Paducah, KY | New bookstore, record shop opens in Paducah; Confluence offers books, music and community: On Friday, a new business called Confluence Paducah—Records & Bookery opened on Broadway Street in downtown Paducah. Owners Blake and Ashley Wilson say they want Confluence to offer more sober nightlife options in Paducah and create a welcoming space where people can gather and socialize. “There’s not a lot of great places to hang out, especially on a Friday or Saturday night, if you’re not a drinker and you don’t want to be surrounded by alcohol,” Blake said. “We want to be a place that brings people together where people meet, and also we sell books and records, and we have a few other things like stickers and crystals.”
Seattle, WA | The Head and The Heart at Easy Street Records on West Seattle Summer Fest Eve 2026: To celebrate the new vinyl release of a 15-year-old recording, The Head and The Heart appeared at Easy Street Records on Thursday night during West Seattle Summer Fest Eve. The “Live at Neumo’s” record is an Easy Street exclusive, and purchase was required for admission to the in-store show during which three of the band’s members performed, with the others joining them for Q&A afterward. That was moderated by Easy Street proprietor Matt Vaughan, who introduced the band and talked about how they started as a “consignment band.”
Birmingham, UK | Inside Birmingham’s new independent record shop that fans are very excited about: 3 Phase Records, on Loveday Street, has listening stations, specialist merchandise, sought-after classics and new releases. Birmingham has a new independent record shop—and vinyl fans are getting very excited about it. Having built a successful online business, Brummie DJ and entrepreneur Tom Berry decided to launch a permanent bricks-and-mortar store, offering more than 5,000 records across two floors. It’s in the heart of the city’s historic Gun Quarter, on Loveday Street, and it’s called 3 Phase Records. On the opening day, it attracted music enthusiasts from across the UK, with some even travelling from the Isle of Wight after catching the first ferry of the morning to visit.
Edmonton, AL | Alberta-based record store opening a new Edmonton location soon: A new record store is in the works in Edmonton, with a spot based in Red Deer branching into Alberta’s capital city. Rock On Records, which currently has a store in Red Deer and is described as “central Alberta’s largest selection of vinyl and band merchandise,” revealed earlier this week that it is opening a second location in YEG. The store will be located at 10820 82nd Ave., with an opening date of sometime in early August currently being eyed. With an opening date just around the corner, who doesn’t love a new record store to check out during the heart of summer in Edmonton? We are certainly looking forward to it.
Leeds, UK | New electronic music-focused record store opens in Leeds: Vinyl specialists Plant & Deck and Peppermint Records have joined forces to launch the store, which is located on the top floor of Doghouse Bar. A new electronic music-focused record store has opened in Leeds. Launched as a collaboration between vinyl experts Plant & Deck and Leeds-based record store Peppermint Records, the new shop has opened on the top floor of the Doghouse Bar and Bagel Shop in Kirkgate. The new space, which is located across the road from Tribe Records, will also feature a programme of in-store events alongside DJ offerings at Doghouse Bar downstairs. Open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays by appointment, the store promises to be a “haven” for dance music diggers, with dedicated listening stations available to customers so they can try records before they buy them.
Houston, TX | Why it took so long for Half Price Books to return to Houston’s Inner Loop: The Dallas-based chain’s return to Montrose is part of a broader strategy to stay in business. Ever since Half Price Books’ Montrose location at 1011 Westheimer closed in 2021, a vacant lot has remained. Eventually a long-delayed high-rise will go up in its place. But until then, the empty concrete expanse serves as a reminder to some of a neighborhood that’s changed more than they’d like. It was often memorialized in the same breath as other hallowed Montrose institutions like Disco Kroger or one of the numerous gay bars that have shuttered over the years. The news that Dallas-based Half Price Books would come back to Montrose, taking over the space record store Soundwaves occupied, felt like the universe righting itself.
Baltimore, MD | Cuples Tea House and Vinyl and Pages is closing at Harborplace at the end of summer: Another merchant is closing in the Light Street Pavilion at Harborplace as developers proceed with plans to raze the building to make way for a new development. The owners of Cuples Tea House and Vinyl and Pages posted on social media this week that they’re planning to depart. “It is with much thought and reflection that we have made the difficult decision to close Cuples Tea House and Vinyl and Pages at the end of summer 2026,” said owners Lynnette and Eric Dodson. “While we have not come to this decision lightly, we are extremely proud of how far we [have] come, and so thankful to have had the opportunity to serve our community over tea, music, the love of art and the love of books.”
Norwich, UK | Martin Webb shuts Circular Sound shop in St Benedicts Street: The owner of an independent music shop is closing his store after nearly four decades trading in the city’s Lanes. Martin Webb has made the “incredibly tough decision” to shut Circular Sound in St Benedicts Street and will be opening the shop for the final time on Sunday (July 12). The second-hand record and CD store has been serving international buyers and local collectors since 1988. But now Mr Webb is hoping to semi-retire and announced on his Facebook page this week that he will “restructure” the way he trades over the next few months. He said: “I love what I do, but it’s like small businesses just can’t exist anymore. “I am very fortunate and I am very grateful to have worked with and met some fantastic people.”
Dhaka, BD | ‘Vinyl Madness’ is Dhanmondi’s little ‘anti-Dhaka’ for music lovers: Saadi Manzoorul Huq’s invite-only musical haven hopes to become a highway for Bangladesh’s emerging artistes. In a little apartment tucked away in Dhanmondi, a vinyl store stands as a testament to Bangladesh’s seemingly lost love for vintage music. As soon as one enters Vinyl Madness, they easily find themselves surrounded by hundreds of vinyl records, cassettes and CDs. The cosy interior, the sound of jazz playing in the background and the smell of fresh coffee immediately pull visitors in with a warm embrace. Guitars wait against the walls, while shelves lined with records hint at decades of music waiting to be rediscovered. More than a record store, Vinyl Madness operates as an invite-only listening room and informal jamming space for Dhaka’s music enthusiasts.
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