Fans meet Ellis-Bextor at independent store tour

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor is dressed in a green dress and red cardigan with sparkly patterns. She is stood hugging a woman with long fair hair, a blue denim jacket and a cream top. Behind the pair are shelves holding records, CDs, wooly hats, bags and t-shirts.

Superfan Julie Lennon was delighted to meet pop royalty at the sold out event

Matt Weigold
West Midlands

Pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor promoted her new album at shops across the UK this week to show her support for independent outlets.

The Murder on the Dancefloor singer visited Applestump Records' new premises in Nantwich, Cheshire, as part of her intimate tour.

She welcomed 150 “adorable” fans to the Oat Market business, which has grown rapidly since the owners sold records from their driveway during lockdown.

“It's really important to come to these beautiful independent record shops like Applestump,” Ellis-Bextor said.

Independent shops in Southampton and Liverpool were on Ellis-Bextor‘s tick list before she arrived in the Cheshire town.

“We really bed in, meet and chat to everybody and sign anything they brought along,” she said.

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor is dressed in a green dress and red cardigan with sparkly patterns. She is stood hugging a man with short dark hair, a grey v neck jump and black puffer jacket. He is holding a signed record and CD. Behind the pair are shelves holding records, CDs, wooly hats, bags and t-shirts.

Lee Bowler from Winsford added Perimenopop to his collection of Ellis-Bextor's records

After autographing copies of her new album, Perimenopop, and posing for photographs, the artist described passing on love for physical records.

“My 13-year-old and my 21-year-old collect a lot of albums on vinyl, so the baton is being passed,” she said.

Applestump Records was a lockdown passion project for owners Steve and Dani Cook, who started by selling records from their driveway.

Their rise to opening a shop, moving to larger premises and hosting chart-topper Ellis-Bextor is evidence that the love of vinyl is thriving.

“It’s been a journey,” laughed Mrs Cook, “it’s been great to have Sophie here.”

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor is dressed in a green dress and red cardigan with sparkly patterns. She is stood hugging a two women. One lady has long blonde hair, a denim jacket and jeans. The other has dark hair tied in a bun and a long cream coat. A woman standing to the right is taking a photo of the three of them on a mobile phone. They are inside a music shop complete with rows of vinyl records. There is a queue of people in the shop.

Co-owner Mrs Cook was busy taking photos for the long queue of fans

Mrs Cook said she was delighted to see the shop full of customers keen to meet their pop music hero.

“She gave everybody loads of time,” Mrs Cook said, “she’s been a dream.”

“It’s great to get artists like Sophie into independent stores because that’s what keeps us going.”

Ellis-Bextor fan and new customer to the shop Karen Bennett promised to be back to make more purchases after having met the “lovely, polite and beautiful” Ellis-Bextor.

“I didn't even know this place existed until today,” she admitted.

“We’ll come back to Nantwich to visit the store.”

Three women stood outside a record shop with a queue of people which expands onto the pavement outside. The woman on the left has dark hair tied back, is wearing a long cream coat and is holding a signed CD. The woman in the middle has blonde hair tied back, is wearing a black vest and holding a black coat, brown bag and a photograph of her and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The woman on the right has long brown hair, a grey jumper, blue jeans, a colourful bag and is holding a signed vinyl album and book.

Karen Bennett (right) made friends with like-minded music fans Millie and Jenny Paisley in the queue

Applestump Records has ve previously hosted The Libertines frontman Pete Doherty and The Lottery Winners.

Their new premises mean they can comfortably host bigger acts to larger audiences.

“I’m going to book as many people as I possible can, now that we’ve got a stage to do live stuff as well.”

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