Author Archives: TVD HQ

Brooklyn, NY | A new record store is coming to Brooklyn’s ‘coolest street.’ Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue continues to be “one of the coolest” in the world with a new addition coming to the popular street — a record store. Sterling Record will offer an extensive inventory of vinyl records, books, T-shirts, turntables, CDs, music accessories, and a curated selection of music memorabilia. The owners, Ray and Gary, want to cater to both avid vinyl collectors and newbie music enthusiasts. Vince Clarke, a legendary musician and one of the founding members of several English synth-pop bands, is a major investor in the store and hopes to get doors open by May 19, Brooklyn Paper reports. The store will also offer coffee, a small selection of pastries, and in-store events. Live music performances and artist showcases at Sterling Record will also be possible thanks to a partnership with Maker Park Radio, a Staten Island non-profit radio station.

Melbourne, AU | Free beer and live music: Wah Wah Records is doing Record Store Day right: Vinyl-lovers’ favourite day of the year is back, and it’s back with a bang at Wah Wah Records. After another revolution around the sun, we’re going to celebrate with some revolutions of a different beat. 33 1/3 rpm to be precise. Wah Wah Records is throwing one awesome party to celebrate those who make the independent record industry so special in Australia, so if you’re looking for somewhere to browse, boogie and binge amazing music this April 20, we’ve got you covered. Record Store Day is a national day of celebration in record stores across the country, aiming to unite music lovers and, more specifically, record lovers. Various record stores will host parties of their own and Wah Wah Records’ is set to be a banger! The day promises to highlight independent record stores across the nation, placing the spotlight on an industry that is thriving throughout Melbourne.

Te Puke, NZ | Blackbird Records opening in Te Puke this week: Shopping for records is about to become a busman’s holiday for Te Puke’s Justin and Angela Bruning. When they were running Te Puke’s Marigold Cafe, one of the couple’s few recreational activities was hunting for records. “When we had the cafe, probably our one outing was, we’d be going vinyl shopping,’’ says Angela. Now the cafe has new owners and they are about to become vinyl sellers with Blackbird Records at 132 Jellicoe St opening on Friday. While the shop will also sell CDs and possibly a few “little gifty things as well as a few plants” its mainstay will be new and second-hand records. Angela says they felt the time was right to open the shop because of the increasing popularity of records. “I don’t know if it’s since Covid and people have gone back to appreciating basic things in life, but people seem to want to have physical copies of music again,” she says.

Gloucestershire, UK | 9 best independent record stores in Gloucestershire: Whether you’re just discovering the joy of putting on a crisp new vinyl record, or you’re a seasoned LP collector, SoGlos rounds up the best independent record stores in Gloucestershire — just in time for Record Store Day! Turn up the music for Record Store Day on Saturday 20 April 2024, with Gloucestershire record shops armed and ready with cool collections of rare and classic vinyl waiting to go under the needle or take pride of place on display. From well-known and well-loved stores to secret musical treasure troves, you’ll be sure to find a harmonious haunt near you in SoGlos’s round-up.

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Newton Abbot, UK | Store celebrates independent record shops day: An independent record store in Newton Abbot is preparing to celebrate all things vinyl for this year’s Record Store Day. Phoenix Sounds will be throwing open its doors on Saturday April 20 from 8am for the annual event which supports independent music shops. Known for its eclectic mix of music, Phoenix Records is poised to offer a range of exclusive releases from Kate Bush to Neil Young. Owner Roger Cox and his team have planned a series of live performances at the Queen Street shop on the day. Roger said: ‘We are eagerly anticipating Record Store Day. ‘This will be our second year and it is a chance to revel in our love for music and to offer some truly unique and sought-after releases. ‘Since it started, Record Store Day has really shown how much independent record stores mean to music lovers and communities everywhere.’ Performing on the day will be local singer Olivia Rose and Steve Cooper will be attending with his ‘Retrospective’ DJ set.

