Dubuque, IA | Shop local for the holidays: This holiday season, don’t just shop local, shop cozy: Ruix Records. Walk in to Ruix Records for the chill vibes, and flip through their “affordable records for all kinds of people,” said co-owner, Bob Bucko. Vinyl is having a major resurgence that this record store is well prepared for, whether vinyl aficionados are adding to their well-loved collections or are just getting one started. “We’re seeing more teenagers buying CDs, too, and we also cater to people who just got their first record player,” Bucko says. If you’re not sure what to buy for a music-loving teen, this might be the way to go—there’s new and used vinyl and CDs, turntables, speakers and other components, as well as vintage clothing (that’s just getting started at the store). Customers can listen to records at a listening station before they purchase them. Of course, when not sure what to choose, gift certificates are always a thoughtful option.
Bridport, UK | Clocktower Records helping Jamaica after hurricane Melissa: A reggae enthusiast in Bridport is selling records to support those affected by hurricane Melissa in Jamaica. Music lover Roy Gregory, who runs Clocktower Records on St Michael’s Trading Estate, has been quick to support people who have recently had their homes, businesses and livelihoods completely destroyed. The island was battered by the category five hurricane, one of the worst to hit the island ever, which swept the region on October 28. The disaster killed at least 28 people in Jamaica and more in Haiti and other affected regions. To give back, staff have set up a display of reggae records, with half of the proceeds of the sales being donated to the Jamaican government’s official relief fund, to help them start to rebuild their lives. The fundraiser will last for the entire month, and Mr Gregory is also working with local photographer Adrian Boot, who is selling photographs to support Jamaica.
Seattle, WA | Record shop gives free Nirvana tattoos in honor of 20th anniversary: To celebrate the 20th anniversary release of Nirvana’s In Utero album, Silver Platters record store in SoDo offered free tattoos of the band’s iconic smiley face logo to anyone who purchased the remastered CD or vinyl. The back corner of the store became an impromptu Nirvana convention, with fans who went to Nirvana shows back in the day trading stories with fans who were just babies 20 years ago. There were supplies for 70 tattoos, and they expected to go through them all. Universal, who is reissuing the album, paid for the tattoo supplies and artists.
Midlands, UK | ‘Nostalgic’ West Midlands music shop aims to bring the ‘cool’ factor back: The vinyl-only store will be paradise for anyone wanting to scratch that musical itch. A new record store has opened on the Knowle High Street. He said his first memory was of his dad buying a Queen album when he was the age of two. And now former radio DJ John Ellis, who also booked festivals and managed labels, is continuing his life of music. Slow Century Records opens today, (Saturday, November 8) a physical place to ‘hang out’ after starting online over the pandemic. Vinyl-only to begin with, the shop in Knowle will be musical paradise for anyone who shares John’s passion. A mental health nurse for 25 years, John, from Shirley, wants people to leave happy and aims to bring the cool factor back to record shops. Speaking to BirminghamLive, he said: “This is a great place to hang out and talk to people who know what they’re talking about. “Record shops used to be cool and they still should be. I hope to bring some of that back.”
Cambridge, UK | The lost Cambridge record shop that lends its name to much-loved local café chain: This small café chain has two spots in Cambridge and its own coffee roastery in Shepreth. Its name is taken from a record shop that once traded in the city. Many would agree that music and food are two of life’s greatest pleasures. In Cambridge, both forms of joy have been provided under one, locally-famous name. Today, the words ‘Hot Numbers’ will make people from the city think of brunches and flat whites. This small café chain has two spots in Cambridge and its own coffee roastery in Shepreth. However, between the 1970s and the late 1990s, the offering at Cambridge’s Hot Numbers was R ‘n’ B rather than BLT. It was a record store on Kingston Street, just a one-minute walk away from the present-day Hot Numbers café on Gwydir Street. The store was run by local R ‘n’ B DJ Max Rees, who sold northern soul records and old classics from a wide variety of genres.
Paris, FR | 100,000 vinyl records starting at €2 in a giant flea market in Paris! Music lovers, we have some excellent news for you! A day filled with music is on the way this Sunday, November 30th. The Paris Loves Vinyl event is back in the capital, taking over the Espace Reuilly in the 12th arrondissement for another rock’n’roll edition. On the agenda: over 100,000 vinyl records featuring all music styles, available at unbeatable prices! Attention music lovers, especially those who adore vinyls! We hope you don’t have anything planned for Sunday, November 30th! For one delightful day, the event Paris Loves Vinyl, the ultimate vinyl convention in France, returns for its 15th edition (and the last of the year) at Espace Reuilly in the 12th district, offering you a vast selection of around 100,000 vinyl records. It’s the perfect opportunity to uncover rare gems, expand your collection a bit more, or put the finishing touches on your Christmas gifts!
Vernon, CA | RetroMania proves to be a hit in Vernon: …Brought to Vernon by Vernon Comic Con mastermind, Peter Kaz, RetroMania featured all manner of nostalgic items ranging from classic pinball machines to toys and everything in between. Dozens of vendors set up on the recreation complex for the one-day event that attracted hundreds of people. “I always had an idea for a vintage event or a retro event, so I came up with RetroMania and the rest is history,” Kaz said. There were some newer items at the event, but those were greatly outnumbered by old items. One vendor was selling classic—and well played with—wrestling figures from the 1980s and ’90, another had a table full of old super heroes while another had original Star Wars toys, but one of the most popular items of the day was vinyl records. “People really love vinyl. Vinyl is really doing well,” Kaz said
Wangaratta, AU | Wangaratta’s Big Record Fair draws over 500 music lovers in a vinyl-fuelled weekend: Wangaratta’s Big Record Fair was a success, drawing vinyl fanatics from near and far. The unmistakable crackle of vinyl and the buzz of excited collectors filled the Wangaratta Club in Victoria Parade over jazz festival weekend, as more than 500 music lovers flocked to Wangaratta’s Big Record Fair. Organised by Ben Nyman from No. 49 Record Bar, the event featured an impressive spread of more than 20,000 records and CDs across 20 tables hosted by 11 vendors. From rare pressings to classic albums, the fair offered a treasure trove for collectors and casual fans alike. The atmosphere was electric, with local DJ Stu spinning records throughout the event, creating a vibrant soundtrack that had heads nodding and feet tapping. Ben said the turnout was great and the fair had grown significantly since last year. “It’s amazing to see so many people come together over a shared love of music,” he said.
Why Has VHS Made a Comeback? So what is behind the revival of what many considered a dead art form? Nostalgia plays a big role in it, but it follows a predictable trend where a new technology comes out, is embraced quickly, but then people start to feel like they never enjoyed something quite as much as they did in the old analog forms. Consider vinyl records. For the longest time, vinyl was the only way to truly experience a new album. Sure, in the seventies there were 8-track tapes, and in the eighties we had cassettes, but neither sounded as good as vinyl. Oh, but then came compact discs, and this new digital format made albums sound crisper than ever, soon becoming dominant. Eventually, CDs would become extinct — thanks to MP3s and then streaming music. But, at the same time, vinyl began a tremendous resurgence, and I’d wager that any true fan of music probably has a record player in their home.
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