Planet Wax brings the energy of a working dance-music culture to New Cross Road: it is a specialist record shop, bar, dubplate-cutting house and gathering point for selectors, producers and dedicated listeners.
Background / History
Run by Dexta and Sicknote, Planet Wax grew from its earlier Deptford incarnation as Disc World before relocating to its current New Cross home in 2022. The move allowed the project to become more than a place to buy records, combining the shop with a bar, event space and 1-800-Dubplate cutting service. Its roots in DJing, label work, A&R and record distribution are reflected in a practical, scene-led approach to vinyl: this is a shop made for music to be played, shared and passed on.
What You’ll Find
The racks are firmly centred on underground dance music. Jungle and drum & bass are the backbone, with particularly detailed coverage across liquid, drumfunk, jump-up, techstep, darker styles and reissues. There is equally serious attention paid to hardcore, UK garage, dubstep, grime, house, techno, electro, footwork and leftfield electronic music, with reggae, dub, hip-hop and beats widening the selection.
New releases sit alongside second-hand finds, reissues, 7-inch singles, albums and compilations. Planet Wax also carries cassettes, books, zines, clothing, slipmats and DJ accessories, making it useful for both collectors and working DJs. The bar serves craft beer and handmade cocktails, while the in-house dubplate service gives the space a tangible connection to sound-system and DJ culture.
Experience / Atmosphere
Browsing Planet Wax feels active rather than ceremonial. The stock is organised for people who know their subgenres, but the atmosphere remains open to anyone ready to listen, ask questions and spend time with the music. The bright shopfront leads into a compact space where records, conversation and DJ culture overlap naturally.
That sense of participation is clearest on Wednesdays, when the regular Open Decks sessions invite DJs of different experience levels to play vinyl, USBs or CDs. It turns the shop into a dependable meeting point for people developing their sound as well as those with deep collections and years behind the decks. Planet Wax’s radio output and in-store events extend that role beyond its walls.
Why Visit
- Focused, knowledgeable coverage of jungle, drum & bass, UK garage, hardcore and bass-heavy electronic music.
- Strong mix of new releases, reissues and second-hand vinyl.
- A rare combination of record shop, bar and dubplate-cutting facility.
- Open Decks, broadcasts and events make it a genuinely participatory music space.
Summary
Planet Wax is an essential South London stop for anyone drawn to the deeper end of UK dance music. Whether hunting a jungle reissue, building a techno bag, selling unwanted records or simply hearing what is moving through the local scene, it offers the kind of grounded, sociable experience that gives independent record shops their lasting value.