Yorkshire, UK | Country’s oldest vinyl only shop celebrates 30th anniversary with record release and sale: After 30 years Steve Mathie is still in the groove. The owner of Spin It Records runs what’s thought to the country’s oldest vinyl only record shop. Steve, from Hatfield, who has a stall on Hull’s Trinity Market, discovered at school that vinyl could be a good business. “I was 13 and I had a single, Kung Fu Fighting, and one of my class friends wanted it – he offered me three Elvis singles and two posters for the single. I thought there was a business to be had here.” Steve has since survived vinyl dipping out of popularity, when people were only buying CDs, recessions and most recently Covid. These days it’s not just the middle-aged rediscovering their passion for vinyl and rebuilding scratched collections. Younger fans have also caught the bug. Steve says they want “something tangible to hold and talk about”. They go for 1980s music – Duran Duran, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Spandau Ballet. He said: “Ten years ago the average age of the customers must have been 47—now it’s 27.”

Tavistock, UK | Tavistock vinyl shop tunes up for celebration: A Tavistock record shop owner is advising vinyl lovers to get up early on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 20, as queues for specially pressed recordings are likely to be in high demand. John Chapple, who runs Rival Records in Paddons Row, will be one of 250 independent record shops from all over the UK are expected to take part, with thousands more celebrating across the globe in what’s become one of the biggest events in the music calendar. Some shops will have live music on Record Store Day and all will have an exciting range of exclusive and limited-edition releases. The recordings are often previously unreleased live sets on sometimes novelty vinyl, such as light-up plastic. John, who used to manage an HMV shop, said: “Interest in vinyl has boomed, not only among older people like me who are reliving their youth and seen the fall and rise of vinyl, but also among young people who have never seen vinyl before.”

Stratford, CA | Sound Fixation celebrates new downtown home: Popular Stratford record store in midst of moving from previous Market Square location. A beloved Stratford record store will be opening its doors once again on April 20 in a brand-new location in the city’s downtown. Sound Fixation will be celebrating its grand reopening at at 4 George St. W. with Giving Thanks 420xRSD Dance Party, a special event being held in partnership with the Revival Vinyl Society crew at the Revival House. The free April 20 event will feature vinyl DJ sets from the Revival Vinyl Society, so attendees should expect lots of great music, dancing and fun. The party will also help mark Sound Fixation’s move from its previous location beside Allen’s Alley in Market Square to its new home. Trevor Worsell, the owner of Sound Fixation, got unexpected news in early March that Sound Fixation would have to move.

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Lehigh Valley, PA | Record Store Day in the Lehigh Valley: 2 local shops picked to carry exclusive WXPN vinyl: An exclusive vinyl copy of live recordings by some of eastern Pennsylvania’s best, but maybe lesser known, musicians will be available for one day only on April 20 for free. While you’re making your annual pilgrimage to your favorite music shop on Record Store Day, don’t miss hitting up either of the only two Lehigh Valley record stores selected to carry WXPN’s Homegrown Originals: Vol 2. Like its predecessor Homegrown Originals, Vol 2 is a compilation of exclusive live recordings on vinyl by Philadelphia-rooted artists taped for The Key Studio Sessions, WXPN radio’s weekly music scene series, and the Free At Noon concert series. The double-sided, 10-track album features music by Greater Philadelphia area artists who specialize in blending. Pop, R&B, indie, rock and punk all make up the happy host of genres reflected in the album and the sound of today’s underground music scene in this part of the world.

Brooklyn, NY | Record store backed by Erasure, Depeche Mode’s Vince Clarke coming to Park Slope: Enjoy the silence while you can Park Slope, there’s a new record store opening on Fifth Avenue next month, promising to be a haven for music aficionados of all ages. Sterling Records, a passion project of owner Gary Giddens and backed by synth-pop legend Vince Clarke — one of the founding members of Depeche Mode, Yazoo and Erasure — is aiming to open its doors and have records spinning by May 19, just in time for the annual Fifth Avenue street fair. Giddens, also the owner of nearby bar Gowanus Gardens, was first encouraged to follow his teenage dream of opening a record store by Clarke, his long-time friend. He said Clarke’s decision to come on board early as an investor got the ball rolling on making Sterling Records a reality. “I’m really excited to be involved with Gary’s project, an opportunity to share our passion for music, history, vinyl and the art of audio,” Clarke said in a statement to Brooklyn Paper.

