London, UK | East London record shop’s silent disco blocked in case it causes noise complaints: The Hackney shop’s plan was opposed by the Metropolitan Police after confusion around previous amplified events had led to a string of noise complaints. A daytime silent disco in a former East London nursery play area has been scuppered by police after neighbours complained about previous “loud DJ parties.” On Tuesday (July 15) Hackney Council denied a local record shop permission to host the events after a “misunderstanding” of licensing rules led to the Town Hall receiving several noise complaints. …While the owners had sought permission from the council to have DJs, the Met said they had not communicated this properly in the application. “As a result neighbours thought an unlicensed music event was taking place—it was that loud,” said PC Neal Hunwick.
Melbourne, AU | ‘Vinyl has never gone out of fashion’: The independent record stores defying the digital age. In the coming year, Dixons Recycled Records will celebrate its 50th anniversary, making it one of the oldest record stores in Melbourne. It’s an impressive feat for any independent retailer, particularly one operating in a volatile industry now largely dominated by streaming behemoths like Spotify and Apple Music. Founded by music obsessive David Dixon, his fledging business began as a jukebox-for-hire start-up in the mid-1970s. “My brother owned a bunch of pubs in Melbourne, so I had the idea of filling up a jukebox with rock and roll records from the 1950s and 60s and sticking it in one of his lounges,” Mr Dixon recalled to realcommercial.com.au. “It started pulling in $40 a week, which was more than half my wage as a videotape editor at Channel 9 at the time.”
Kutztown, PA | ‘Pretty gentle soul’: Manager of Kutztown record store recalls meeting Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy Osbourne, known as the godfather of heavy metal, has died. Tuesday, fans throughout the world, including those in Berks County, mourned. “I think when you saw Ozzy live, that was the type of person that he was. Appreciative of where he was, loved playing music, loved singing, and always gave his all,” said Mark Goodwin, manager at Young Ones Record Store in Kutztown. Known for his distinct throaty, growling voice, the lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. “Growing up with with Ozzy for all my life pretty much, this was one that kind of hit a little harder than many others,” Goodwin said. Some like Goodwin were lucky enough to see the godfather of heavy metal live, back in 1992 at the Allentown Fairgrounds. “And I actually got to meet Ozzy after the show, and [he] was a definitely a really nice guy,” Goodwin said.
Salem, OR | With new location and owner, Harvest Music gives Salem a place to find vinyl and CD treasures. As a teenager, Ron Caton made a very formative purchase: a RadioShack all-in-one car mount with an 8-track. It also—crucially—included a turntable. He believes the first 45 rpm record he bought for it was “Fame,” by David Bowie. He’d sit in the parking lot after school and let it play. “I heard that David Bowie song one time on some crackly FM station in Oklahoma. And I was like, what is that? I had to have it,” he said. Now, Caton is helping the next generation discover life-altering tracks. Earlier this month, Caton reopened Harvest Music, a Salem record store which closed in December 2023 after the death of longtime owner Brian Cossack. Cossack opened it in 2002 and left behind thousands of albums. It’s now at a new location in West Salem.
Tottenham, UK | Zen Records announces closure after 30 years in Tottenham: An era is coming to an end as a much-loved record shop prepares to close its doors after 30 years, leaving behind decades of music, memories, and loyal customers. Zen Records, a cornerstone of Tottenham’s music scene, will shut this autumn, marking the end of an era for vinyl lovers and the wider community. Located at 69 Broad Lane, the shop is closing because owner Robert Douglas is stepping down for health reasons. A statement shared on Instagram said: “Robert came from the vibrant sound system scene, playing out regularly before deciding to dedicate his life to sharing music instead of spinning it. “With a passion and knowledge that only true connoisseurs possess, he opened Zen Records and the rest is local music history.”
Nashville, TN | The iconic Ernest Tubb Record Shop unveils new sign ahead of Broadway re-opening: Music is the heart of Nashville. For one shop in the city, there’s a deep-rooted history that is coming back. The iconic Ernest Tubb Record Shop will be reopening, and they unveiled the new sign on Broadway Tuesday morning. Since 1947, the Ernest Tubb Record Shop has been a stomping ground for music fans, rising talents, and legendary stars. It welcomed enthusiasts searching for inspiration and set the stage for the iconic Midnite Jamboree, featuring legends like Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and more. They’re swinging the doors back open this fall.
Dundee, UK | How Oasis fever hit Dundee venues and record shops: These were the days when people queued at Groucho’s to buy tickets for Oasis concerts and you actually had to go to a record shop to buy the band’s music. Oasis fans in Dundee have always been mad for it. We have dug into the archive ahead of the band’s return to Scotland and these images hark back to the time when Britpop ruled the airwaves in the 1990s. These were the days when devoted fans would queue up for tickets at Groucho’s. Not always. Every band has to start somewhere. Groucho’s sold 400 Loch Lomond tickets. Oasis played to 74 fans at Lucifer’s Mill in Dundee on April 5 1994 before the release of the band’s debut single Supersonic. Tickets cost £3 with a 25p booking fee. Only 17 advance tickets were sold from Groucho’s.
Keynsham, UK | Lounge venue to host one-off music pop-up event: Guests will be able to enjoy music and shop for vinyl records, as well as tuck into some Loungers food and drink. A Lounge cafe bar in Keynsham is collaborating with a popular local independent business to put on a one-off music event at the venue for one afternoon. In a post to its Facebook page, Bonzo Lounge urged its customers to “get excited” for its ‘Terrace Takeover’ event this weekend. The post said: “If you don’t know Longwell Records then get to know. Longwell Records are a local independent record shop and they are joining us on Sunday 27th July for an afternoon of music and an amazing record pop up shop—what a great opportunity to find your favourite albums on vinyl. We hope to see you all there.” Sharing to its own Instagram page, the team at Longwell Records added: “Massive thanks to Bonzo Lounge for the invite.”
Boston, MA | Caught vinyl fever? Our music expert has tips. Andrew Mall, associate professor of music, has a collection of 1,500 records. He gives his top tips for those venturing into the world of buying vinyl records. Every record collector has a story about how they got going. Maybe they inherited a load of dusty LPs from a relative or possibly they wanted physical copies of the music by their favorite band or artists in a world where streaming is king. Andrew Mall, associate professor of music at Northeastern University, is no different. When growing up, he would accompany his mother during her weekend tour of the neighborhood’s yard sales. At the time, music collectors were offloading their heavyweight records to replace them with CDs, allowing Mall to pick up unwanted classic LPs at rock-bottom prices. Today, Mall’s collection has swelled to 1,500 records.
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