Category Archives: A morning mix of news for the vinyl inclined

Leigh, UK | Leigh Save Our Souls Records shop opens in Rectory Grove: Customers have been eager to catch a glimpse of a new vinyl record shop in a former bakery in the heart of Leigh. Save Our Souls Records, in Rectory Grove, welcomed the community on Monday to flick through the many racks of rock and roll and punk vinyl and high-quality music artwork prints. In addition, the Save Our Souls brand also has a vegan-friendly clothing line, which is inspired by the punk movement. Stacey Donoghue, owner of Save Our Souls Records, said: “The response to the store has been really good so far. “When we opened at 10am, people didn’t hesitate to come straight in and have a look at our range of vinyl records, music artwork and the Save Our Souls clothing range. “Some young people have come in also, and it’s great to see a whole new generation discovering the greatness that is vinyl and them having something tangible as opposed to getting their music through streaming.

Antwerp, BE | British record store HMV opens store in Wijnegem/Antwerp: The first store of the music chain was opened in 1921 on the famous London shopping street Oxford Street. In 2010, there were approximately 300 HMV stores across the UK, but then things deteriorated due to a decline in CD and DVD sales. In 2013, the company had to be protected from its creditors for the first time. It happened back in 2018. The rescue came from Canada: businessman Doug Putman’s music company Sunrise Records & Entertainment put £900,000 on the table for HMV, which still had 114 stores at the time of the takeover. Putman focused on the renewed interest in vinyl records and brought a broader commercial exposure to stores. There are now over 120 branches again. Earlier this year, the first store opened in Ireland. Now the chain has begun a “wider expansion” into mainland Europe, with Belgium as the first step. A store of approximately 300 square meters will be opened in the Wijnegem shopping center in Antwerp.

Overland Park, KS | ‘Sad to see it go’: This decades-old Johnson County record store is closing for good: Vinyl Renaissance and Audio’s exterior is a little inconspicuous, tucked in the elbow of a shopping strip at 9038 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park. But through its doors, past smiling cardboard Elvis: hundreds of CDS, records, turntables and speakers. Since the store announced on Wednesday it would be closing, dozens of customers have been trickling in, flipping through records of their favorite artists — Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Blink 182, newer stars like Taylor Swift. Most of its items are heavily marked down in an attempt to get rid of its stacks (and stacks) of records and CDs — vinyls are going for as low as $1, some CDs are selling for 50 cents apiece. “Everything must go,” as the sign says.

Birmingham, AL | Birmingham-based independent record store, Seasick Records, celebrates 10 years: Dan Drinkard was in Memphis, Tennessee, a college drop out playing in a band, practicing photography and running a “hobby” record label, when he had the urge to open a vinyl record store. In the pre-internet era, devoid of curated Spotify playlists, Drinkard would scour records he liked to draw connections to other artists. One had to take matters into their own hands when it came to finding new music. …“I always wanted to know who recorded the record and what studio did they record in and what other artists did they thank in the thank you notes.” His first introduction to vinyl records was in high school when his then-girlfriend’s dad gave him some of his first records. Drinkard said he was drawn to the larger size of the vinyl records, and how they distinguished themselves from CDs as the lesser-used medium of the time.

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Birmingham, UK | The 8 best record stores in Birmingham, according to Google reviews: Despite the advances in technology and the many ways to stream music in 2023, many music lovers still enjoy searching record stores to find classic vinyls. Many great record stores across the UK have closed down in the last decade, but there are still some brilliant ones out there to enjoy, especially in Birmingham. A number of shops also take part in Record Store Day every year – the day when over 260 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture. This year’s event was held in April. So, If you are a fan of records, looking to get your hand on releases from major acts, we’ve decided to take a look at the city’s favourite record stores. Here are the 10 record stores rated in Birmingham, according to customers on Google reviews.

Overland Park, MO | Vinyl Renaissance & Audio in Overland Park to close at year’s end: Vinyl Renaissance & Audio, 9038 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, is set to close on New Year’s Eve of this year, after decades of presence across the metro serving as a hub for music lovers and the greater scene. Dan & Eva Phillips started selling records out of a Johnson County store in 2005, after several years of pedaling their wax online and out of their home. While they’ve bounced locations a few times, the Metcalf location has been their main home for the last few years, where there are currently more than 50k records and CDs available along with various music adjacent memorabilia. The closure comes as Dan Phillips, now approaching 72 years of age, is ready for his next adventure. Dan Phillips shared the following in a public Facebook post on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. ““When one hits their 70s, you’re constantly reminded of the old maxim to stop and smell the roses…”

Isle of Wight, UK | Wight Vinyl and AAA Records present 80 years of music: A new exhibition will bring together eighty years of Isle of Wight music for the very first time. The event, which opens next week, will feature vinyl by modern hitmakers such as Wet Leg and Coach Party as well as musicians from yesteryear like Level 42, The Bees, Craig Douglas and the Isle of Wight Cherokees. Three week exhibition: Dozens of rare records and related ephemera will be on show at Montage Place, Ryde, for three weeks from Monday, 20th November 2023—all with an Island connection. The earliest 78rpm records date back to the 1940s, while some exhibits are so new they are not due for release until the end of the year. The free display has been put together by Island record label Wight Vinyl, with support from Newport shop AAA Records.

Lincolnshire, UK | Now And Then: The Beatles’ final single pleases Lincolnshire record store owners: 53 years after The Long and Winding Road, The Beatles chapter of music history is now complete. More than 50 years after the world’s most popular band split, the closing sequence of The Beatles’ career has finally been rounded off with the group’s last single Now And Then achieving chart-topping status — and it has been a big hit in Lincolnshire’s record stores. The Beatles released a new single on November 2 called Now And Then, using modern technology and AI to mix together old recordings from the late members John Lennon and George Harrison, along with present-day mixes from the band’s two surviving members, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. The track consists of John Lennon vocals that sound very much like his solo outputs from the 1970s, but they have been intertwined with contributions from McCartney to create that classic Beatles buzz. Mixed in with George’s guitar chords and Ringo’s drum patterns and you have a blueprint Beatles ballad.

