Stirling, UK | Europa Music: The Beating Heart of Stirling’s Music Scene: Europa Music isn’t just a record shop, it’s a Stirling institution. Tucked away in the city centre, the shop has been part of local life since the early 1970s, back when discovering new music meant flicking through crates, not clicking a playlist. Formats have changed more times than anyone cares to count; vinyl to cassette, cassette to CD, iPods and eventually to the era of endless streaming, Europa has stayed standing, adapting without ever losing its charm. When vinyl made its comeback in the 2000s, Europa didn’t just benefit from the revival; it helped lead it. While record stores across the UK shut their doors, Europa expanded its already huge collection and cemented its reputation as one of Scotland’s best spots for both new releases and rare finds.
Jeannette, PA | Jeannette business district: ‘fledgling stages of being reborn.’ As people were flowing into Jeannette’s downtown business district Saturday for the city’s holiday parade, there was a positive vibe among several business owners along Clay Avenue that downtown is seeing a revitalization. …J.D Griffin of Verona, said he opened his business selling vinyl records around Halloween last year, learning about the space from a friend he would talk with at a coffee shop. It took a lot of remodeling to make it into an inviting space. “I’ve put everything into it,” said Griffin, a former nightclub disc jockey who originally stocked his business with his large personal collection of albums and 45s. His inventory now is counted in thousands of records. The location has been good, with people coming to the store to buy all kinds of albums, some $1 and some collectibles that could be as high as $150, he said.
Savannah, GA | Savannah record store puts a new spin on vinyl production: A Savannah record store built on vinyl is now pressing its own, making it one of the only independent labels in the country to do so. Graveface Records, which started as a recording label releasing indie psych, shoegaze and elective music, has opened its own vinyl pressing plant near the Georgia state line. Each sift through the stacks at Graveface Records reveals a different sound, a different setlist and a different story. The shop’s shelves serve as a Savannah staple for vinyl collectors. “I didn’t go through a CD phase in the 90s like most people. I was buying records, which is how I was able to open the store,” said Ryan Graveface, the store’s owner. “It’s just something I enjoyed collecting and hoarding.”
London, UK | New second-hand record store, Crates R Us, opens in South London’s AAJA Basement: A new second-hand record store has opened inside South London bar, radio hub and venue, AAJA Basement. The crew behind aptly-titled Crates R Us have been active at the Deptford High Street address since 2018, where they have run a number of record fairs. This relationship has now blossomed into a permanent residency, helping to retain and grow daytime footfall at a time when grass roots music operations are struggling. “…The opportunity to house Crates has helped us to adapt to some of these challenges, providing financial support and increasing our resilience to rising costs, and the volatility of being a grassroots organisation,” said a spokesperson for AAJA in a statement.
UK | Why do Gen Z have a growing appetite for retro tech? Gen Z are going retro. People in their teens and early 20s are increasingly turning to old school tech in a bid to unplug from the online world. …Saul, 20, has been collecting vinyl records since 2016. With new vinyl albums costing about £35 on average, it might seem expensive compared to streaming but Saul feels it’s worth it. “It’s a more authentic sound,” he says. “The grooves on the record make it feel real, you can hear the difference. “It’s about having something physical you can look at instead of just scrolling through your phone mindlessly.” For Saul, the appeal goes beyond sound quality. “You’ve got the actual cover art, and you put the disc down yourself, it’s a hands-on experience,” he says.
IN | Here’s Why Vinyl And Old Music Systems Are Winning Hearts Again: From Chor Bazaar to modern living rooms, a new generation rediscovers the soul-stirring sound of classic gramophones and record players. If listening to music on a digital bluetooth speaker is what you call a great experience, wait till you listen to the old analogue music system. When you enter the Diamond Electronics owned by Ganesh H Suryavanshi, there are chances that you will witness the music coming from an old record system. The sound quality is so clear that you hear every beat of the percussion instrument. The experience will transport you to a completely different world, a world of pure music. …He says, “When the system started, first came mono, then came stereo. Then, in stereo analogue technology was started. In an analogue system, everything is manual. The quality of the analogue is excellent. When you listen to it, the feeling you get from the sound quality is on another level, and you can listen to it for a long time.”
Understanding the overlooked legacy of vinyls in African music: Across Sub-Saharan Africa, demand for vinyl records is also on the rise, thanks to the rise of cultural hubs and interactive vinyl festivals. …Across Sub-Saharan Africa, demand for vinyl records is also on the rise, thanks to the rise of cultural hubs, vibrant online communities, interactive vinyl festivals, and immersive listening sessions. Existing independent record stores like Mabu Records in Cape Town and Torobee Distribution in Dakar that once struggled to stay in business are now gaining traction, while new stores like Ritual (Accra) and Broken Records (Windhoek) open in cities around the continent, selling pre-owned and reissued copies of legendary records by beloved African artists like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ebo Taylor, and the Lijadu Sisters.
New York, NY | Inside Moss, the New Midtown Members’ Club With a Hammam, Vinyl Lounge, and Pickleball Court: They say you shouldn’t mix family with business—but whoever first said that probably didn’t have sisters. Just ask Colleen and Hailey Brooks: the collaborative duo behind Moss, a new private members’ club in Midtown Manhattan. When you arrive at 520 Fifth Avenue, a white stone building with soaring arched windows comes into focus. “Versus the steel glass buildings you commonly find in Midtown, it’s very soft,” Hailey says, curled up in what will soon be the club’s piano lounge. Despite the gentle nods to Art Deco and quintessential New York City architecture, it’s a new build. In fact, it is now the second tallest building on Fifth Avenue after the Empire State Building—and in addition to Moss, it will feature luxury residential and office space. “It’s been a pleasure for Colleen and I to be part of something that really adds to the skyline.”
New York, NY | This New 4-story Asian American Hub Is Transforming Midtown NYC—With a Retro Canto-pop Bar and a Tea Vodka Vending Machine: Boba-inspired drinks and gua sha? Count us in. …“This is part of our approach to redefining retail space by adding fun elements like the vending machine and using them for better storytelling,” Liu explained. “We want every experience to come with a fun fact or a piece of information.” The journey continues up the staircase, which starts with the metallic train station vibe and transitions into an inviting second-floor lounge, opening up into the retro vinyl bar, 929, a reimagining of the former Long Island City speakeasy of the same name. Decked out with Cantonese and Mandarin records and memorabilia from the 1980s and beyond (much from the personal collection of Hue House’s chief marketing officer, Haoran Chen), each menu item is printed on a CD in an old-fashioned case.
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