Houston, TX | Soundwaves, once a mighty Houston music store empire, to close last store: A 50-year run for a record store and surf shop that was once a hub for Houston music lovers is finally coming to an end. On Sunday, Montrose’s Soundwaves announced on Instagram that the chain’s last remaining location at 3509 Montrose Blvd. will be closing its doors. Soundwaves didn’t specify a reason for the closure, and the store’s owners couldn’t be reached on Monday for comment by email, phone, or Instagram direct message. The shop’s website appeared to be down as of Monday. It’s unclear when the store’s last day will be, but Soundwaves posted on Instagram that everything in its store will be half off until closure.
Los Angeles, CA | L.A.’s famed Record Parlor is opening a Long Beach store with special 100K record collection: The Record Parlour—Hollywood’s much-loved record shop that shifted tangible record shopping toward platforms like Instagram—is officially opening a Long Beach store. And it comes with a collection unlike any other. Taking over the former, short-lived Goodies space in Belmont Shore—and giving old-school Fingerprints vibes when it was its OG location in the Shore before going to DTLB and now Bixby Knolls—Parlour owner Chris Honetschlaeger has scored what he describes as “the largest single vinyl collection we’ve ever seen under one roof.” That collection? The Willie “Wax Hog” Hutchins Collection. And just when will locals be able to sift through this audiophile wonder? The Record Parlour in Long Beach will open on Friday, July 3.
Farmers Branch, TX | Josey Records: This iconic Texas record store spans 25,000 square feet and is a must visit for music lovers: Twenty five thousand square feet of nothing but records. That is not a typo. This iconic spot is a music lover’s dream, the kind of place you plan to browse for twenty minutes and then realize three hours have disappeared. You can flip through new arrivals, dig in dusty dollar bins, and find everything from classic rock to obscure jazz pressings. The sheer size means you will never see it all in one trip, and that is the best part. There is always something waiting on a shelf you missed. Bring a crate, a friend to hold you accountable, and maybe a second credit card.
Devizes, UK | Vinyl Realm Settles Into New Home: A median haul of vinyl can weigh in, but there’s no longer a trek down Northgate Street for record collectors and musicians alike. Vinyl Realm has settled into their new location on Devizes High Street and shopping there is a much more spacious and airy experience… Much as I loved the idea of a record shop opening in Devizes, being just the way I remember and loved them in days of yore, eight years ago on that inception, I confess I put a time limit on the place. Even then the threat on High Street shopping was real, and the want for vinyl records in this digital era was questionable. But Vinyl Realm is not only bucking both trends, locally it’s been a detrimental influence on them, proving well managed music shops are here to stay.
Rhyl, UK | Nigel Farage records video at Rhyl vinyl shop mocking rivals: Nigel Farage visited a well-known record shop in Rhyl as the Reform UK leader toured North Wales to support the party’s campaign for the Senedd elections. The MP for Clacton was joined by Welsh Reform leader Dan Thomas on a visit to the region yesterday, which also saw him pop into a Llandudno craft ale bar for a pint. On his trails, Farage also checked out Rhyl, and recorded a light-hearted video mocking political rivals including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Green Party leader Zack Polanski. The Reform leader popped into Funky Feet Records, a record shop on Market Street with a focus on soul music, including Northern Soul, Motown, Stax, Tamla Motown, Mod, Soul, R&B, and Ska. In the video, Farage says: “Vinyl is back—I’m here in a shop in Rhyl, let’s see what we can find.”
Bridgeport, IL | Bridgeport’s Let’s Boogie Records And Tapes Celebrates 50 Years As A Haven For Vinyl Lovers: Opened by Neal Keller in 1976, the shop is now run by Keller’s son, who is preserving its status as one of Chicago’s oldest record stores. There are certain places in Chicago where the moment you step through the door, you’re transported back in time. The ghost of Al Capone looms large in the cozy booths at the Green Mill. The lurching manual elevators at the Fine Arts Building sweeps visitors back to the turn-of-the-century. And at Let’s Boogie Records & Tapes in Bridgeport, a bright yellow sign featuring a cartoon man in a pinstripe suit beckons music lovers back to 1976. Let’s Boogie, 3321 S. Halsted St., celebrated its 50th anniversary last month, a milestone acknowledged by Mayor Brandon Johnson at City Council.
London, UK | City of London Police disrupt counterfeit vinyl operation: The City of London Police’s Pipcu unit, which focuses on intellectual-property crime, has announced the results of an operation focused on disrupting a counterfeit vinyl scheme in Luton. The police seized 6,498 records in a raid last Wednesday (22 April)—stock with an estimated retail loss for artists and the wider music industry of just under £260k. “The vinyl revival means that there are sadly criminals trying to take advantage and cash in through counterfeiting,” said Peter Ratcliffe, director of content protection at industry body the BPI, following the news of the raid. “The BPI’s Content Protection Unit is delighted to have worked hand in hand with City of London Police’s PIPCU to help successfully disrupt what is clearly a major illegal counterfeiting operation.”
New Orleans, LA | Inspired by rare vinyl finds, The Black Keys bring ‘Peaches’ and Record Hang to New Orleans: The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are fervent record crate diggers. And for the last few years, the duo have played many of those 45-rpm vinyl gems in their collections during their Record Hang series of pop-up dance parties at small clubs around the country. Auerbach and Carney are often joined by DJ El Michels—Black Keys touring member Leon Michels, who also leads the cinematic soul outfit El Michels Affair—for late-night DJ sets full of deep cuts from across genres, from the blues and rock ’n’ roll that have influenced The Black Keys’ sound to funk, soul, R&B, pop, Latin styles and hip-hop. The Black Keys are back in New Orleans to close out the Gentilly Stage at Jazz Fest at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 1. And Auerbach and Carney will host a post-fest Record Hang at 11 p.m. that night at Toulouse Theatre with guest DJ Alix Brown.
Downers Grove, IL | Crafted at the Oak: A Plants & Vinyl Market, Sunday, May 3, 2026—11am to 5pm. Sip and shop with us at the Imperial Oak Brewing in Willow Springs, IL! This market, named Crafted at the Oak: A Plant & Vinyl Market, will include handmade artisans, plant vendors, vinyl vendors and more. It will be a fun mix of vintage, new and unique! We will have something for everyone here. And it never hurts to get yourself a little something unique. Relax and grab a craft beer and shop a variety of artists at the brewery. Over three dozen vendors including 2-4 of both plants and vinyl! Family friendly and free to attend!
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