I’ll know the answer ha.

To the point above we never know exactly what we’re going to get on any given night and are constantly blown away by the creativity that surrounds us.

How do you balance the passion behind your work with the need for sustainability in a space like this?

Consistency and regularity, by doing stuff every night of the week people know that they can pop in on the way home from work or before they go out out.

Do you feel artists and contributors are credited properly or is authorship still being erased in the wider scene?

Credit isn’t so much the issue, it’s the return that’s the issue, it’s well documented that streaming platforms pay nothing to independent artists starting out when arguably they need the support the most, it’s fine if you’re U2 or Radiohead but they don’t need the support.

You’ve hosted everything from poetry nights to photography exhibitions. What’s your curatorial process like? Is it instinct, politics, or both?

Definitely instinct first, politics is background, the right wouldn’t like our shop anyway!

How do you balance nostalgia with newness especially in a space that sells records, books, and memory?

Everything is new if you’ve not heard it before, so whether a record is 50 years old or a week old it’s brand new to someone and it’s our job to introduce it to people

The creative community holds so much brilliance, but it also carries weight people navigating mental health, addiction, burnout, and everything in between. How do you support artists and staff emotionally, not just logistically? What does care actually look like in your space?

We’ve always looked to create a safe space for everyone that visits, performs, hangs out… We’re lucky to be part of a supportive, caring community and we just try to amplify that day in, day out.

What do you refuse to compromise on, no matter how the industry shifts?

We do our thing and know what works and what doesn’t for us and our community, to be honest we have no interest in what the wider industry does or says.

What’s next for Dash The Henge expansion, resistance, or something we haven’t seen yet?

We’re relaunching our external live events in 2026, with quarterly electronic night at Club Cheek in Brixton and regular new band showcases at Vespers (formerly Peckham Audio) so keep an eye out for HENGE LIVE events kicking off with Pagan Sex Magick featuring Sworn Virgins, babyschon, Johnny Aux and 33rd December at Club Cheek on 5th December.

What kinds of artists do you tend to support or showcase at Dash The Henge? Is there a particular sound, story, or spirit you gravitate toward?

Again, no gatekeeping if you wanna play, approach us, chat to us and we’ll book you in.

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Who are you most excited about right now, any artists, collectives, or projects we should be paying attention to?

Looking forward to the new EP by Body Horror, a South London-based industrial electronic band, we’re loving the work of Club Cheek and their programming and so much more, pop in and find out!

Spaces like Dash The Henge are more than venues or shops, they’re lifelines to creatives. Especially in a city where grassroots culture is constantly under threat from rising rents, gentrification, and the dominance of major players, DIY hubs hold the line for creativity that doesn’t fit the mainstream. They give artists their first stage, their first audience, their first chance to be heard. They create communities where people can belong, experiment, and resist the idea that art is only valid when it’s profitable. Without spaces like this, whole movements would never take root. Protecting them isn’t just about music, it’s about safeguarding the possibility of culture itself.