East Lansing, MI | Physical media collections are alive and well: Sound floating to the back seats of parents’ cars might have been the first experience of CDs and physical music for many, but it was certainly not the last for some. Owner of music shop Flat, Black and Circular Jon Howard noticed a large uptick of CD sales amongst 20 to 30-year-olds within the last year. The popularity of CD and vinyl has continued to ebb and flow in what is now a primarily digital world even amid the youngest generations, making FBC’s Grand River location an easy landmark for college-aged kids with an interest in physical media.
London, UK | Archway music charity shop Second Spin opens to customers: A new boutique record store might just have become London’s coolest charity shop—selling vintage vinyl, pre-loved instruments, and music memorabilia. Second Spin opened in Junction Road, Archway on Monday, October 12 as a go-to place where music fans can dig through crates of records and CDs and discover hidden gems. But it’s a music shop with a difference—with all profits from the eclectic array of goods sold raising funds for the National Children’s Air Ambulance (NCAA). In fact the site has operated for almost a decade as a regular NCAA charity shop before becoming the first of a new concept store—complete with new shopfront and interior design—and of course a set of decks and speakers to hear the tunes.
Wangaratta, AU | This Wangaratta record shop started as a suitcase and now runs its own vinyl festival: Wangaratta record shop’s Kickass Record Fair returns with 10,000-plus records. The Kickass Record Fair returns to Wangaratta Club on 31 October, with No.49 Record Bar once again bringing thousands of vinyl records to town. Run by No.49 Record Bar, a shop that started life six years ago as a single suitcase during lockdown, the fair has become a genuine drawcard for music fans across regional Victoria and beyond. …What began as a takeaway coffee window with one suitcase of records for people to flip through while stuck at home has grown into a full record store stacked with thousands of second-hand records and CDs, with coffee roasted by local legend Doctor Chins Coffee Lab still very much part of the deal…
Berlin, DE | For the Record: Berlin’s Best Specialist Vinyl Stores. It’s no secret Berlin is home to plenty of record shops. This is your curated list of where to go if you’re looking for something really special. Berlin is a treasure trove for crate diggers and record collectors alike. With a market that attracts the hoarders of long-lost collectables, compilers of outer national styles and DJs of the avant-garde world, there are niche boutiques that tailor to unconventional, international and historical music genres. For those looking for something more out there, here are the best specialist record stores in Berlin.
Newark, DE | Joe Jack Talcum to play Rainbow Records in Delaware on November 21! YES! We have got another hot show for ya! The icon, the hero, the champion, Joe Jack Talcum, the punkest that dude we know, is playing a show in Delaware—AND IT’S IN A RECORD STORE!—and it is only ten bucks, baby! You all know Joe! He’s one of the main songwriters and guitarist of the Dead Milkmen and has been kicking out killer tune after killer tune for DECADES. On top of that, his latest material is some of his very best, ever (check out the track below). Who knows what Joe will play but he usually plays some of the hits, some solo tunes, and maybe some covers! Plus, as we mentioned above, the gig is in A RECORD STORE.
Stillwater, OK | Open and close: fan-funded efforts to keep Velvet Fudge rocking. About 6% of the $6,800 goal for Velvet Fudge’s needed emergency exit door was fulfilled before Henry Ramsey posted about the need for donation. The same day Ramsay took to social media, on Oct. 9, added alongside donations accepted at the event held that evening; the total went from a few hundred dollars to just under $4,000. …Velvet Fudge operates both as a store and an event space, but without various live activities, revenue is bound to slow. It likely wouldn’t face permanent closure if an emergency exit door wasn’t put in, but product input and profit would take the brunt of the blow for multiple months until the total is reached. For a small business like Velvet Fudge, every dollar counts.
Bryan, TX | Fundraiser for Dominique at The Record Garage: Standing Up for Dominique: A Sister Survivor Needs Our Help. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is personal to me. As a fellow survivor, I know the weight of hearing a diagnosis. But I also know the power of community, love, and people showing up when it matters most. When Dominique first started her breast cancer journey, our paths crossed and we bonded almost instantly. Over the years, that connection grew into a deep, lasting friendship. I love this lady dearly. She is a devoted single mother to 5 incredible kids, a constant source of light, and one of the strongest people I know. …Mark your calendars! We are coming together to raise funds, show our love, and celebrate community spirit
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Mold, UK | Mold Record Fair returns with 19 stalls this October: Music lovers will have the chance to browse thousands of vinyl records and CDs when a popular record fair returns to Mold later this month. The Mold Record Fair will take place at the Daniel Owen Community Centre on Saturday, October 24, from 10am until 4pm, with free entry for visitors. Organised by Colin Trueman, owner of VOD Music on New Street, the event will feature 19 stalls offering a wide selection of music across different genres. …Speaking ahead of a previous fair, Colin said: “There are thousands of vinyl records and CDs. “We’ve got soul, rock, jazz, funk, blues—all tastes are catered for.”
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