Abertillery , UK | Kenny’s Vinyl Vault to open vegan café in Abertillery: Owned by Jo and Kenny Kendrick, Kenny’s Vinyl Vault, is nothing short of a success story with the business expanding from 15 High Street to 21 Church Street. The new shop will see the addition of a vegan café alongside thousands of new and pre – loved vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and Blu Rays. Mrs Kendrick will also continue her tarot readings where guests can also buy beautiful, responsibly sourced crystals and jewellery. In a true family affair, the couple’s three children Pippa, Carriad Kendrick and Tobey Kendrick are involved in the business. Mr Kendrick said: “The business will continue to be a vinyl shop and there will be a lot more music-based things in store such as record signings. Whilst Jo will continue to focus on the tarot readings and crystals. “We have built up a good following and are really excited about the addition of the café.”

Kansas City, MO | Manor Records settles into new home it hopes will be ‘anchor’ for Kansas City music scene: Manor Records, the nonprofit record label aimed at helping local musicians fund their work, is opening a new storefront on Troost Avenue. The record store will offer a small stage for concerts and a space for music lessons in the back. The foundation is celebrating its grand opening Friday with a concert. For the past month, a modest storefront next to an ice cream shop at 55th Street and Troost Avenue has been under wraps. Behind the brown paper, Shaun Crowley, the founder and president of Manor Records, has been hard at work creating his latest venture for the nonprofit record label that nurtures local talent. Crowley started the nonprofit in 2017, with concerts first in a rented house in Shawnee, then moving to a cafe in Strawberry Hill and later a basement space in the West Bottoms. On Troost, he’s doubled the retail space where he will sell used records. This time, Crowley thinks he has the right business model.

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Ellensberg, WA | A rare find in Ellensberg: An amazing used record shop. I promised you something special in Ellensburg and here it is. On my way home from my trip to Yakima last weekend I stopped in Ellensburg to visit a guitar shop that turned out to not be in business anymore. (At least not in Ellensburg.) and stumbled on a used record store. Old Skool’s. 308 N Main. The store has been in its current location for about 18 years. Moved. After moving from a previous location 7 years before. The proprietor is Carroll Cox. Music lover and collector. Before starting this business, she worked in social services, and one day she decided she needed a change. The first impression you get when you’re looking in from outside is “This is just a little bit trippy, let’s go take a peek.” Then when you walk in, the first thing you see is records everywhere, piled on the floor and racks, leaning against the wall. There’s a huge selection all used. (she can special order new for you as well). There is a stereo set up behind the counter playing something.

Asheville, NC | The Record Store: Neighborhood, Community, and Celebrations in the Blue Ridge Mountains: A profile of Harvest Records in Asheville, North Carolina. In the early 2000s, Matt Schnable and Mark Capon were pals attending James Madison University in Virginia. They knew they wanted to launch a venture after finishing school, and they decided on a record shop. “But we were also hoping to create a space beyond just selling records,” Capon recalls. “In college, we were involved with promoting shows and with the college radio station community. And community appealed to us as much as retail.” Schnable concurs. “Going against some preconceived notions of record stores, we wanted to create a comfortable environment where people could hang out, meet up, exchange, be a part of something.” They decided on Asheville, North Carolina, a hip city of under 100,000 in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Bowling Green, OH | Family dream comes true with the opening of Goat Records in downtown BG: A dream shared by a father and son has come to fruition in the opening of Goat Records in downtown Bowling Green. Radio professional Mark Gedert, 57, has spent a lot of time, and money, at record stores, since he first fell in love with music lying in front of his family hi fi console. His son, Alex Gedert, 27, picked up that love from his father, as a young teen scouring his father’s collections for audio treasures and accompanying on vinyl hunting trips. The younger Gedert worked for Allied Records for six years. Not surprisingly they’ve been spinning around the idea of opening their own used record store for about five years. …“It really comes down to a love of records,” Alex said. He’s the manager of the store. Family friend Phil Brice will also work in the store.

