Bristol, UK | Bristol’s Idle Hands record shop reopens this week: Bristol’s Idle Hands record shop is reopening this week after a two-year closure. The beloved Bristol record institution, first opened in 2011, will welcome crate diggers to its new “centrally located” space tomorrow, Wednesday 20th November, owner Chris Farrell shared on Instagram. “Although it was never my intention to be closed for two years, after some false starts and dead ends, Idle Hands is finally re-opening this Wednesday”, he wrote. Farrell will reveal the exact address and opening hours that morning, too. Farrell told Resident Advisor the relaunched shop will stock “a carefully curated selection of new and second-hand records”. “I’m eager to hear from customers about what they’re looking for and will shape the stock accordingly” he said. “A record shop is always a work in progress… DJ Skillis (who will be working alongside me) and I look forward to welcoming customers old and new.”
San Antonio, TX | ‘Tejano and Proud’ at Janie’s Record Shop: Little Henry Lee occupies the back-corner makeshift stage of Janie’s Record Shop. Humming fills the sound waves as Lee tests his equipment. Intrigued by Lee’s sound tests, patrons halt their surveying of the store’s vinyl and grab a seat to listen to his yearnful love ballads. He belts tunes of his own and others while offering tidbits of Hispanic music history. Bystanders become absorbed by the euphonious vocals and keyboard playing. The mail carrier walks in to drop off a package and stays to dance for a bit before he is handed a Coke and continues on with his day. “Record what you feel, and you win,” Lee remarked. “Know what you’re trying to say and who you’re saying it to.” The statement applies to his music and Janie’s business. Although the shop’s primary focus is to sell physical media, the creation of a collective remains at the heart of the store’s mission. With this goal in mind, the business has been thriving for nearly 30 years.
Nashville, TN | Daydream Records Sets Up Shop: Talking with Daniel Halal about his recently opened used-only retail spot in the Shoppes on Fatherland. Music City’s record retail landscape welcomed a newcomer with the Nov. 1 arrival of Daydream Records. A 200-square-foot space in the Shoppes on Fatherland near Five Points, Daydream is packed thoughtfully with some 3,000 carefully chosen LPs, 7-inches and cassettes spanning punk, jazz, metal, psych and more. …You’ll also meet proprietor Daniel Halal. The 39-year-old has worked in the record-store biz in his home state of Florida since 2003, while also logging time as tour manager for Miami doom-grunge legends Torche. …With Record Store Day Black Friday right around the corner, I recently spoke with Halal about the record store scene and where Daydream fits in.
Columbus, MS | Community Profile: Rockin’ Records owner opens shop due to son’s interest in vinyl: In some respects, Larry Pierson would be an unlikely record store owner. Born in 1970, Pierson’s interest in popular music in general, and heavy metal in particular, didn’t emerge until he was about 12 years old, which roughly coincided with the transition of recorded music from vinyl records and eight-track tapes to cassettes. Before that change, record stores in Columbus were plentiful – Newsoms (later Camelot) in Leigh Mall, Elysian Fields, Fraction, Caldwell Furniture Record Rack and Bryan’s Records and Pets. The record store wasn’t merely a place to buy the latest album, it was a gathering place for teens and young adults in the 1960s and 1970s. Record stores were part of the culture. As the change in formats took hold, one by one, the record stores began to close.
Edwardsville, IL | Trusty Chords Record Shop thrives on Edwardsville’s passion for music: Store features vinyl records, CDs, T-shirts, posters and more. For Colin Anderson, being able to share his passion for music is his favorite part of owning a record store. “It’s what you don’t get when you pay $2 less at Amazon,” said Anderson, who is the owner of Trusty Chords Record Shop in Edwardsville. “If I wanted to start a business that was about making money, it wouldn’t have been this. This is about the connection between music and people. “Nothing tickles us pink more than when someone comes in asks what we’re listening to and says, ‘This is really good.’ Being able to turn somebody on to new music is something special.” …The store, which opened in November 2018, recently celebrated its sixth anniversary. “A friend messaged me a few days ago and said, ‘Happy sixth store birthday’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I guess it is.’ You kind of forget things like that when you’re too busy working,” Anderson said, laughing.
Manchester, UK | Guy Garvey surprises fans with impromptu gig at iconic record store: The Elbow frontman was there to support frequent collaborator Peter Alexander Jobson. Elbow fans were left stunned after Guy Garvey made a surprise appearance for a record signing at Piccadilly Records. The 50-year-old singer joined Peter Alexander Jobson for his album release party in the Northern Quarter store. Garvey joined Jobson for around a dozen songs and even treated fans to a rendition of his iconic harmonica. Northumberland songwriter and poet Peter Alexander Jobson is on a series of in store appearances to support the release of his debut solo album ‘Burn The Ration Books Of Love’ which was released on Friday (November 15). Jobson, who recently played shows in Holland and Belgium with Elbow and opened for John Grant at Manchester’s New Century Hall, kicked off his week-long tour of record stores in Liverpool. Garvey repaid the favour by backing up Jobson for his stop in Manchester.
Burbank, CA | Run Out Groove Records Kicks Off First RSD Black Friday Event at New, Larger Location: Run Out Groove Records, Burbank’s destination for vinyl enthusiasts, is gearing up for its biggest day of the year—Record Store Day’s Black Friday event—on November 29, 2024. This marks the store’s inaugural RSD Black Friday celebration at its new location, 3208 W Magnolia Blvd, and the launch of its freshly updated e-commerce site, www.runoutgrooverecords.com. Doors open bright and early at 8:00 AM, and the day promises rare finds, great vibes, and a celebration of all things vinyl. This year’s RSD Black Friday lineup is packed with exclusive releases sure to excite collectors and music lovers alike. Highlights include Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter, a live single pressed on limited-edition vinyl featuring two tracks from their 2024 world tour, and Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts (Spilled), a deluxe two-LP variant of her smash-hit album with bonus tracks and exclusive artwork.
Buenos Aires, AR | The best record stores in Buenos Aires: Your ultimate guide to finding new and used vinyl records and CDs in Buenos Aires. While record stores are facing extinction in many major cities worldwide, Buenos Aires still boasts some of the best record stores in South America, where you can find both new and used records and CDs. With the resurgence of LPs, more and more people are enjoying listening to music on a format they can touch and handle. After all, few experiences compare to the ritual of taking a record out of its sleeve, carefully placing it on the turntable, and gently setting the needle to start spinning. The feeling of sitting down to admire the cover art, reading the lyrics intently, and finally getting up to flip it over is unique. Whether they’re die-hard music lovers or beginners, there’s an ideal record store for everyone, from large spaces where you can get lost to small shops with knowledgeable staff who, without realizing it, help customers discover titles they never knew existed.
Milwaukee, WI | Irving Place Records has an all-Milwaukee album ready to drop: Terry Hackbarth’s love of music and the scene in Milwaukee started an exciting new chapter when he took over the East Side storefront now known as Irving Place Records. This week, he added a couple lines to the story by releasing the first two songs from an upcoming all-Milwaukee compilation album. Irving Place Records partnered with Label 51 Recordings on the project, which is exclusive to the record store and is the first in the label’s series of city-based compilations. Titled Notes from the Underground Vol. 1: Milwaukee, the track listing is as follows…
