Don’t panic, Square Records in Wimborne WON’T be closing this month: A popular record store in Wimborne has been saved from closure by the owner of a family-run independent book store. Square Records was set to close this month, much to the dismay of loyal customers and music lovers not only in Dorset but across the country. But, thanks to owner of Gullivers Bookshop, Malcolm Angel, the well-loved record store, will continue to operate. Paul Holman, whose family opened Square Records in 1974, said he was approached by Mr Angel after customers told bookshop staff about the closure. He says the store will continue to trade from their current location in Wimborne High Street until June, when it will relocate just round the corner.
Boulder’s Absolute Vinyl Records & Stereo to close at the end of March: Independent record shop Absolute Vinyl Records & Stereo is saying goodbye and closing its doors for good after 10 years of business. The Boulder record store will close at the end of March. Owners Doug and Annie Gaddy opened the store in 2008, and it’s been serving the community of Boulder with classic records, equipment, and so much more ever since then. The Gaddys announced the closing on the store’s Facebook page. The post, in part, stated, “Well, Annie and I would like to make it official. We are gonna close Absolute at the end of this month. We each have different things we want to do. So, this is the conclusion of a ten-year plan I had for our dear creation/experiment Absolute Vinyl Records & Stereo…”
Vinyl fans, SLO County is about to get a new record store: Manuel Barba thinks records can change the world — or at least the North County. The therapist-turned entrepreneur is preparing to open Traffic Records, a new record shop on Traffic Way in Atascadero. The store will be the only vinyl purveyor in the county north of San Luis Obispo, and Barba thinks North County residents are ready to set aside their digital music and embrace a richer analog sound. “I think people are getting kind of bored of the ‘I’m gonna stream it, I’m gonna download it,’” he said. Barba and his business parter, Dawn Neill, plan to make their 400-square-foot space a community gathering spot, both for record-lovers and those looking to dip their toes into the world of vinyl.
John Cusack is hosting a ‘High Fidelity’ screening at the Chicago Theatre: For a movie adapted from a novel set in North London, High Fidelity sure feels Chicago born-and-bred. John Cusack nabbed the rights to Nick Hornby’s book and transferred the story, about a commitment-shy record-store owner coping with a breakup by revisiting his Top Five previous relationships, to his hometown…Nearly two decades after the movie’s release, Cusack is set to host a hometown screening at the Chicago Theatre on Friday, May 4, followed by an audience Q&A session. If you have burning questions about the making of High Fidelity—or anything else on Cusack’s résumé, from Say Anything… to Hot Tub Time Machine—now’s your chance.
Payne Avenue’s Caydence Records wins business award, turns to events: Just a year and a half into its existence, Caydence Records received the East Side Area Business Association’s 2017 “Business of the Year” award on Feb. 8 at ESABA’s annual meeting. The relatively young coffee shop/music store hybrid is a success story on Payne Avenue, where small business closures can be common news. The shop’s three co-owners, Mat Graske, Chad Medellin and Gregg Schmitt, said that the main reason for their success is sheer work ethic. “We’re monsters about how much work we do,” Medellin said. “The three of us put in well over 100 hours a week here. On top of that, Mat and I also work with our landlord.” The three are musicians as well, making their schedules even more hectic than their long days at Caydence suggest.
East Lansing collectors push vinyl sales higher: Why does the current generation believe in the resurgence of this vintage format? Records offer physical music to collect rather than endless playlists on streaming service apps. It’s clear that local student vinyl lovers have no intention of straying from this hobby any time soon. While Tim Michalik, a Lansing Community College journalism sophomore, rummages through a bedroom shelf stacked with his old, used and new records in his bedroom he ponders his favorite. It is far too difficult for Michalik to decide, so he settles on two: “Right now it’s Bill Callahan – Dream River and also Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane’s self-titled.” Callahan, an American singer-songwriter pushes an alternative sound with heavy roots of blues rock and roll. Monk and Coltrane are standard artists worth knowing in the jazz community. Michalik, 19, has a theory on why his generation is pushing vinyl sales higher.
Record swap helps Missoula’s Roxy Theater: MISSOULA – Deep cuts filled deep pockets at the senior center, as vinyl enthusiasts bought and bartered records, cassettes and CDs. The Second Total Record Swap brought music enthusiasts out in force to support their local community cinema. Founded and organized by the Roxy, many vendors donated all proceeds to help with annual projects and service costs that arise throughout the year. The Roxy’s Tech Director Aaron “Rooster” Roos says that the swap is an opportunity for Missoula to come together and enjoy music while also supporting local business.
Montreal Is Hosting A Massive Free Vinyl Record Convention: One of the things that drove me to move here to Montreal is how incredibly versed this city is in arts, entertainment and lifestyle. Music is a passion of mine through and through, and Montreal has been a sweet place to indulge in this passion. Montreal is set to host a massive record convention this spring – and I couldn’t be more excited! The Montreal Record Show brings together music retailers and collectors with over 40 tables filled with vinyl records, CDs, tapes, magazines and anything related to music. There will be DJs on site to keep you vibing to some tunes, and tons of music swag and memorabilia to shop. The next edition of the Montreal Record Show is one for the vinyl and music lovers, and not to be missed!