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Philadelphia, PA | Is Val Shively’s Philly-area shop ‘the world’s greatest record store’? Val Shively is telling a story about his father, and a fish. Actually, a shark. It has to do with obsession, genetics and how the charmingly cantankerous owner of R&B Records in Upper Darby wound up with 4 million 45 rpm records — “Or maybe it’s 5 million, I don’t know” — in the fantastically cluttered shop that Smithsonian magazine has called “the world’s greatest record store.” The larger-than-life subject of Christopher Plant’s new documentary film “ReCollections: Val Shively — 50 Years of Collecting Records in Philadelphia” has spent his life assembling a personal library of group harmony records from the 1950s and 1960s that’s regarded as the finest in the world. …And not just for the music, but for the stories Shively, 79, carries in his head as a one-of-a-kind living, breathing repository of music history who now wonders what legacy a lifetime of collecting will leave behind.

Copenhagen, DK | Vinyl cut: Copenhagen’s coolest record shops: Cratediggers of the world—make for the Danish capital. It’s one of Europe’s best spots for rooting out rare grooves. Donald Trump used to have “executive time”; I like to have “record-shop time”. On most of my foreign trips, if I get a spare hour I go hunting for vinyl treasure rather than eat lunch. As vinyl has come back into fashion in the past decade, overtaking CDs in sales, so traditional second-hand-record shops have regained their place at the heart of music enthusiasts’ shopping. For my money, Copenhagen vies with Stockholm for the honour of the best Nordic capital to dig for records in, making it one of the best cities in Europe too. There’s a wide range of shops accounting for most tastes, especially second-hand ones. Vinyl may be bulkier than CDs but the sound is warmer, the album art bigger and the range of titles from around the world and all the way back to the 1950s and ’60s far greater. I tend to visit only one shop per trip, but it’s possible to spend an entire afternoon touring the best in the Danish capital.

Indianapolis, IN | Don’t fret, LUNA Music sells songs on vinyl, CD and cassette: “Like most businesses, the music industry is cyclic,” Todd Robinson said. “I think it’s just the natural evolution.” An evolution Robinson witnessed firsthand. “From a very, very, very early age, music always captivated me and captured me,” Robinson said. “I just really couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life.” Robinson is the owner of LUNA Music in Indianapolis. It’s a shop he began nearly 30 years ago when he was unable to find a record store to sink his teeth into. “I was just so passionate about being involved in music,” Robinson said. “I really liked the interaction that you have at a record store with people and that really fed me in a lot of ways because now we’re talking about something that I love with like minded individuals.”

London, UK | London’s best independent record shops—and the top turntables to play your vinyl on: With Black Friday and Record Store Day nearly upon us, we flick through our favourite London record shops and celebrate the unique culture of spinning vinyl. They say cocaine and sugar are the two most addictive substances on the planet. They clearly haven’t tried vinyl. That uncontrollable urge as your favourite artist releases a new album or when rumours of a repress of a classic must-have LP filters through from your network of fellow junkies reverberates through your veins until you have no alternative but to scratch that itch. You know it won’t go away until that needle (or stylus, but you get where I’m going with this) lands on the surface and injects life into your speakers. The age-old argument that CDs or digital files sound better falls on deaf ears to those who worship the vinyl format. There is no argument; they don’t— vinyl rules.

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Andover, UK | The Record Box celebrates milestone five years of trading: An Andover business has celebrated five years of trading in the town centre. The Record Box, which is located in George Yard just off the High Street, celebrated its fifth anniversary in the town on Wednesday, November 1. The Record Box is Andover’s only dedicated record shop. Owner, Phil Nightingale said in a post on Facebook: “I am very proud to say that today, November 1, is our birthday. Can you believe we have been open five years.” Phil added: “We may be small, but we have a lot of stock in our little compact area. We have a great music selection for everyone, with anything from Abba to Zappa. Please come in and have a browse and a chat!” The store is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am until 4pm, with new stock arriving regularly and all methods of payment accepted. Albums are available from £10, and singles available from £4.

Liverpool, UK | ‘It’s an emotional day for Liverpool’: fans gather to buy new Beatles single Now and Then: At HMV Liverpool, Beatles heads—including one called John Lennon—queue up for vinyl copies of what is billed as the final Beatles song. It almost resembles 1963 more than 2023, as fans pack into a Liverpool record shop in the early hours of Friday morning to buy a new Beatles single that went on sale at midnight. Incredibly, first in the line at HMV to buy Now and Then on 7in and 12in is none other than John Lennon – his real name, and he has the passport to prove it. “I started queueing at 8am Thursday,” he says, wearing the same round sunglasses and “New York City” T-shirt as his legendary namesake. “I was determined to be first.” Behind him is Brian Jackson, 62, who runs Liverpool record/memorabilia shop Allkinds and has been a fan since he was four: “Our family used to play Beatles’ records on a Dansette. It’s never left me.” Some fans recognise the historic nature of the occasion. “I want to tell my children and my grandchildren that I bought a Beatles record on the day of release,” said Ved Desai, 19, a student from Dubai.

Rochester, MN | A record store blossoms anew in Lowertown: Hidden World Vinyl Records has moved into a smaller space, but keeps its mission of connecting the musical community. Being transplanted hasn’t stopped everything coming up roses for Hidden World Vinyl Records. The hidden gem has now taken root behind Fox & Fern Floral, in the Lowertown neighborhood, located at 615 Sixth Avenue NW. “I feel it’s extremely beneficial for a community’s creative residents to have spaces where they can pool resources, share creative ideas, energy, and build relationships,” says Brianna Prudoehl, owner and lead designer at Fox & Fern Floral. “It creates a space that is safe and inspiring to foster new ideas and motivation.” …“We appreciate and are privileged to have folks take us in and support us in so many ways,” says Thorng. “We are kind of on the outside of the business community due to our way of not trying to just generate profit but build something cool and accessible for everyone regardless of money or means.”

