Fakenham, UK | Top Tracks record shop opening in Cattle Street, Fakenham: A woman who has overcome breast cancer is opening a new record shop. Racheal Battley, who used to co-own a similar shop in Cromer alongside a business partner, is launching her own store in Fakenham on Thursday. “I opened a record and vintage shop in 2023 with a friend,” Ms Battley said. “It was brilliant, but unfortunately, I received a breast cancer diagnosis and had to pull out and get surgery. “I feel 100pc now and I just really want to push on. I want to make the most of life and grab opportunities when I have them.” Top Tracks is opening in Cattle Street and will be an oasis for all music lovers. The store will sell vinyl records and CDs, as well as other music memorabilia. Music from the 1960s onwards will be stocked at Top Tracks, which stems from Racheal’s own personal collection. “My partner and I are vinyl lovers,” she said. “It has grown out of that really.”
Birmingham, UK | Birmingham vinyl record store reopens in historic arcade: IGNITE record Store—the indie vinyl destination founded by local music legend Rich Perri—has found a new home in Birmingham city centre. For lovers of classic vinyl and Birmingham’s music scene, there’s now a new reason to visit historic Great Western Arcade. IGNITE has relocated there from the closed Oasis Market for a minimum eight weeks’ pop-up. The music store is now surrounded by some of Birmingham’s best independents and boutique stores. Rich is no stranger to the city’s music scene—he worked at the city’s legendary Tempest Records for 12 years from the age of 18, before founding IGNITE at Oasis Market in 2010. IGNITE’s relocation to Great Western Arcade ensures there continues to be an “independent” choice for music lovers…
Phoenix, AZ | Popular Phoenix record store closes its doors after years in the Valley: A long-time record store in Phoenix will be closing its doors for good. The Record Room has been in the Valley for over a decade and has gained a large following among vinyl lovers. The store opened in 2012 in Old Town Scottsdale by long-time Sunnyslope residents John Rose and his wife, Holly. After needing more room to expand their collection, they moved their shop to their Phoenix location near Interstate 17 and Dunlap Avenue. The shop has gained a large following and is known for its intimate live performances and DJ gigs. It also has thousands of vinyls ranging from pop, rock, jazz, and more. Almost every vinyl is used, making it ideal for newbies or those wanting to add to their collection for a bargain. “A record store has been kind of a special place. I just love browsing,” said customer Fred Fisher.
Callander, ON | Callander Bay Records bring the vinyl to the Bay: Vendors from across the province convene at the Elk’s Lodge this Sunday. Prepare to dig through some stacks, because the North Bay Spring Record Show returns to the Elk’s Lodge in North Bay this Sunday, May 25. “Everything is going great, the room is ready to go, and the vendors are looking forward to the event,” said Jamie Strawn, who along with Kristi Pearce, organizes the event. Pearce and Strawn run Callander Bay Records on Callander’s Main Street, and twice a year, Spring and Fall, the two organize a large record show in North Bay. This year, Strawn said there are plenty of vendors from across the province, and there will be a large display of retro video games as well, which is new for the show. Rest assured, there will still be near-endless stacks of vinyl to sift through, so odds are you’ll be able to scratch a few titles off your must-have list. Either way, expect to see plenty of LPs, 45s, CDs, and many collectibles as well. Plus, the Elks are opening the bar for the occasion, Strawn said.
Manahawkin, NJ | In Memory of Red Rocker, Record Fair Plays On: The Red Rocker Record Fair is a tradition that has brought music lovers together for the last eight years. The event draws in large crowds who are eager to enjoy live music and browse a wide variety of vinyl collections from local record vendors. This year’s event, on Sunday, May 18 at Manafirkin Brewery in Manahawkin, held special meaning as a tribute to the Red Rocker himself, Bruce Ciangetti, who died in March. Friend and fellow musician Chris Fritz and the team at Manafirkin Brewery decided to honor his legacy and dedicate the event to his memory. Fritz, lead singer of The Chris Fritz Band, played original songs and performed a cover set dedicated to “Rocker” Ciangetti. The singer, who worked at Ciangetti’s Red Rocker Records from 1988 to ’94, said, “It’s really a celebration of music, and the nostalgia from the old record store brings locals out.”
Causewayhead, UK | Vinyl fans set to be in dreamland as monthly pop up visits Bridge of Allan: The pop up shop will visit the town’s Union Street—all the idea of a Causewayhead music fanatic wanting to spread his love for vinyl and finding hidden classics. Those who head along can expect “a huge selection of excellent records of all genres” to dig through as well as many rare and collectible items alongside classics and loads of bargains. Norrie moved to Stirling 18 years ago after securing a post with the local authority which saw him responsible for the arts and music provision within Youth Services. He left the local authority in 2015 to return to self employment and focus on his own music and arts career. …The Record Hide have been hosting pop-up shops regularly now for two years and plan to keep them monthly and in Bridge of Allan for now but they have also been looking for premises with the hopes to establish a more permanent base sometime in the near future.
North Bay, CA | Going on the record this coming Sunday at the Elk’s Club: Thousands of records, cd’s and music memorabilia among the items for sale at the annual record show. The Record Show has been in North Bay for decades now and runs twice a year, a spring show and a fall show. It returns this coming weekend at the Elk’s Club. There will be more than 10 local and out of town vendors. Over 15 thousand long play (LP) records plus cd’s, 45’s, music memorabilia, and much more are on display and for sale. “We are excited to be back on a new day, the bar will be open, and we’ll be tapped into the sound system, so we’re expecting to have an amazing time,” says Kristi Pearce of Kristi and Jamie Callander Bay Records, the host the North Bay Record Show. Pearce said some of the space will also be devoted to vintage video games.
Chicago, IL | Lounge Music: Charis and Parachute HiFi are jumping on the trend of vinyl-centric listening bars. Listening bars, which are hot these days, draw inspiration from Japanese jazz kissas, 1920s-era cafés where guests sipped drinks while listening to vinyl. Modern versions feature fancy speaker systems, records that reflect owners’ tastes, and drinks worthy of any top cocktail bar. Here’s how two local newbies, Charis Listening Bar and Parachute HiFi, stack up.
Northampton, UK | Trash hits: Worst Record Covers in the World exhibition comes to Northampton Museum and Art Gallery: A dreadful collection of the world’s most awful record covers is already provoking much giggling after it’s first week at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery. The hilariously bad LP covers have entertained fans at music festivals, galleries and museums and on Instagram since quirky collector Steve Goldman first shared his collection in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in 2021. Since then the exhibition has featured on BBC’s Have I Got News For You, BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, BBC Breakfast, The Guardian, The Sun, Metro and the “i” newspaper. It was recently praised by renowned BBC Radio DJ Mark Radcliffe who visited the exhibition in Warrington in November 2024. …“Honestly, it’s lovely because the room is full of people HOWLING with laughter…”
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