Cork, UK | Mexican couple buy Cork record store on Facebook after thinking ad was a joke: Claudia didn’t know Cork existed when she grew up in Mexico City and now she’s joined the vibrant community on MacCurtain Street. A Mexican couple have bought a Cork record store after seeing an ad for the place on Facebook marketplace, and initially thinking that it was a joke. When Mexico city natives Claudia Hernandez and her husband Erwin came to Cork to work in tech, they never could have anticipated that they would be opening the Thirty-three Record Shop on MacCurtain Street seven years later, which they soon hope to turn into a gig space as well. “Erwin and I moved over here with our two dogs to work for Bord Gais and Apple, it was a big culture change but we grew to love our home in Blackrock, one of the things that helped us settle in was starting a record collection,” Claudia explained. The couple set up a happy life together in Cork city, and on weekends they would go out on the hunt for new records to play in the house.
Exeter, UK | Exeter hairdresser opens a brand-new record store: The COVID pandemic has seen an Exeter hairdresser branch out in a radical new direction. Hidden away on a cobbled road just off Gandy Street is a brand-new vinyl record shop opened by Exeter stylist James Maclean. When James couldn’t see his clients over lockdown, he bit the bullet and took his lifelong love for music to the next level, starting a small eBay record business. But when the unit next door to the salon made its way onto the market, he jumped at the chance to put his new-found experience to good use, opening JM records at the end of last month with the help of his own clients who put up all the fittings and fixtures. James said: “The lockdown happened, and hairdressers just weren’t able to work, so I wanted to get back into doing something I really enjoy. “And music is something that’s been throughout my life. Working as a hairdresser, we always have music.”
Felixstowe, UK | Well-known Felixstowe bookseller to retire and hand over to vinyl store: A much-loved Felixstowe book shop is closing after 25 years, with a vinyl shop taking on the building. Owner Richard Moffat, of Poor Richard’s Books, has decided to retire from running the second-hand bookshop in Orwell Road, while continuing online sales, as he approaches his 75th birthday. “I have just thoroughly enjoyed doing it,” he said. “The book-buying public are really nice people.” Garry O’Malley, who shares Richard’s passion for serving collectors, has bought the building. He has been running his second-hand business, Grooveyard Records, in the back of the shop for the past two years. He is now planning to move the used vinyl shop into the front of the building after Poor Richard’s closes, and open up in the new year. However, Richard will continue to run an internet bookselling business from the basement. “I’ve kept about 10,000 books to sell online,” he said, adding this would only take a few hours a week.
Kettering, UK | Love vinyl? Love coffee? Here’s the new Kettering shop that offers both: The shop opens fully on October 30. A former cabin crew manager will blend his love of music with a love of good coffee when he opens a new Kettering town centre shop. Located in Market Street, Jason Tagg’s cafe Vinyl Coffee will sell ‘pre-loved’ LP and singles as well as new releases on vinyl. Initially having a ‘soft opening’, Jason and his partner Juliet Raith are fitting out the shop ready for the official ribbon cutting to be performed by Kettering MP Philip Hollobone. Jason, who worked on aeroplanes for ten-and-a-half years, will use his skills to serve hot drinks and customers hungry for top quality music. He said: “Customers can expect great music and great coffee. I have been planning this for a long time. “We’re part record shop, part cafe. We have our own blend of own brand coffee too. Some places do records with beer or with pies, we’re doing it with coffee.
Des Moines, IA | Des Moines’ East Village is getting a new bar for vinyl listening: A new, intimate cocktail bar is opening in the East Village this holiday season. Do Not Disturb is a chill hangout space where you can listen to vinyl all nightlong, said Nick Tillinghast, a partner with Des Moines Does Things. It’s inspired by Japanese listening bars. The 1,200-square-foot bar will serve simple, classic cocktails and plenty of Negronis and Highballs. Expect food pop-ups with local chefs after the bar opens. Marv’s and Vinyl Cup Records are partners in the effort and will help spin tunes. Des Moines Does Things, the hospitality group behind the bar, is making a big splash in Des Moines’ night life scene, opening four craft cocktail spots in the last five years. It operates Hello, Marjorie, Bellhop, Hello Darling and the new Secret Admirer bar.
Philadelphia, PA | Resurrection of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Band coming to Randy Now’s Man Cave: When you think of a record store you never think of it as a concert performance hall. Randy Now’s Man Cave is a rare find. Located at 134 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown, N.J. The Man Cave is a pop culture store, a vinyl record store, a CD & DVD shop, with sodas, Charles Chips, candy, gum and toys. All of the above and much much more. “Awesome store for hard to find music and a very knowledgeable owner. Also has unique and interesting items. Charles chips in the original stay fresh tins… best chips ever. Fun sodas and candy. The best part are the performers Randy brings in.” – Yelp Reviewer People come from all over not just to buy records but to see great musical performances like Melanie, Midge Ure and the list goes on and on. On Sunday, October 24,2021 at 6:00 pm the Resurrection of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Band will be in town to perform at Randy Now’s Man Cave once again. The band is very excited to be performing at this unique venue.
Essiebons record label compilation celebrating Ghanaian producer Dick Essilfie-Bondzie announced: Compilation of unreleased Highlife instrumentals will hit shelves in December. A new compilation album by the Ghanaian record label Essiebons has been announced. The work, which celebrates the label’s founder, the Ghanaian producer Dick Essilfie-Bondzie, is released on December 3 via Analog Africa. It features previously unreleased Highlife instrumentals from some of his label’s biggest hitters. Titled ‘Essiebons Special 1973 – 1984 // Ghana Music Power House’, the 14-track compilation album features songs by Ebo Taylor, Ernest Honny, C.K. Mann, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Kofi Papa Yankson, and Rob ‘Roy’ Raindorf. Essilfie-Bondzie died before the compilation of was finished. For most of the 1970s his Dix and Essiebon labels were synonymous with the best in modern Highlife music.