Aberdeen, UK | Aberdeen music lovers still flocking to popular record shop as it celebrates 10 years in business: The Union Street store has been visited by famous faces over the years. It’s been 10 years since Aberdeen Vinyl Records first opened its doors. Since then, thousands of customers have visited the Union Street shop, including some famous faces. For owner Bob Smith it’s been an enjoyable decade and he has continued to see his business flourish despite some challenges. The 60-year-old has amassed nearly 5,000 records for customers to browse, with something for everyone. Bob, who has been interested in vinyl since 1971, admits he fell into the trade of record selling by accident. He said: “A friend of mine said he had a bunch of records he wanted to sell. We had premises doing various things so we put them in to help him out. “They flew off the shelves. I asked if he had anymore and he was a bit of a dealer, so he managed to get some bits and pieces more.

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Houston, TX | Sound Revolution to move vinyl record collection to Louetta Road in Spring: Sound Revolution—a music store that was originally opened in 1976—will be relocating to the Spring area. The business is owned by Sunne Walton and Donnie Mcclure and offers vinyl records, tapes and CDs as well as t-shirts, skateboards, jewelry and gift items. Sound Revolution was previously located at 1312 FM 1960, Houston and also has a location at 21153 Tomball Parkway, Houston. Opening mid-November. 8312 Louetta Road, Ste. B, Spring

Philadelphia, PA | Lean Into Your Hipster Side at University City’s Newest Cafe: Milkcrate Cafe’s new Baltimore Avenue location serves up local treats and creative brews—and a killer soundtrack to match. For those of us who have dabbled in Philadelphia’s vast landscape of hipster coffee shops, the scene inside Baltimore Avenue’s newly opened Milkcrate Cafe on a sunny autumn morning wouldn’t appear at all surprising. …In many ways, that is, except for one—“cafe” is only half of Milkcrate’s job description. As its website boasts, Milkcrate is both a coffee shop and a “vinyl record boutique.” While tables, chairs, and espresso machines fill its airy interior, the space also houses a collection of vintage records, decor, and musical paraphernalia, much of which is for sale. Alongside their chai lattes, customers can purchase authentic hip–hop, rock, and jazz vinyls; toasted everything bagels can be enjoyed underneath 1980s concert posters, below LP cover displays, and next to bins of records.

Eugene, OR | Three stores to check out for band t-shirts in Eugene: Band tees merge the worlds of expression in fashion and music. Rock bands like AC/DC, Nirvana and Led Zeppelin have had their thumb on the zeitgeist of musical expression through merchandise. In Eugene, vintage stores have tapped into the popularity of band tees. Moon Rock Records: Moon Rock Records, located at 443 W 11th Ave, has a respectable collection of band tees. The store’s focus is selling records, yet the assortment of clothing is worthy of mention. …Plenty of metal and punk band tees line the rack along with some classic acts. Some of the most common bands being repped are Green Day, Descendents and Black Flag. A few of the tees seem slightly out of place—a red and blue Weyes Blood tee stands out next to massive commercial successes like Queen. But sleeper-hit bands like Suicide having two colorways on the rack should make any band tee connoisseur smile gleefully.

Mankato, MN | Golden Hour concert series at the Wine Cafe goes vinyl: For Nick Silva — a hip-hop musician known as DJ Shjoba who has performed in Mankato and in the Midwest for years — finally getting the chance to have his artistic skills on vinyl was a big deal. “Everything I’ve ever made is digital. Spotify, Apple, Bandcamp — all the digital formats. This will be my first time having anything of mine on vinyl,” Silva said. “It’s extremely exciting.” The vinyl in question is also something exciting, at least according to the creative and business minds behind it. On Saturday, the Golden Hour live music series — which has taken place the past three summers on the patio at Mankato’s Wine Cafe — will release a vinyl pressing of the series’ 2022 iteration, a collection of 13 songs from local artists. An album release party is 7-9 p.m. Saturday at the Carnegie Arts Center in Mankato.

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Paducah/Benton, KY | Vinyl boom alive and well in western Ky. as two new record stores prepare to open: The warm, vibrant crackle of vinyl records is steadily making a comeback, and far western Kentucky collectors will see a pair of new record shops open this weekend in Paducah and Benton. The sale of vinyl records has consistently grown over the last two decades as new generations of music fans have started collecting. Billboard reported that more than 43 million new vinyl albums were sold in 2022 – which marked the 17th consecutive year of growth for the format and the largest total since at least 1991. Statistics released by the Recording Industry Association of America also indicated growth as revenue from vinyl sales grew by more than 17% in 2022, reaching $1.2 billion. Murray has been home to Terrapin Station for more than 35 years, but no other store that specializes in new and used vinyl records has found success in far western Kentucky in recent years.

UK | ‘The Record Store & Black Music, A UK History’- 2Funky Arts seek interviewees and memories: Do you have memories of record shops that specialised in Black music? People are being asked to share their stories as part of a major UK project made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. ‘The Record Store & Black Music, A UK History’ will explore memories people have of browsing aisles, discovering new artists, and socialising in these cultural hubs, to document a fascinating history. Volunteers will conduct interviews with artists, DJs, store owners, customers and music fans to discover the stories and the facts that shaped this fascinating history. The 2Funky Arts team is also looking for photographs, footage newspaper articles that might help with research. The project will see interviews and memories pulled together to create a film, publication, podcast series and educational resource. Interviews will take place in the Midlands, North, London & The South and virtually. For the Windrush generation and Black diaspora, the early independent UK record store was a music-fuelled vehicle for resistance against systemic racism.

