Verona, NJ | A New Record Store, Needle Drop Records, is Coming to Verona, New Jersey: Heads up, music lovers: there’s a new spot to visit in Essex County. Needle Drop Records is a new record store set to open at 660 Bloomfield Avenue in Verona, on the corner of Bloomfield and Grove Avenues. Founded by Verona resident Brian Russell, the store will feature vinyl directly from his 18-year-old collection, as well as other music-related items. The Montclair Girl had a chance to speak to Brian about the business, which will be opening on November 7th.
Edinburgh, UK | ‘End of an Era.’ Beloved Scots record shop to close after 43 years: A popular Scottish music shop has announced its shock closure after over 40 years, leaving customers gutted. Vinyl Villains, in Leith, Edinburgh, has been a favourite in the area since it first opened in 1983. Located on Elm Row, at the top of Leith Walk, the old-school record store is famous for its huge collection of rare, pre-owned and collectable vinyl. It is also praised for its range of secondhand CDs, DVDs, music books, and band T-shirts. But the beloved shop has now revealed that it is set to shut for good after serving customers for more than four decades. The sad news was shared with customers on social media, explaining that it comes after “rocketing” rent increases.
Tallahassee, FL | Vintage & Vinyl: A guide to second-hand shopping in Tallahassee: Retrofit Records. Not into fashion? Don’t worry, Tallahassee is also home to Retrofit Records, where you can buy and sell used vinyl. This store has something for every kind of music lover and frequently hosts album release listening parties with exclusive merchandise. After spending the morning at a thrift store, you can swing by this record shop and level up your listening game, too. Whether you’re a long-time vinyl lover or just bought your first turntable, flipping through the countless crates is a great way to find new artists and decorate your dorm at the same time.
Calgary, AL | ‘Those two gentlemen changed everything’: VinylCentric’s new exhibit celebrates duo who created the groundwork for Canadian recording industry. …The 6000 Series tells the stories of two men who helped lay the groundwork for the Canadian recording industry. One is Walt Grealis, a former police officer with a passion for music whose contributions have been relatively well-documented. He founded the magazine RPM, which stood for Records, Promotion, Music, in 1964 and used it to tirelessly advocate for Canadian artists, making him a lone voice at the time. He invented the term CanCon and played a major part in establishing a Canadian star system in the music industry by co-founding with partner Stan Klees the RPM Gold Leaf music awards in 1970, which eventually became the Juno Awards.
Columbia Falls, MT | Bad Rock Music celebrates the vinyl experience: For those of you who love the old days of putting on a pair of headphones, dropping an album on the turntable and flopping down in a comfy chair to listen to it, you’ll love the new Bad Rock Music Store on Nucleus Avenue owned by the Powell family. The store features about 1,000 vinyl albums, both brand new and used. It also sells turntables, fresh, hot coffee and tea and other novelties. About 26 years ago, Aaron Powell started collecting vinyl records. Back then, CDs , tapes and digital streaming were taking over the music scene. “You could get stuff at Goodwill for a $1,” Powell said during a recent tour of the store. Fast forward two and a half decades and vinyl is making a comeback for music enthusiasts and musicians alike.
London, UK | Goldie to curate room at London’s Saatchi Gallery as part of forthcoming exhibition news: The drum ‘n’ bass legend will bring an “immersive” Metalheadz record store to the West London gallery for Beyond the Streets II. Goldie is set to take over a room at London’s Saatchi Gallery as part of a forthcoming, six-month exhibition celebrating US and UK street culture. Beyond the Streets II, which is set to open at the Kensington-based art gallery on November 11, will feature archival photography, sound recordings and artwork exploring six decades of transatlantic graffiti and art activism. The drum ‘n’ bass pioneer is set to bring an “immersive” Metalheadz record store to the Saatchi for the exhibition, with “30 years of short films and videos from across his career screened on 30 stacks of vintage TVs” in the same room.
Austin, TX | Austin Record Convention brings music lovers together through collecting, connection: Conversations buzzed through the Palmer Events Center as visitors rummaged through rows of records, stopping to talk with vendors or each other. Tables covered with CDs, T-shirts, posters and more gave music lovers plenty to explore at the Austin Record Convention. Held Oct. 24-25, the convention brought collectors, vendors and shoppers together around a shared love of music. Between searches for favorite albums, attendees caught up with familiar faces and made connections across tables of physical media. For Nathan Hanners, the convention’s owner and organizer, those connections began in his childhood.
Tinley Park, IL | Vinyl Market at Soundgrowler: Five years of vinyl, art, music and craft beer! Soundgrowler Brewing’s 5th Annual Vinyl Market returns to Tinley Park on Saturday, November 7, from 12pm to 5pm! Come dig through crates of vinyl, discover some great local artists and makers, grab something good to eat, and enjoy a fresh Soundgrowler beer while you shop. We’re bringing together record vendors, music-inspired artists, original art, comics, cookies and treats, woodworking, coffee, tarot, handmade goods and plenty more. The lineup is coming together, a few artist spaces are still available, and we’re getting ready for another great Vinyl Market at Soundgrowler. RSVP, invite your friends, spread the word and come crate-dig with us!
Albany, NY | The Albany Record Riot! 15,000 vinyl records in one room! Sun Nov 8th at the Polish Community Center: The Albany Record Riot RETURNS! It’s a MASSIVE vinyl record POP-UP sale! Sun Nov 8th. Over 60 dealer tables in one room! Great music and family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. Door prizes too! Don’t miss it! A giant record store lands in Albany! 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. GREAT DOOR PRIZES! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). DISCOUNT TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE! Delicious Polish food too. Great music all day! Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
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