Melbourne, AU | Rare Records Marks 35 Years With Halloween Reunion At 170 Russell: Rare Records will mark 35 years as one of Melbourne’s enduring independent music institutions with a Halloween concert at 170 Russell on October 31, bringing together bands closely associated with the store and its Rare Records label. Mammal, Sydonia, .hinge, Bushido and Tyson & Forbes from Rook / The Khyber Belt will perform at an event that also recognises 25 years of Rare Records releases. Rare Records began in 1991 when Doug Bear established the business as a mail-order operation from his Melbourne home. It moved to a weekend market stall in Cheltenham before opening its first permanent shop in Hughesdale on February 2, 1996.
Alexandria, VA | NRG’s Del Ray record store will be a second location of Mobius Records: The Fairfax City shop is targeting mid-September; Crooked Beat is also returning to Mount Vernon Avenue this fall. The record store that Neighborhood Restaurant Group announced for Del Ray this summer now has a name: Mobius Records, an independent shop that owner Dempsey Hamilton has operated out of Fairfax City’s Main Street since 2014. Hamilton announced Aug. 9 on Instagram that Mobius will open a second location at 2016 Mt. Vernon Ave. in mid-September, partnering with NRG founder Michael Babin, Evening Star Café chef Nathan Anda and NRG beverage director Greg Engert. “…After months of planning and preparation, we’re beyond excited to finally announce that Mobius Records is expanding to a second location in Del Ray,” Hamilton wrote.
Charleston, SC | In the age of streaming, in-person listening experiences are a hit with Charleston music fans: On Aug. 15, dozens of fans whispered about the identity of Weezer’s original bassist (Matt Sharp), what the band’s singer studied in college (classical composition and English literature) and how many internet memes are referenced in the music video for “Pork and Beans” (55). People gathered in a loose semicircle were playing Weezer trivia at Monster Music & Movies as part of a listening party for the band’s unreleased self-titled album, commonly known as the “Gold Album.” The winner received a Weezer sweatshirt. When they weren’t answering trivia questions, attendees wandered the store’s aisles, flipping through records and chatting as the new album poured through the store’s overhead speakers.
Nashville, TN | Franklin vinyl shop to offer Nashville Yards locale: Luna Records opened in 2021 at Factory at Franklin, will operate near live music venue The Pinnacle. The owners of Franklin-based vinyl retailer Luna Record Shop are planning a store at downtown’s Nashville Yards, with a year’s-end opening slated. The future business will operate from the structure that offers live music venue The Pinnacle and an address of 930 Exchange Lane. Nashville-based Harvest Construction is handling the build-out of the space, which will offer about 2,300 square feet (twice the size of the original location). Luna Record Shop is co-owned by sisters Brenna Gentry and Calvert Gentry McMahan.
Sheffield, UK | Sheffield clubbing brand plans to turn hairdressers into record store and bar: Drinks licence bid for former hairdresser’s shop. A Sheffield clubbing brand is aiming to open a record shop and bar in an area of the city popular for nights out. Unity Underground Ltd has applied to Sheffield City Council for a licence for a former hairdresser’s premises on Ecclesall Road. The area is a favourite with university students. The applicants want permission to play recorded music indoors and sell alcohol during their opening hours, which will be from 11am to 9pm Tuesday to Thursday, 11am to 11pm Friday to Saturday and noon to 6pm on Sundays. Jungle, drum and bass music brand Unity Underground was co-founded by DJs, promoters and producers King Chuga and RACH in 2022.
Phoenixville, PA | Phoenixville Punk Rock Flea Market Plans 11th Anniversary Event With Hundreds of Vendors: The Phoenixville Punk Rock Flea Market will throw its 11th anniversary bash on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. Hundres of vendors from across the country will set up shop, according to the event’s listing. Every month, the market pops up at Root Down Brewing Company on the last Sunday. This anniversary bash? It’s the biggest thing they do all year. Three live DJs will crank out punk rock, hardcore, new wave, metal, and glam tunes all day long. Tattoo artists will ink attendees, while free-play arcade games stand ready for anyone who wants a turn.
Vancouver, CA | Free all vinyl block party in downtown Vancouver: Public Disco will close out its 2026 Summer Block Parties with a free, all-ages celebration on August 29th with a thoughtfully curated line up of DJs playing only vinyl, a record market, pop-up bars, vintage market, food vendors, and kids’ activities. “This summer has shown us, again, what happens when you open up public space and fill it with music,” says Nickolas Collinet, Executive Director of Public Disco Society. “We’re closing out the season the way we started it: free, all ages, and built around community.” The lineup is curated by Dairy Free, a dig-savvy DJ known for off-kilter tech house, techno, and bass selections.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Score Is Waxwork Records’ First-Ever Picture Disc: But hurry, it’s only available for a short time. To celebrate Texas Chain Saw Massacre Day, Waxwork Records is doing something special. For just twenty-four hours only, fans can get their hands on the film’s original score on an exclusive pressing from the company, marking the first time they’ve ever made a picture disc. …For Waxwork’s new Texas Chainsaw release, both will be pressed on handpoured orange vinyl, with one side bearing an image of Leatherface, while the other shows off a bloody Sally Hardesty from the end of the film. The new LP features the full score written by Tobe Hooper and Wayne Bell for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, sourced from the original master tapes.
Baltimore, MD | Audiophile Gets Hepatitis C From Dirty Vinyl Needle: “…I just wanted to listen to my commemorative vinyl of the podcast ‘Comedy Bang Bang,’” said audiophile and sickly freak Tanner Cox. “I tried to put it on, but my needle was broken. I realized I could either buy a new one from Amazon, or go to the streets to score one. I was really jonesing for improvisational character comedy on vinyl, so I went out to the bad part of town. Some sketchy dude offered me a needle. I knew I shouldn’t, but I wanted it so bad. He gave me the needle—for free—and I ran home to try it, and it worked great. A few weeks later I feel like I have the flu. Go to the doctor, turns out it’s Hep C. And to think I got it this way, and not all the unprotected sex with prostitutes.”
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