Williamsville, NY | ‘Now and Then’: Why The Beatles, and local record stores, remain a staple: The Beatles live on with a newly-produced work, and Western New York record stores continue to thrive and share all music with all ages. The Beatles continue to live on and cement themselves in music history as, on Thursday, they released their “final” song over 45 years in the making: “Now and Then”. And although half of the fearless four have passed on and the song was modified using new Artificial Intelligence tools which music lovers have mixed opinions of, their music lives on for eternity as both young and old continue to enjoy the band for who they are, what they represent and the quality of their vast catalogue of ear worms. “They were always a step ahead of everyone else,” says Phil Machemer, owner of Revolver Records Inc., a group of record stores in Western New York. “If you listen to albums they made in the late 60s, it sounds like a lot of the music from the 70s, and we can see that now. It was huge back in the day, but I feel like how much it resonated back then, will just always be that way. It’s timeless. People are still using their music as an influence and it’s ever present. It’s like, the standard.”

Brighton, UK | OMD meet loyal fans in Brighton record shop: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) have sold an astonishing 25 million singles and 15 million albums, which has established them as electronic synthesiser pioneers and one of Britain’s best-loved pop groups. …In support of the new 12 song (almost 43 minute long) release, Paul and Andy made a scheduled appearance here in Brighton at Resident records in North Laine in order to meet and greet fans who had purchased copies of the vinyl LP or CD options. As you would expect, the Kensington Gardens shop had an orderly queue that ran up every aisle and out the door and down the street. The new album was playing over their soundsystem as well as historic OMD hits. Unfortunately this was not a live instore performance this time around, but OMD fans won’t have to wait too long in order to see their heroes up on the big stage, as they have announced a 22 date UK tour for this coming February and March, which includes two performances in Sussex.

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Boise, ID | Record Exchange in Downton Boise turns 45: Michael Bunnell founded the record store in 1977 after investing a workplace injury payout back into his passion. Michael Bunnell has been spinning records for as long as he can remember, but before he owned the Record Exchange in Downtown Boise, he worked as a logger in McCall in what seems like a previous lifetime. “Then I had a logging accident,” Bunnell said. “I took that money and used it to open the store.” In 1977, The Record Exchange was born. However, its initial home sat on Orchard next to a McDonalds for roughly half a year. The current home of 45 years – on the downtown corner of 11th and Idaho – is celebrating the milestone and its founder on Thursday. …”We’ve come full circle, you know, the vinyl – LP – was the dominant format when we opened, and now it is again. We’re very comfortable with that.”

Washington, DC | Your Guide to 11 Record Stores in the DC Area: Where to spend a day sifting through new and used albums to build your vinyl collection. If you grew up in DC during the 1980s, you remember when record stores were popular and plentiful. You couldn’t walk a block in Georgetown or Dupont Circle without hitting at least one new- or used-­vinyl shop. Even in the wake of streaming services, you’d be mistaken if you thought record stores had gone the way of the dodo. Vinyl sales have rebounded enough that there’s still a healthy supply of independent stores in the Washington area. If you’re looking to drop a needle on some new-to-you tracks, follow these itineraries and pretend it’s the ’80s all over again.

Odessa, TX | Wednesday is the last day to see Endless Horizon’s mural from the 1980’s in its original location: The mural will be preserved while the longtime record store works on putting it up at another location as a public art display. Endless Horizons, a longtime Odessa record store that closed on Oct. 21, has something that hasn’t been seen in a long time. According to a Facebook post, their second mural from the early 80s is visible after their most recent mural got torn down. The mural will be preserved while Endless Horizons works with the city on putting it up at another location as a public art display, according to the post. They say feel free to come by and take pictures, as the building will be there until Wednesday.

Palm Springs, CA | Vinyl record sales increasing, Palm Springs music store helps meet demand: For music lovers Edith Gallardo and Israel Pinedo, there’s something very special about the sound of vinyl records. “People want to be able to hold stuff and feel more connected to it,” Pinedo said. “It’s a whole experience on its own.” At Music Heals Inc. in Palm Springs, these music fans are adding to their growing record collections. “Vinyl is the lead here; vinyl is king,” said employee G. Leonard Winston. Winston says this store’s vinyl record sales are up nearly 20 percent compared to this time last year. “History repeats itself,” he said. “According to the younger people who come in here, vinyl comes back. It’s back.” We’re learning what’s happening in Palm Springs with vinyl records is following a national sales trend.

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Montreal, CA | Mile-Ex’s Death of Vinyl on keeping records alive: Co-Owner Daniel Hadley speaks on the history and future of vinyl in Montreal: Whether it’s older collectors looking for a hit of sweet nostalgia or younger shoppers looking for a deeper connection with the artists they love, increasingly more people are coming to appreciate owning physical copies of music. When record store Death of Vinyl first opened in the early 2000s, some may have been unsure of vinyl’s longevity. “Many headlines at the time were asking ‘is this the death of vinyl?’” said co-owner Daniel Hadley. He said that Montreal vinyl shops, tailored for style-specific DJs that fueled the era’s nightlife, were closing left and right. In 2006, Hadley and his business partner, Steve Ludvik, were running a vinyl import and distribution business out of a warehouse near the end of Beaubien Street West. All of a sudden, they found their business model collapsing. Both their distributors and the stores they sold to were closing up shop, leaving their business directionless. However, as one door closed, another one opened.

Bastrop, TX | ‘Love and Vinyl’ offers Bastrop audiences an immersive experience in Bastrop: This November, the Lost Pines Theatre Guild will present the romantic comedy play “Love and Vinyl” at Astro Record Store on Main Street. Exploring the challenges of love, loneliness and friendship, the play offers audiences the chance to be a “fly on the wall” to the characters’ relationships and conversation, play producer Christine Long said. Each performance is limited to 25 audience members, ensuring an up-close and intimate experience. “Because the play is in real time, and because it’s immersive, you’re really just watching all of it unfold in front of you,” Long said. A prolific playwright from Maryland, Bob Bartlett is known for writing site-specific plays. Bartlett’s previous works have taken place in a laundromat and the middle of the woods. A regular at Astro Records, Long said that after learning about the play, she decided the store was the perfect backdrop. “I just think that all of the characters are so charming and that you can identify yourself in all of them,” Long said. “The challenges that they’re having are all challenges that all of us have.”

