The Gospel Singing Shopkeeper: A Tribute to Female Legends

March is Women's History Month, and here in Hammersmith & Fulham, we're doing more than just talking about it: we're singing about it. Literally.

At Health Defence Organics, we've always believed that community spaces should nourish more than just the body. They should feed the soul, too. And what better way to celebrate the incredible women who've shaped our world than through the power of gospel music?

When Music Meets History

For two special Wednesday afternoons this March: the 11th and the 25th: our little shop at 132a King Street is transforming into something magical. We're hosting The Gospel Singing Shopkeeper: A Tribute to Female Legends, a celebration of legendary female gospel singers who've lifted our spirits, challenged our assumptions, and helped change the course of music history through their voices.

Think Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Women who didn't just sing gospel: they lived it, breathed it, and used it as a force for change. Their voices carried messages of hope, resilience, and justice that still resonate today.

This isn't a concert where you sit quietly in rows. It’s about joining in, raising your voice with other people, and feeling the power of singing together. If you love a joyful noise, you’re welcome.

A Shop with Soul (and History)

Here's something you might not know about Health Defence Organics: we've been part of the King Street fabric for over 40 years. The shop started life as Bushwacker, founded by a husband-and-wife team who believed in organic living, community wellness, and creating a space where people genuinely mattered.

We’ve watched King Street change, but we’ve stayed rooted in the same values: natural health, genuine care, and the belief that a shop should be more than just a place to buy things. It should be a place to belong.

Ruth, who runs the shop today, has carried that torch forward. So when we say we're hosting a gospel singing event, it's not random. It's exactly who we are: a community hub where people come together to share something meaningful.

Why Gospel? Why Women? Why Now?

Gospel music and women's history are more intertwined than you might think. For decades: centuries, even: when women's voices were suppressed in so many arenas, gospel music provided a platform. In churches, in community halls, in recording studios, women found space to be powerful, prophetic, and unapologetically themselves.

These weren't quiet women. They were bold. They challenged social norms, broke racial barriers, and insisted on being heard. Mahalia Jackson marched with Martin Luther King Jr. Aretha Franklin's "Respect" became an anthem for both civil rights and women's liberation. Sister Rosetta Tharpe basically invented rock and roll (though history took a while to give her credit for it).

Their legacy isn't just musical: it's social, political, and deeply human.

Women's History Month gives us the perfect excuse to pause and really feel that legacy. Not just read about it, but embody it through singing together, breathing together, creating something beautiful as a community.

And let's be honest: in these times, when everything feels so divided and digital, there's something radical about gathering in person to sing. It's vulnerable. It's real. It's the opposite of scrolling.

What to Expect on the Afternoon

Picture this: you walk into Health Defence Organics on a Wednesday afternoon. The shelves of organic goodies are still there, the familiar scent of herbs and natural products in the air. But there’s also something electric: voices warming up, people greeting each other, a sense of anticipation.

We'll spend the session learning songs made famous by legendary female gospel singers. Don’t worry if you’ve never sung gospel before (or if you think you “can’t sing”). This isn’t about perfection. It’s about joining in and having a laugh while we honour these women in the best way possible: by lifting voices together.

You’ll also hear a little about the women behind the songs and why the music mattered.

The Practical Bits

When: Wednesday, 11th March AND Wednesday, 25th March at 1.00pm (two chances to join us!)

Where: Health Defence Organics, 132a King Street, Hammersmith, London

Cost: Free (booking recommended)

Book Your Free Place:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-gospel-singing-shopkeeper-tribute-to-gospel-singing-legends-tickets-1982992382597?aff=oddtdtcreator

Why This Matters

You might be thinking: "A gospel singing event at a health food shop? That's unusual."

It is. And that’s exactly why it matters.

Health isn’t just about what you eat or which supplements you take. It’s also about community, connection, and doing something that makes you feel more human. The women we’re honouring — legendary female gospel singers — understood that singing together can be uplifting in a way you can’t really replicate online.

Join Us

Women's History Month only comes once a year, but the legacy of these incredible female gospel singers lives on every day.

This March, we’re inviting you to help keep that legacy alive by doing the simplest thing: showing up and singing.

Book Your Free Place:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-gospel-singing-shopkeeper-tribute-to-gospel-singing-legends-tickets-1982992382597?aff=oddtdtcreator

Wednesdays 11th and 25th March at 1.00pm at Health Defence Organics, 132a King Street, Hammersmith, London.

We can’t wait to sing with you.