Scotland, UK | Record Store Day 2024 in Scotland: When is it, shops, available records, how to buy, and can you buy online Vinyl is now outselling CDs for the first time in over 35 years – meaning that this year’s event celebrating the reinvigorated music medium is likely to be more popular than ever. Record Store Day has become a major event for vinyl lovers since the inaugural event in the US in 2007 sold barely more than 10 different limited edition pressings by artists including Death Cab for Cutie, R.E.M. and Stephen Malkmus. Now over 200 independent record stores across the UK take part each year, selling thousands of copies of exclusive vinyl, from new releases to old classics. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event.

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Fort Myers, FL | Record Store Day in SWFL: What to expect and where to go. Get ready for exclusive vinyl and free stuff. Record Store Day is just around the corner. This music-centric holiday is an occasion to celebrate local music businesses and to be able to grab exclusive, one-of-a-kind records. April 20th will mark the event’s 17th birthday. How is Southwest Florida celebrating, you may ask? …Stellar Records is excited to celebrate its first Record Store Day. They plan to open at 8:30 a.m. and their event will contninue through 6:30 p.m. The store, located on Cleveland Avenue was established September 2023 during a vinyl emergence and within a strong local music scene. Owner Liz Cochran can’t wait for April 20. According to her, the first 30 customers will get a Stellar Records tote bag. Also… “We’re giving away a record player and a prize pack. That’s for everybody, anybody who comes in at any point during the day,” Cochran said.

London, UK | Record Store Day 2024: Where to celebrate in London. After two years of being a fairly subdued matter, Record Store Day is back in full force this Saturday (April 23) for the festival’s 15th anniversary, with more than 260 independent record shops getting in on the act. In addition to all the special-edition releases that are coming out to mark RSD, there will also be a whole programme of events taking place at the weekend: live music, day-parties, DJ sets, prizes, limited edition goodies, signed copies of records, and more. London is absolutely bursting with incredible record shops, so if you’re not sure where to start, check out our guide to the city’s best record shops. Then, here’s our breakdown of the best events taking place on Saturday. Bear in mind that queues are likely, and if you can book ahead, we’d advise you do so to avoid disappointment on the day.

Indianola, IA | West Wing Vinyls: Indianola’s “happy place.” Indianola has many things to offer: Beautiful parks, a great shopping center in the Indianola town square, and plenty of restaurants. One thing that Indianola local Suzanne Hack thought was missing was a vinyl and CD shop. Located on West 2nd Avenue in Indianola, Hack opened West Wing Vinyls, the first women-ran music shop in Iowa, in November of 2023. They wanted to make sure that they were open before the holiday season. Since opening, Hack has felt very welcomed by the community. “I knew it, and Indianola knew that we needed a record store,” she said. Prior to being a record store, it was a mechanical shop, and the biggest question Hack faced was: “How am I going to turn this into a music shop?” Hack knew that she wanted a smaller shop up front with more of a storage area in the back. She was able to use the old office space as the main part of the shop and has the rest of the vinyls, CDs and cassettes cataloged in the back so she is able to grab them for customers who ask.