College Park, MD | How WMUC’s record librarian is keeping Zambian rock alive: Amid gray iron shelves stacked high with dusty sleeves and carefully preserved vinyl at the University of Maryland, senior information science major Jake McInturff holds court as WMUC’s record librarian. But his true passion lies outside this university, the state and the country. The preservation of zamrock, a nearly-forgotten rock subgenre that emerged from Zambia during the 1970s, occupies most of McInturff’s mind. Once lost to time, zamrock was pulled from obscurity by California label Now-Again Records. The label’s re-issues of WITCH albums and other Zambian works reignited interest in the genre, leading vinyl divers and record raiders to the nation in search of these records. McInturff’s journey to zamrock started when he stumbled across the niche genre on YouTube his freshman year. “[Zamrock] absolutely blew my mind and I became obsessed with it,” McInturff said. “I wanted to be one of the people that was bringing it to life.”

Durango, CO | Four Corners Record Show Extravaganza returning to Durango: Vinyl records alive and well in the Four Corners; event will be held Saturday. The Four Corners Vinyl Record Club’s annual Fall Record Show Extravanganza will return to downtown Durango this weekend. The event will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 21636 U.S. Highway 160. Club founder and president Phil Gallacher expects a strong turnout, as the club is rebounding after the COVID-19 pandemic. Gallacher said the club has been doing record shows in the spring and fall for over a decade. “Vinyl records are alive and well in the Four Corners,” Gallacher said. “(The record show) started through Southwest Sound in Durango around 2010 or 2011.” Gallacher took over organizing the show when Southwest Sounds closed. He said a lot of the vinyl records vendors are part of the “boomer generation who are not on social media.” “So I created the club as a bridge, a platform for us to indulge in sharing our record hobby and also be able to communicate with a group of people,” he said.

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Orlando, FL | Park Ave CDs expanding into former Junior’s Diner: Iconic Audubon Park record shop, Park Ave CD’s (Instagram) has announced that it will be expanding its store over the next few months. The shop, which just celebrated its 39th anniversary, first opened on Park Avenue in Winter Park, before finding its way to its current home at 2916 Corrine Drive [GMap], and has been in business since 1984. The store will now be expanding into the former home of the adjacent Junior’s Diner, which has been shuttered for months following a sudden unannounced closure and abandoned renovation. Shop owner, Sandy Bitman, shared that his team was still, “putting our idea board together,” but that the diner was in fairly poor shape and that it would take some time to put it into order. …Though we can only hope they keep it a diner and add a jukebox featuring records from their collection and lots of fun new merch.

Eau Claire, WI | New record store in downtown Eau Claire holds grand opening: A new store opened in downtown Eau Claire on Saturday, and it specializes in vinyl music. Abraxas Wax opened on Graham Avenue on Saturday, with people coming in to peruse the hundreds of records and CDs, along with a few cassettes and VHS tapes. They have records for everyone, from classic rock to pop music. They even have Taylor Swift’s 1989 Taylor’s Version on vinyl for sale. Owner Seth Larson said that he decided to open a record store after seeing them when he was traveling abroad. The name of the store comes from one of his favorite music albums. “Abraxas Wax, it’s an album by Santana, it’s a pretty monumental Latin jazz, rock album,” Larson said. “But to me, it’s about the spiritual connection between music and people, so that’s really what I’m touching on when I call it the Abraxas.”

Dundee, UK | Opening date set for music-themed Dundee bar Groucho’s: The live music venue will open before Christmas. The new music-themed bar replacing legendary Dundee record shop Groucho’s has revealed its opening date. The Nethergate pub, at the site of the former record shop and namesake, will open in time for the festive season. Groucho’s was once considered a rite of passage for music lovers in Tayside – until it closed in 2020 following the death of owner Alastair ‘Breeks’ Brodie. However, the Groucho’s name will live on at the new venue. In a post on Facebook, managers revealed Groucho’s will open on Friday December 1. In the post, the bar also announced the live music bill for its opening month, with acts already lined up for Hogmanay. Irish singer-songwriter Johnny Scullion and former Morgan Academy pupil Pete Smith are among the acts set to play at the former record shop.

Beacon, NY | The Vinyl Room in Beacon, NY—Where Food, Music, Dancing, and Nightlife Collide: As I continue my quest for uncovering the hidden culinary gems in the Hudson Valley and Catskills, Beacon, NY has emerged as a beacon of exciting possibilities. For my dedicated readers at Hudson Valley Style Magazine, I’ve embarked on a mission to seek out the most vibrant, unique, and captivating dining and nightlife experiences in the region. Beacon, situated in the heart of the Hudson Valley, has proven to be the ultimate destination to escape the stale nightlife offerings of NYC. …Located at 396 Main St in Beacon, NY, The Vinyl Room isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an immersive experience. It seamlessly combines a cocktail bar, record shop, and arcade into one vibrant space. With a culinary chef on hand and an impressive selection of 12 rotating craft beer taps, the dining and libations are nothing short of extraordinary. Furthermore, The Vinyl Room has solidified its position as Beacon’s ultimate late-night haven.

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UK | Independent record store Rough Trade relaunches music subscription service: Independent music retailer Rough Trade has expanded its music subscription service, Rough Trade Club, to broaden its appeal in-store, online and for events. The music subscription service, which was formally available to customers for £30 a month for LPs or £15 a month for CDs, has had a complete makeover, with a whole new selection of offers split into three tiers and a design overhaul. The new model now consists of three tiers – Tier 1 (basic tier), Tier 2.1 and Tier 2.2 – all available at different price points to make the Club more accessible and appealing. …Designed for loyal customers who regularly come to the shop, to events and buy online, Tier 1 subscribers will get free shipping on all orders all received in our iconic packaging, 10% off food and drinks at the bar, exclusive access to events, early access to online sales and 10% off Rough Trade Vintage in-store.

