Phoenix, AZ | After 43 years, iconic Phoenix record store is getting a fresh start: Joshua Briese was vacationing in Spain when a bit of music news from The Arizona Republic caught his eye. “Phoenix record store for sale after 43 years,” the headline noted, going on to quote the owner, Timmy Stamper, who said he was “burnt out on being a stool jockey.” As Briese recalls, “My wife’s from Spain and we were sitting in her parents’ house. They live outside Madrid in a little place called Campo Real. I saw the post for Tracks in Wax and I was like, ‘Oh my God, are you kidding me? This is crazy.’” Briese had often spoken with his wife, Maria Carmona Butista, who owns Tile Resource and Design, about his dream of one day opening a record store. “Once I saw that, I was on a mission,” Briese says.
Sydney, AU | 12 Best Record Stores in Sydney for Vinyl Lovers: The last decade has seen a significant and surprising rise in the popularity of vinyl. Luckily Sydney is known for its music and because of this, there’s no shortage of places to get your hands on some quality new and second-hand vinyl. With such a wide range on offer, you’ll be able to get your hands on pretty much any genre of music you’d like. To help guide you on your vinyl-hunting journey, we’ve found the best record stores in Sydney for vinyl lovers.
SC | Step inside these charming South Carolina record stores and discover rare vinyl you won’t find anywhere else: South Carolina has a hidden world waiting for music lovers who still believe that nothing beats the warm crackle of a vinyl record. From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, independent record stores are keeping the spirit of physical music alive and thriving. Whether you are a seasoned collector or just starting your vinyl journey, these shops offer something truly special. Pack your curiosity and get ready to flip through some seriously incredible crates.
Los Angeles, CA | A record store guide to L.A.: Find the perfect record store for you with our list of the best vinyl shops across the Los Angeles area. Streaming music is convenient and efficient, but it can feel soulless and one-dimensional. For those who value the spirit of discovery that makes IRL music shopping so special, Los Angeles has never offered more places to flash back, flip through and fill up the crate. Analog music junkies never abandoned vinyl, but a whole new generation has also discovered the thrill of buying physical music media in a brick-and-mortar environment. From revisiting classic album cover art and packaging (which has only gotten more interesting with annual Record Store Day drops and special edition colored vinyl releases) to the visceral pleasure of bringing cool finds home and placing them on a turntable or inside a boombox, music shopping as an experiential activity is alive and well.
Bury, UK | Kiefer Sutherland Draws Huge Crowds to Wax and Beans Record Store in Bury: A lively scene unfolded outside Wax and Beans on Market Street in Bury, where hundreds of excited fans gathered to catch a glimpse of Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland. As the clock struck noon, a chorus of voices responded to the question, “How is everyone?” with a spirited “WARM!” signaling the vibrant atmosphere that filled the air. …The crowd was treated to a performance by Sutherland, who displayed his notable on-stage presence. After the show, he exhibited his attentiveness by inviting a young fan, Jack, to wait outside for a signing opportunity. Jack, dressed in gothic attire, expressed the impact Sutherland had on him, stating, “Definitely an inspiration.”
Berlin, DE | Waxing Lyrical: Why Vinyl in Berlin Is Serious Business. Music Editor Dan Cole asks: as the vinyl revival continues, is it time to change the record on Berlin’s music scene? At present, Berlin has over 80 record stores. That’s the highest concentration of vinyl specialist outlets in Europe. There’s plenty to praise about Berlin’s music scene, but the focus is always on the city’s nightlife, never on the legendary collection of what DJs depend on in the first place: the discs themselves. When it comes to waxing lyrical about Berlin’s music scene, shouldn’t we be more lyrical about our wax? …The city’s music scene is more interconnected and interdependent than you might think. Some traditions have yet to change. Artists still take their records to shops in person to sell. When we talk about Clubsterben without mentioning the pressure record shops are under, much of the cultural context is lost. They’re essential to keeping clubs alive.
Calcutta, IN | Yesterdaze: The author writes about the vinyl resurgence and the treasure troves right under our noses. On one end of Calcutta’s Dharmatala Street, J.F. Madan once built his film empire. On the other end, the late Vernon Thomas spent decades writing children’s books in a city that never quite got around to celebrating him. Somewhere in the middle are the secondhand vinyl record sellers. A few minutes of friendly bargaining over a largely forgotten 1974 Neil Diamond LP Serenade, and Mohammad Murtuza quickly unpacks another crate, a selection of Indian classical music. Out comes Ananda Shankar’s eponymous 1970 LP. The 56-year-old secondhand record seller knows his customers well; he has been doing this for three decades for nothing.
London, UK | East London record stores join forces for The Dig vinyl crawl: 14 shops will participate in the event on June 27th. 14 East London record shops are getting together for a one-day vinyl crawl. Happening on Saturday, June 27th, The Dig East London will see each participating shop offer unique programming and merchandise, including live performances, DJ sets, merch giveaways and more. The event is organized with support from the Entertainment Retailers Association, who run Record Store Day UK, and comedian Stewart Lee will serve as event ambassador. …The event marks “the first time such a broad group of East London stores have collaborated on a unified, public-facing event of this scale” according to a press release.
Ditch The Overstuffed Shelves: An Easier, More Stylish Way To Store Vinyl Records. Your favorite tracks may not take up much space on Spotify, but experts and audiophiles alike agree that when it comes to pure listening pleasure, nothing beats vinyl. But whether you’re new to collecting records or you’ve already got a massive assortment, they can be tricky to store. Vinyl records come in 12-inch, 7-inch, and 10-inch sized discs housed in cardboard covers. No matter which size (or genre) you prefer, keeping them in a humidity-controlled space away from dust and grime is the key to making sure they last. There are several ways to up your vinyl record storage game, but several TikTokers think using a wooden crate is one of the easiest and most stylish ways to ditch the overstuffed shelves.
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