London, UK | A beloved east London record store is at risk of closure: The free-to-enter space opened in 2016 and said it had received noise complaints from a new residential building. It’s a familiar tale in nightlife: an area becomes popular due to its music scene, people move to that area, then they complain said venue is too noisy, and the space could be forced to close. Now the popular record shop and events space The BBE Store in Hackney could join a string of venues in the capital following this arc. …Next time you’re in a pub in a seemingly happening part of town on a Saturday night and its last orders are at 11pm, you can blame going to bed early on NIMBYs.
Bolton-le-Sands, UK | Tiny Bolton-le-Sands record shop attracts vinyl collectors: A tiny record shop is making a big noise on the vinyl scene. La’l Record Shop, in Bolton-le-Sands, has been attracting collectors from across the country with its growing reputation for rare finds and classic records. Owner Stephen Neill opened the shop 18 months ago on Main Street, which is around 20 miles outside of Kendal, turning a lifelong dream into reality as he approached his 60th birthday. Mr Neill said: “Ever since I was a teenager I’d wanted to open a record shop, but life and mortgages got in the way and I became a painter and decorator. “But when I was nearing my 60th birthday this shop became available, and so I thought it was time to take the plunge.”
Wichita, KS | East Douglas block that’s become a shopping, dining destination gets new tenant: “It‘s always the dream of a record store owner to have a store on Douglas—with any business owner to have a store on Douglas,” he said. “That’s kind of, in my opinion, the best place that you can be in the city.” Easterby closed his shop on Cleveland on Saturday and has spent the week moving to the new space on Douglas. He says he’ll have the relocated shop fully up and running by Nov. 1. The new location could not be more perfect for his shop, Easterby said. For one, It sits in between Uhlik Music, 2160 E. Douglas, and Midwest Drum & Percussion, 2228 E. Douglas. “It’s a music hub already,” he said.
Pittsburgh, PA | Hellbender Records brings the luck of the Irish to Pittsburgh turntables: What do the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pitt Panthers, and Hellbender Vinyl have in common? All of them are building a relationship with the Emerald Isle. Lawrenceville vinyl pressing plant Hellbender Vinyl’s partnership with Irish vinyl plant Anthem Vinyl will help produce more records to get through the global vinyl backlog. Hellbender and Anthem will work together to fulfill clients’ orders in the U.S. and the UK/Europe, so artists have a single point of contact for both. …For Hellbender co-founder Jeff Betten, this development is the natural next step in his mission to support artists in Pittsburgh and beyond.
New York, NY | Classic Rock New Releases Flood Record Stores Before the Holidays: Over the last two months, it seems like I’ve been inundated with information about new releases from Classic Rock/Hits acts. I’ve been holding off on writing about them because, let’s face it, new music from Classic artists isn’t always good and, more importantly, isn’t why fans are tuning in. So short of a major superstar release, it’s generally something to stay away from—for airplay, at least. But there are so many that it seemed worth calling attention to them collectively.
Los Angeles, CA | Compas Discoteca: Local DJ crew spins vinyl at La Popular: As soulful tropical funkadelia streamed out from a bright pink record player, La Popular came alive. One by one, people started bobbing their heads and slowly made their way onto the dance floor, entranced by the magic that only a live DJ set can bring. The scene at La Popular in the Claremont Village on Sunday, Oct. 18 is a reminder that local music culture is alive and well even when campus life pauses for fall break. Compas Discoteca is an Inland Empire-based DJ collective, composed of four longtime friends and experienced DJs: Adrian Silva, Elías Ruiz, Ricardo Carlos and Alberto Piña. This week’s set was part of their Viva Vinyl event series, where they mix vinyl records live on every third Sunday of the month.
Portland, OR | This business turns vinyl records into mixtapes: Mixtape Vinyl has made custom vinyl records for weddings, memorials and more for 10 years. …Since April 2008, music fans have marked Record Store Day, which highlights independent record stores and vinyl culture. A Portland business is combining the vinyl resurgence with another personal music keepsake: the mixtape. Mixtape Vinyl, based in Portland, has created vinyl record mixtapes for 10 years. Jennifer Dawson and the late Portland-based singer-songwriter David Freel, of the band Swell, founded it in 2016. “We get people who are quite often trying to woo somebody,” Dawson said. “It’s obviously a crush, and they’re putting their favorite songs onto a vinyl instead of a cassette.”
Waldorf, MD | The Waldorf Record Riot! Over 10,000 vinyl records in one room! Sat Oct 31st 10 AM-4 PM. The Waldorf Record Riot! It’s a BIG vinyl record POP-UP sale at The Old Waldorf School! Over 10,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and amazing family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz and more. Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
Winnipeg, MB | Manitoba’s largest record sale draws crowds: Music collectors in Winnipeg were out in full force on Sunday digging for hidden treasures. The Manitoba Music and Record Sale took over the Caboto Centre on Sunday for its annual fall sale. More than 90 tables in the building filled with vinyl, CDs, cassettes and other music memorabilia were available for attendees to browse. “I would say 90 per cent of what you’re going to find in the room is vinyl records, but there are CDs, cassettes, posters, T-shirts. I mean, any rock memorabilia,” said Mike Huen, one of the event organizers. Huen said interest in the festival has grown in the past decade, as a younger generation continues to show an interest in physical media. He said the average age of attendees in recent years is under 40 years old.
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