Opelika, AL | Alabama record shop feels the wrath of ‘Swifties’ after ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ release: Russell Baggett, who owns 10,000 Hz—a small, locally owned vinyl record store in Opelika—felt the wrath of “Swifties” late Thursday night as the contingent of Taylor Swift fans anxiously awaited the pop star’s release of “1989 (Taylor’s Version)”. “Nobody was messaging us saying, ‘I’m going to come to your house and literally kill you’,” Baggett said. “But there were some people who were not very nice about some things. There were some kinda veiled threats.” The backlash started after Baggett teased a Swift-related surprise on the shop’s Instagram page. Thursday afternoon’s Instagram post featured pictures of cardboard squares with “Taylor Swift 1989 ‘Taylor’s Version’” and “Super Secret Taylor Swift 1989 ‘Taylor’s Version’” scrawled across them in black permanent marker. The post’s caption read: “Midnight tonight… also a good time to buy Taylor Swift records, just FYI.”

Orlando, FL | Park Ave CDs announces retail store expansion for their 39th anniversary: Park Ave CDs is expanding into the former diner next door. One of Orlando’s most redoubtable independent record stores is turning 39 and giving itself a large birthday gift in the form of more leg-room. Park Ave CDs this week announced the expansion of their store, located in Audubon Park. The record shop is set to expand into the somewhat ill-starred former diner space next door. “You will certainly find newly expanded sections for vinyl along with some other creative ideas we can’t share with you just yet,” said Park Ave CDs staff in a post on their Facebook. Established in 1984, and having long moved on from their former namesake location on Park Avenue near Rollins College, the store is celebrating 39 years slinging vinyl (and, yes, CDs) in Orlando.

Stamford, UK | Rock On Records, in Stamford, to launch sale of 5p and 10p stock after flood hits owner’s Ketton home in Rutland: Thousands of vinyl records are to be sold for 10 pence or less after unprecedented flooding hit the home of a record shop owner. Rock On Records was opened in Stamford last year by former Thin Lizzy manager Ted Carroll as a means to clear out his huge archive of vinyl, with all profits going to charities. But when last Friday’s torrential rain flooded the cellar of his Ketton home, as the River Chater burst its banks, thousands of record sleeves were ruined, including around 800 albums and 12 inches. …“Water does not damage vinyl, however record sleeves after being submerged in water are history and have to be thrown away,” said Ted. “About 2,500 seven-inch singles have been damaged so we will sell them off cheap for 5p or 10p, and albums will be a pound or whatever we can get for them.”

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Saginaw, MI | Audiogazing sells music of the past: A music lover in Saginaw is turning back the clock with his record shop. Joseph Weber opened Audiogazing on Michigan Avenue in Saginaw. He says the name comes from just sitting back and drifting off into space is where the name comes from. Weber has always had a passion for music. “It goes all the way back to when I was the kid on the bus with the boom box,” says Weber. “I was the school DJ going to school every morning on the bus.” He calls himself a “record store rat,” saying he hung out at the turntable as much as he could growing up. After retiring from the automotive industry, he decided to take a leap of faith. “I just happened to be glancing through one day, and there was an article that said vinyl would be making a resurgence,” he explains. Weber opened up a booth at the SVRC marketplace in Saginaw in 2018. The space quickly got used up in about eight months.

New York, NY | Vinyl makes a comeback, record store experiences increased demand: Jamal Annasr has been on Bleeker street in Greenwich Village selling records for more than 30 years, and he’s seen the items in his shop go in and out of demand. “There is a big demand for what you call vintage. Came back to life definitely,” Annasr said. He tells FOX 5 as his gets older he finds the customers dropping getting younger and younger demanding records older than the store itself. “Really people miss that vintage look on the physical copy of vinyl. Buying a vinyl you buy a whole idea. The lyrics’ artwork sound, the whole idea which is great,” said Annasr. It’s not just vinyl records making a comeback. “I feel like vintage in general is coming back. A lot of denim a lot of distressing, a lot of grinding dirty revisited things are coming back,” one shopper shared.

“It has a legacy without parallel”: Inside the new book charting the history of Island Records: Author and Island Records former head of press Neil Storey has promised his new book tracing the illustrious history of Island Records is as “definitive as can be.” Hitting shelves this month, the first volume of the Island Book Of Records documents every album released on the label between 1959 and the end of 1968, with insight coming from a host of names including the legendary Chris Blackwell. Very much an essential for vinyl lovers—not least because the hardback book is vinyl-sized—each Island release is fully illustrated to include labels, booklets, die-cut covers and foreign editions as well as “scheduled but ultimately unreleased LPs”. This is on top of a 20-plus page illustrated discography of 45s and EPs, subsidiary label LP releases, gig adverts, record release flyers, magazine covers, concert tickets, Island’s LP adverts and much more.