Huntsville, AL | Record Store Day in Huntsville + 1 shop with exclusive sales: Record Store Day is coming up on Saturday, April 20th! This exciting holiday celebrates the staff, customers and artists at independent record stores across the country and internationally. The first Record Store Day was held on April 19, 2008. To celebrate, participating stores will be stocked with products like exclusively colored discs and never-pressed-before releases. Browse the list of titles and start making your shopping lists now—these releases will be selling fast! Keep in mind that not all titles are guaranteed to be held at all stores. Vertical House Records: Vertical House Records is located at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment and is owned and operated by a husband-wife duo passionate about all things music. You can shop a popular range of LPs, cassettes, CDs, turntables, stereo equipment and, of course, Record Store Day exclusives…

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Liverpool, UK | Rough Trade confirms opening date of new Liverpool store: The owners want the store to reflect Liverpool’s “rich and diverse music scene.” An independent music shop will be opening its biggest UK store in Liverpool later this month. Rough Trade, which opened its first store in London in 1976, sells a wide range of vinyl records, including limited and rare editions, as well as music, books and merchandise. It also hosts gigs in-store. The new shop, located on Hanover Street, will comprise two floors, with the ground floor housing the record store and café, which will serve Dark Arts Coffee. The first floor will feature a dedicated venue space with a capacity of 290, as well as a bar stocked with a selection of Signature Brew beers on tap. As part of the staggered launch, the ground floor will open at 10am on April 18, with the first floor and venue space open fully from May, when it will kick off its live in-store events programme with a busy month of shows, including headline slots for Jordan Rakei, Villagers, Bess Atwell, Alfie Templeman, and Seasick Steve.

Macon, GA | Fresh Produce Records keeps Macon’s counter-cultural hub going strong. A brief stay in Portland, Oregon, left William Dantzler wanting to bring the amazing musical experience he had to his hometown of Macon. So he did — opening Fresh Produce Records downtown. “When I lived in Oregon I attended an experimental music show at a food co-op grocery store and had an epiphany about the importance of creativity in building community and decided to focus that intent in Macon, my hometown,” he said. “This energy was amplified by the Fresh Produce era of Riggonia and Macon Noise and the record store model proved to be the perfect vehicle to carry out the mission of establishing a countercultural hub that Macon could be proud of.” Opened in 2013 with business partner William Rutledge, the record store offers records, tapes, CDs, turntables, tape decks, CD players, speakers, guitar accessories, music books, concert DVDs, store merchandise, posters, memorabilia, vintage magazines and more.

Des Moines, IA | Owner of Highland Park’s Red Rooster Records blames rent hike for sudden closure: Highland Park’s Red Rooster Records—a staple of Des Moines’ music scene for almost 20 years—has closed. Matt Storms and Steve Moberg opened the store at 509 Euclid Ave. in 2005, their senior year in college, as vinyl records experienced a revival. In a Facebook post, Storms said the store had closed because the rent suddenly escalated. Storms pledged to keep selling records, cassettes and CDs online, including through Red Rooster Records’ Facebook and Instagram pages. Storms could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Outstanding gift certificates and store credit will still be honored, his post said. “I wish things would have resolved differently, but I had to make a quick decision and do what was best for myself and my family,” Storms wrote. “Thank you again to all my customers throughout the years. I couldn’t have made this dream a reality without you all and I’m looking forward to working with you again soon.”

Sydney, AU | Impressed Recordings To Launch Brick-And-Mortar Store In Sydney: Fittingly, the grand opening will take place on Record Store Day. Impressed Recordings—a boutique record label operating out of Sydney (Eora)—have announced the launch of a new brick-and-mortar record store, which they’ll open, fittingly, on this year’s Record Store Day (Saturday April 20). The shopfront and wide-spanning “music hub” will be held at Impressed Recordings’ HQ of 93 Bourke St, Woolloomooloo. In a press release, it’s said the concept comes from the label’s effort to embrace “the enduring appeal of physical music and community in the midst of a vinyl resurgence”. It’s declared the space will be “a curated haven to create experiences and a home to connect musicians with listeners”, and described boldly as “a new oasis for music enthusiasts.” In addition to “a curated selection of exclusive Impressed releases,” the shop will carry an assortment of second-hand vinyl and “a hand-picked selection of rare music books.”

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