Grand Rapids, MI | Not dead yet! Vinyl records strong comeback in Grand Rapids! For years we all loved our LPs, the vinyl records that we practically wore out as we played our favorite albums. The sound and quality were amazing. Then along came tape and then digital. They were easier, more accessible. Cassettes, CDs, downloads, whatever, it was so easy to carry our favorite music with us. Everyone was predicting the vinyl LP was dead. Nope! Not dead yet! In fact, vinyl has come roaring back as the favorite music medium for many audiophiles. Let’s face it, MP3 audio is good, but unless you have some outstanding high end audio equipment you’ll enjoy the song, but certainly not the depth and quality. Re-enter vinyl! Seriously, you will hear so much more from your LPs which are making a big comeback! However, the question is, where can you find LPs in Grand Rapids and West Michigan?
Brighton, UK | Bella Union Vinyl Shop opens new venue in Brighton: A new live music venue and café, studio and record shop have opened in Brighton’s North Laine. Bella Union is an independent record label and artist management company. They have won Independent Record Company of the Year four times, and their acts have won Mercury awards and earned Brit nominations. Whilst this venue in Gloucester Street is new, Bella Union has been a prominent part of Brighton’s music scene for many years. It is owned by Simon Raymonde, previously bassist for the Cocteau Twins, who established Bella Union in 1997. In reference to their new venue, Bella Union said: ‘After nine years in small brick and mortar retail spaces in Brighton, we stumbled across a building in the North Laine that could fit our record label operations, management company, recording studio, as well as a shop big enough to fit a cafe set up as well as accommodate live events—all under one roof!’
Detroit, MI | Third Man Records celebrating 10 years in Detroit on Black Friday with live music, new merch & more: Third Man Records is celebrating 10 years in Detroit’s Cass Corridor this November, with a special celebration on Black Friday. Located at 441 W. Canfield, the store opened on Black Friday in 2015 and will celebrate all day long on Nov. 28. “We’re really excited to celebrate ten years in Detroit,” said Roe Peterhans of Third Man Records. “There’s going to be giveaways that day, live DJ music, an open bar, and some incredible new product launches — it’s going to be a great time to come down, shop, and just experience the energy of the place.” With the induction of The White Stripes into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this month, Third Man will debut brand-new White Stripes merchandise and vinyl that has never been sold in stores, plus a special box set collection.
Pittsfield, MA | Spotlight on Indie Readery & Records—a brand new shop in downtown Pittsfield: Laurie and Emma Lenski have launched Indie Readery & Records, which opened on October 23 at 314 North Street in a 600-square-foot storefront near the corner of Melville Street. It offers a curated selection of new and used books, vinyl records, and a range of other items, including unique gifts and organic and personal care products. While the books cover a wide range of subjects, Indie Readery & Records specializes in those with a liberal and progressive viewpoint, as well as new ideas. “It’s very eclectic, and we have a wide variety of voices and products represented,” Emma explained. “I’d say we have something for everyone. At the same time, we have a strong social justice lens and want to be inclusive in serving populations and perspectives that are often underrepresented in mainstream culture. We’re also active in the LGBTQ+ community and represent that here.”
Chicago, IL | Shop Local 2025: An Avondale, Logan Square And Humboldt Park Gift Guide: Independently owned shops on the Northwest Side offer everything from rare vinyl records and vintage trinkets to handmade Puerto Rican jewelry, politically humorous holiday cards and Chicago-themed apparel. …Bric-a-Brac Records & Collectibles, 2845 N. Milwaukee Ave. Bric-a-Brac Records is filled to the brim with “all the necessities no one really needs,” like vinyl records, VHS tapes, vintage movie posters, toys and CDs. Some possible gift ideas include a Five Nights At Freddy’s Funko Mystery Mini Fredbear Plush toy, a Gamestop exclusive from the 2017 line ($55) or a vinyl of Bam Bam’s “Villains (Also Wear White)” EP ($22)—one of many vinyls for your music lover friends for sale at Bric-a-Brac.
AI-protest silent album gets vinyl release—with added Paul McCartney: Earlier this year, an album called ‘Is This What We Want?’ was released as a protest against the UK government’s potential plans to reform copyright laws to the benefit of AI companies. The ‘silent’ album was made up of tracks of empty recording studios and performance spaces, and was released digitally. Now it is also being made available in a vinyl edition by The State51 Conspiracy, complete with a bonus track from Paul McCartney. The album’s organiser, Ed Newton-Rex, noted that since the original release, the government has said that it has abandoned the idea of allowing AI firms to train on music unless the rightsholders opt out. However, it has yet to propose an alternative that the music industry sees as more artist-friendly. “The government must commit to not handing the life’s work of the country’s musicians to AI companies for free,” he said. “It should listen to Paul McCartney and the 1,000 other musicians who took part in this album, and resist calls to legalise music theft from the big tech lobby.”
Leesport, PA | The Leesport Record Riot! Over 15,000 vinyl records in one room! Sat Jan 3rd, Leesport Farmers Mkt. The Leesport Record Riot! A GIANT vinyl record POP-UP sale at the Leesport Farmers Market! Sat Jan 3rd 10 AM-4 PM Over 15,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and family fun. LPs, CDs & 45s. A giant record store lands in Berks County! Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! LPs and 45s and CDs too. All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz and more. Dust off that turntable and come on down. DOOR PRIZES TOO! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
Frederick, MD | The Frederick Record Riot! Over 10,000 LPs in one room. On the Frederick Fairgrounds, Sat Dec 13th. The Frederick Record Riot! It’s a WONDERFUL vinyl record POP-UP sale on the Frederick Fairgrounds. Over 15,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and amazing family fun. LPs & CDs of all genres! The Frederick Record Riot is vinyl record heaven! Think of a GIANT music flea market! Over 15,000 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. Dust off that turntable and come on down. DOOR PRIZES TOO! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
Love Of The Vinyl Record (and CDs and Cassettes). Downloads not included. There must be a small demographic of people who remember a time when you could buy CDs, vinyl, and cassettes in the same store. I’m one. Where I grew up, there was a shop called Mike’s Records. It wasn’t a collector’s emporium or specialist dealer. It was just a record store. Just like the green grocer you went to buy an apple from. Or the garage to buy a car. You went to Mike’s to buy music. My town wasn’t big, but there were enough bored kids and music-loving adults to make it a lucrative business. Furthermore, there was no one else. If you couldn’t get your hits at Mike’s, you had to take a train to the city 40 miles away. This was the late 80s, when you had all three choices. The trusty vinyl. The dependable cassette. Or the new and cool CD.
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