UK | Scottish vinyl pressing plant Seabass Vinyl to begin production in December: “…We’ve had massive support from everybody, it’s been so good. The independent record shops have been amazing, Assai Records (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee), Orange Moon (North Berwick), Green Cat (Dunbar), Monorail Music, (Glasgow) they have been spreading the word and been so supportive on our journey from the very beginning. We put posts up across social media and we’ve had a lot of traction there as well. People have been contacting us and sending us messages of support, including from some labels. Overall, the support has been tremendous from everybody from all over the place, but specifically from within Scotland. We have the partnership with the SAY awards as well (Scottish Album of the Year). Seabass Vinyl is sponsoring the Sound of Young Scotland award and we are pressing the winner’s first album as a prize. That has helped to increase the buzz in Scotland specifically, which is great…”

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Nantwich, UK | Nantwich independent record shop promotes local musicians: Nantwich independent music store Applestump Records has launched a new Youtube channel to help promote local artists, writes Jonathan White. The store, which sells new and second-hand vinyl records on Barker Street, is run by Steve Cook. He launched the Youtube channel last month and the sessions are all recorded live inside his Applestump store. A new Applestump Sessions episode is released every Friday and several local artists have already been recorded performing. These include Oli Ng, Cathy Jain, Ben Owen, Leon (aka Something Followed Me Home), Jonah Shaw, Abbie Ozard, Jonathan Tarplee and Nastee Chapel. There will also be future sessions from Tim Lee, Lisa T, Sam Lyon and Crowspeak.

Kansas City, MO | Westport’s It’s a Beautiful Day is more than just a simple music-politics-apparel-repair-art-queer-vintage shop: While many KC record stores have come and gone, one plucky shop on Broadway has stood the test of time for over thirty years. Fires, floods, and pandemics have all tried to derail the store, but to no avail. As you walk into It’s a Beautiful Day, you are instantly greeted by the familiar smell of incense, pro-choice and anti-hate bumper stickers, a Grateful Dead Mural, and so much more. It’s a Beautiful Day is a family-owned and operated record store and hippie boutique at 3918 Broadway Blvd. Co-owners Fran Stanton and Erik Branstetter have spent decades cultivating one of the coolest artistic pillars in an ever-changing city.

Springfield, OR | Best record store on Main Street in Springfield: Sure, Eugene has many great record stores, from the iconic House of Records to the hip Moon Rock Records. But Little Axe Records is Springfield’s answer to my age-old weekend question: Will I find a Steely Dan record for my collection? Usually, the answer is no, but whenever I’m at Little Axe Records, I always find something else to keep my spirits up, whether I’m looking for an affordable copy of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska or a rare John Coltrane pressing. The Springfield store was opened by the Portland-based Little Axe Records in 2019, and it’s more than just a place to grab the usual rock, blues, hip-hop and jazz records. You’ll also find international music released by the label; music that you can peruse through and take a trip around the world.

Athens, GA | Micky Dolenz to host in-store event at Wuxtry Records: Micky Dolenz, a former member of the pop rock band The Monkees, will host an in-store event at Wuxtry Records’ Athens location on Friday, Nov. 3. The event will celebrate the release of Dolenz’s upcoming EP, “DOLENZ SINGS R.E.M.,” that will come out the same day. Wuxtry Records was the meeting place of ‘80s rock band R.E.M. and a significant location in the history of Athens music scene. The cover art of the EP even features the storefront of Wuxtry Records in the background. Athens mayor Kelly Girtz will be present at the event and award Dolenz with a key to the city, according to a press release from 7a Records. “Micky Dolenz is part of the great circle of creativity that includes our beloved town of Athens, GA,” Girtz said in the press release.

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Chart data collection change will under-report physical sales by 95%, say indie music stores: Indie music stores and labels are sounding the alarm over plans by Luminate, the music data provider for the Billboard charts, to change how it calculates physical sales at independent music outlets. …As of December 29, 2023, Luminate will shift from its current “modeled methodology,” which takes sales from a sampling of stores and applies weighting or a multiplier to calculate total indie physical sales and to a direct representation of sales reported by indie retailers. Billboard hails the change as an “improvement” and part of Luminate’s “continued mission to provide more accurate data to the music industry.” But indie music stores, labels, and distributors say that it will result in the collapse of indie sales figures, since only 5% or 72 of the estimated 1400 indie stores report sales to Luminate.

Liverpool, UK | Jacaranda Records set to open Liverpool’s first Japanese-inspired vinyl listening bar this week: Jacaranda Records is reopening its original record store and Liverpool’s first vinyl listening bar upstairs at The Jacaranda on Slater Street. The upstairs of The Jacaranda has undergone a complete refit which will allow the area to be used as a record store and co-working environment during the day but will also allow it to moonlight as the city’s only vinyl listening bar. Though in the same premises, The Jacaranda’s main bar and its vinyl listening bar could not be more different. While The Jacaranda’s main bar is internationally renowned for its rawkus-overdriven-good-time atmosphere the first floor new bar will create a cosier candle-lit atmosphere encouraging face-to-face across-the-table conversation and interaction. The bar will aim to be welcoming and vibrant without being overbearing and will have a modest seating capacity of just 21 people.

Lancaster, UK | New independent vinyl record shop set to open in Lancaster: An independent record shop will be opening soon in Lancaster. Forty Five Records will be in the Kings Arcade, Lancaster next to Leonardini Gelato and alongside Lapel menswear. Forty Five Records made an announcement on their Facebook page that after an eternity of searching they have found a place to call home. A spokesman for the business said: “We’ve begun work on our record shop in Kings Arcade, King Street, Lancaster. “Over the next few weeks we’re putting together somewhere we hope seasoned vinyl collectors all the way to people who’ve never touched a record player will feel welcome. “Whether you’re into the most underground garage track or want the latest chart topper in vinyl, we have you covered. No egos, no judgement, just good music.”

Huntsville, TX | Volume Music is Opening Soon: Volume Music was founded in the Woodlands in 2019 by Tiffany and Joel Cochran, two industry professionals whose lives revolve around music. Expected to open at the end of October at 1213 University Avenue, their new location will be the first record store in Huntsville since Hastings closed in 2013. Featuring new and used vinyl records, cds, and cassettes from a wide range of genres, their presence on the downtown square is a welcome addition to Huntsville’s retail offerings. …Merchandise will include an ever expanding array of concert shirts, adult coloring books, posters, stickers, album frames, crazy socks and misheard lyric tumblers. …“We have one group of guys who come see us every week, and other locals who have become regular customers, so we decided that opening a new location here would be a perfect fit. The first time we saw the space, we thought it looked like our record store belonged there.”

