New York, NY | Nashville Opens Pop-Up Record Store in New York: While it’s known as the home of “country” music, artists like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Jack White, Kings of Leon, and so many others have also recorded albums in Nashville, or called the city home at one time or another. Now, a new vinyl pop-up shop at New York’s SHOWFIELDS called Spin On: Nashville’s Vinyl Collection, is highlighting Nashville’s rich music history. The store will also feature in-store artist performances and autograph signings. Nashville’s world-renowned record store, Grimey’s New and Pre-Loved Music & Books, curated the vast collection of albums on display. “As people look through these records they’ll go, whoa, how is this related to Nashville?” notes Grimey’s co-owner, Doyle Davis. “What is R.E.M. doing here? Well, they cut Document at the Sound Emporium on Belmont Boulevard. Neil Young cut records here, Bob Dylan cut records here. And now the Nashville rock scene is so dynamic with Jack White, The Raconteurs, and Black Keys. So, you’ve got the obvious country, Americana, singer/songwriter legacy of the city…”
Boise, ID | Keepin’ It Local: Boise man shows us why holding a vinyl, cassette or CD in hand really rocks! Iconic Boise record store owner molds music lovers for decades and generations to come: Technology has changed our world. Including the world of music. The way we discover music and artist, how we listen…even how we purchase music has all evolved with the invention of the internet. While some appreciate the convenience of online, others said we are missing a large part of the ‘art.’ Owner of the iconic Boise music store, ‘The Record Exchange,’ Micheal Bunnell, argued that there is still great relevancy to shopping for music locally. Bunnell is also the co-founder of the Coalition of Independent Music Stores and said, “I think it (the Record Exchange) is a place where different cultures and people with different backgrounds can meet and share a passion. It has a place in any community in the country.” To him (and many others), music is more than just clipped sound bites, it is an experience, an experience that you get when seeing album art, a tour poster or when you hold a vinyl, cassette or CD in hand.
Chattanooga, TN | Yellow Racket Records To Open Record Store In April 2020: Local indie record label Yellow Racket Records has announced a plan to open a 2,000 square foot record store in the heart of Chattanooga in April 2020. The store will primarily carry vinyl records, both new and used, with a wide selection from independent and major labels. They also intend to stock a small assortment of CD’s, cassettes, posters, and other music merchandise (such as apparel and accessories). The store will partner with Goodman Coffee to operate a small coffee bar for people to enjoy while shopping and listening, and they plan to host regular events on site, including in-store performances, listening parties, artist meet-and-greets, and other community events for vinyl collectors and music lovers. Label-founder and owner Ben VanderHart states that the vision for the location is to help foster Chattanooga’s vibrant community of vinyl collectors and music lovers by offering tangible, memorable experiences with music. “We live in an age where music is becoming more and more ephemeral; and as that happens, more and more people are looking for intentional, physical, lasting experiences with music,” said Mr. VanderHart. “Which is why I think vinyl has become so popular in the last decade.”
Portland, OR | Music to Your Ears: A Guide to Portland’s Best Record Stores: Portland is a vinyl town. Sure, coffee, bikes, and beer get all the headlines, but record hounds know the real truth: This is a city of DJs, and it’s powered by 12-inch slabs of wax. Naturally, Portland has an embarrassment of riches as far as places to score your next vinyl fix, and there are too many great record stores to mention them all here. But if your turntable setup is crying out for something new to play (or, better yet, something old and rare), you can’t make a wrong step with these terrific shops. You’re not a Portland record collector until you’ve made the pilgrimage to Crossroads Records (8112 SE Foster), which boasts the biggest, baddest, best selection of used vinyl in the city. Crossroads is a multi-vendor mini-mall of record sellers, each one hosting a table of specialized wares. This is the place to go for deep crate digging, with ultra-rare obscurities sharing bin space with crowd-pleasing go-tos. It’s easy to lose the entire day browsing Crossroads’ countless bins—and each vendor is organized separately, which makes searching for one thing in particular a blissfully time-consuming affair—so block out a chunk of the afternoon and get ready to lug home an armful of choice LPs.
Waterparks are hosting a series of in-store acoustic appearances and signings: To celebrate the release of their new album ‘FANDOM’, Waterparks have announced a series of intimate in-store acoustic appearances and signings. The trio are heading out on a five-stop tour of North American record stores leading up to the release of their new album ‘FANDOM’ next Friday. Waterparks’ release week festivities kick off in Philadelphia on Monday, October 07 at Creep Records, and wrap up on Saturday, October 12 at Newbury Comics in Boston. There’s limited space available at each appearance and signing, but you can guarantee entry by purchasing a copy of ‘FANDOM’ from the store that is hosting the signing. Check out the full list of release week signings and acoustic performances…
Eco friendly Marley record player goes wireless: House Of Marley the popular ecofriendly sound brand is set to roll out a new version of their Stir Up record player only this time the device has wireless capability built in. According to the Company the Stir it Up Wireless player will maintain the same look and feel of the original, but now with Bluetooth v4.2 capability now built into the device which has a new pairing button that delivers a 10m range for smooth wireless connectivity. For those who want to digitise their vinyl, Stir it Up Wireless allows users to access USB to PC recording. Marley products which are top sellers at JB Hi Fi are unique due to their ecofriendly materials. Like the original version, Stir it Up Wireless will consist of consciously sourced and recycled materials including solid bamboo plinth, recycled silicone, recyclable aluminium alloy, and House of Marley’s signature REWINDTM fabric composed of reclaimed hemp, organic cotton, and recycled plastic bottles.
Nelly Ben Hayoun signs a record deal with The Vinyl Factory to release her film on vinyl: The term multidisciplinary seems to have been coined to describe Nelly Ben Hayoun, whose creative practice is impossible to pigeon-hole. A experience designer, educator and director, among many things, the latest string to her bow is a record deal with The Vinyl Factory. She’s not moving into music (yet) but instead, the full audio of her feature length documentary I am (not) a monster, premiering at the BFI London Film Festival, has been recorded on vinyl to be released in tandem with the film. The deal is the first of its kind for The Vinyl Factory, and could open up a new form of experimental content that Nelly thinks could intertwine the film and music industries in a more supportive relationship. The film, Nelly explains to It’s Nice That, is about “hunting for the origin of knowledge, and hence the origin of thinking. It’s a platform for pluralistic thinking in an increasingly polarised society, not just black and white perspectives but multiple perspectives on culture and ideas.”
