Walking into the Sugar Shack, you’re transported. Leaving the sights and sounds of London’s urban centre behind, you feel like you’re at a cottage. Wood lines the floor, the ceiling is vaulted and a loft overlooks the recording studio’s main room.

Sliding glass doors separate the control room from the rest of the house, and a nautical painting hangs on one wall.

The Sugar Shack, located on Wellington Street south of Horton, is Simon Larochette’s home.

It is where he is currently working to record and mix five albums for local musicians; it’s where he sleeps and eats; it’s where he has band practice.

“I spend every waking moment here,” he says.

Today is Day 5 of recording Olenka and the Autumn Lovers. It’s a unique experience for Larochette, who is playing two roles — sound engineer and band member.

“He’s very meticulous, very professional,” says the band’s front woman Olenka Krakus. “He knows exactly what to expect from our performance so I think it’s easier for him to push us to do our best.”

In November, Larochette moved into the downtown studio, once known as The House of Miracles. For the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology grad, it was a big change. He was used to setting up and breaking down his studio after every session, working from the London Music Club.

Now, in his own space, the studio is always ready to go.

“I am really lucky to have this space,” Larochette says. “And the only thing I like more than having the space is sharing it.”

On Saturday night, Larochette will be opening his doors to host a show featuring Toronto’s Jennifer Castle and a solo set from Krakus.

“One of the things I really enjoyed when the local scene first took off was the intimate shows, the house shows,” Krakus says.

“The advantage of that type of show (at The Sugar Shack) is that it is also a recording studio so the sound is really great which is a pleasure for both the audience and the performer.”

Tickets are $10 at Grooves Records and Hot Dog Musique and Cinema. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Around town

•    Art. Ashleigh Bartlett opens her show Skipping Stones at the Michael Gibson Gallery Friday. The Calgary artist plays with the theme of characters and cartoons to make abstract paintings. The exhibition runs until July 28.

•    Dance party. Friday night APK Live hosts That’s So Ravin’. Brooklyn’s Young Magic is headlining the dance party, so get ready to get moving. Tickets are $6 in advance from ticketscene.ca. Music starts at 9 p.m.