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UK | Vinyl sales increased 51 per cent thanks to National Album Day: In honour of National Album Day’s ’90s theme, a number of albums from the decade were reissued on vinyl, including Tricky’s ‘Maxinquaye’ and Blur’s ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’ Vinyl sales have reportedly increased by 51 per cent on National Album Day thanks to its 1990s reissues. National Album Day, which took place on October 14 this year, was jointly organised by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA), and presented in association with audio partner Bowers & Wilkins and broadcast partner BBC Sounds. Music Week reported that the Official Charts Company recorded a 51 per cent increase in vinyl sales on National Album Day compared to the previous week. Nearly half of the 40 best-selling vinyl albums over the last weekend were releases exclusive to National Album Day, such as Blur‘s ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’, Jeff Buckley‘s ‘Grace’, and Paul Weller‘s ‘Wild Wood’.

Worthing, UK | New cafe and record shop opens in Stanford Square: A party has been held to celebrate the opening of a “vinyl café.” Vinyl Audio Café first opened in Worthing in July serving coffee and food while also serving as a music venue and record shop. To mark the opening, owners Mark and Emma Picard held the first of their parties in Stanford Square with scores of people gathering to listen to the music and enjoy the afternoon. Speaking about the event on Sunday, October 15, Mark, 48, said: “It’s a real passion project. We were asking ourselves ‘what can we do with our love?’ and for us it gives us a bit of freedom. “The block party was really nice, everyone extended their arms out and got involved. “Going forward we want this to be multi-faceted. We’re still growing and every day we have people coming in and discovering us.”

Orono, ME | Orono’s newest addition to town: Lizard Dog Records: A new sign popped up just off the corner of Pine and Maine Street last week. In big, neon green letters laying on a black backdrop are the words “Lizard Dog Records.” Under the sign and through the front door, which feels much more like a side door, lays a wall of speakers and the store owner, Joe Belisle, spinning a record from his 500-record-tall “to listen” pile. A neon green wall accents the black painted walls, and wooden crates filled with records as well as CD and cassette selves line the perimeter of the store. A large photo portrait of an Australian Shepard named Lizard hangs on the wall across from the towering speakers. Lizard Dog Records is one of the many stores that opened in downtown Orono this fall.

Brighton, UK | Pip Blom play live in Brighton record shop: Before Sunday night, I had only ever had the privilege to encounter two shows at Brighton’s beloved Resident Music record shop, once for electrifying Squid in June, (Review HERE) and once for the enigmatic Penguin Cafe in July; (Review HERE) now, I can add another to what I hope will be a growing roster in my personal gig repertoire, in the form of Netherlands-based indie pop trio Pip Blom! Formed no less than seven years ago, Pip Blom have enjoyed relative success off of a three-album streak (2019’s ‘Boat’, 2021’s ‘Welcome Break’ and the new baby, 2023’s ‘Bobbie’). While the band itself has not been around for too long, lead vocalist and the band’s titular namesake Pip has been blessing Dutch ears with material as far back as 2013.

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Global Vinyl Record Market Sees Increased Demand, Fueled by Rising Disposable Incomes and Urbanization: The “Vinyl Record Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. The global vinyl record market, which reached a size of US$1.7 billion in 2022, is poised for substantial growth in the coming years, with an anticipated market size of US$2.8 billion by 2028. …Several key factors are contributing to the growth of the global vinyl record market: Rapid Urbanization: Urbanization is on the rise globally, and vendors are adopting omnichannel retailing practices to expand their consumer base. Music Enthusiasts and Collectors: Music collectors, audiophiles, and DJs value vinyl records as prized possessions, using them for concerts, shows, and music recordings. Vinyl records also hold significant cultural and historical value in the world of music…

Collingswood, NJ | Collingswood Record Shop Inner Groove Debuts House Label with Lost Soul Album Re-Release: You Hear Me Knocking wasn’t an instant classic when it first hit record store shelves some 50 years ago, but thanks to the neighborhood record shop, audiophiles can check out a rare work in a limited re-release. Behind the counter of Inner Groove Records in Collingswood, store manager Steve Maygers spends a lot of time learning about people through their record collections. …“It’s a personal narrative; music touches everybody’s life in a different way.” Maygers hears a lot about the collections his customers are building, but he might even hear more about the ones they no longer have. Divorce. Flooding. Extended borrowing. Outright theft. A record collection can disappear from your life a lot of different ways. But if you run a record store, you stand a good chance of seeing things a second time around.

Austin, TX | Living in Stereo relocates, reopens in South Austin: Living in Stereo, a record and mid-century modern furniture shop, has relocated and reopened in South Austin. The shop is owned by Austin natives Robert and Enzo Johnson. Living in Stereo was previously located at 4361 S. Congress Ave. and opened in September 2021. Robert Johnson noted the new space was a lot bigger. “We envisioned doing something bigger, so this is it,” he said. Living in Stereo sells vintage stereos, vinyl records, coffee, mid-century modern furniture and collectible artwork.

Washington, DC | An Artist Is Recreating Classic DC Album Covers: Alex Halaszyn’s solo show is a comics ode to Washington music history. Recently a shopper at the Chevy Chase DC record store art sound language was chatting with owner PJ Brownlee about a book for sale. It tells the story of Arlington’s Inner Ear studio, and the customer mentioned he’d recorded there with a long-ago band. The group’s name, he told Brownlee, was No Trend, so the owner whipped out his phone to show him some artwork that will be shown in the shop this weekend: Artist Alex Halaszyn has recreated the covers of dozens of classic DC-area albums in his distinctive style. One of them was No Trend’s “Teen Love” seven-inch single from 1983. “He was kind of dumbfounded,” Brownlee says. “You know, you feel like you’ve stumbled into a dream. I’ve seen this with people who really get what I’m doing.”

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