Louisville, KY | Vinyl destination: Where to buy records in Louisville for music fans of all tastes: Music streaming services have become more popular in the past decade, but vinyl sales keep spinning in the right direction, as well. In the first half of 2023, the number of records sold in the U.S. was nearly 22% higher than the same period in 2022. That impact can be felt in Louisville. Local record store owner Matt Anthony, the man behind the appropriately named Matt Anthony’s Record Shop, said Black Friday sales were “bonkers,” with major releases like Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album driving sales at his Phoenix Hill business. Travis Searle, who just celebrated 10 years running Clifton’s Guestroom Records, said his business has seen sales grow across the board in recent years. “We have definitely seen an uptick in sales for both CDs and cassettes tapes over the last couple of years, but vinyl is definitely the bread and butter of Guestroom Records,” he said in an email.
Paris, FR | Born Bad Records, Paris’ rock’n’roll haven: The French capital’s most famous record store is preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Mark Adolph, the manager and drummer of the edgy band Frustration, has lost none of his enthusiasm for showcasing the diverse world of rock culture. Rock’n’roll is far from dead. Mark Adolph, manager of Born Bad Records, is convinced of this. In the few square meters of his store near the Bastille in Paris, rock culture is available both in new and used formats, covering all styles from 1950s rock’n’roll to post-punk, including hardcore and rockabilly. It’s hard to understand how some 10,000 vinyl records can fit into such a small space. This crimson-floored venue has fueled several generations’ passion for vinyl and rock culture. Born Bad opened its doors in 1999, initially on Rue Keller, then a few hundred meters away on Rue Saint-Sabin, where it is still located today. It all started with a friendship among three music enthusiasts: Iwan Lozac’h, Christian Blanchard and Adolph. “We didn’t know what to do with our lives, so we decided to open a record store.”
Mexico City, MX | New skate shop and record store opens in Mexico City: A multi-function retail store and events space opened its doors in Mexico City last weekend. On Saturday, December 9th, Daniel Madrid, Ernesto Alonso, Mario Aguilar and Maxwell William launched maad, a shop selling coffee, skateboard gear, streetwear and vinyl. Its catalogue includes electronic music, with a focus on house, techno and EBM records from Detroit, Chicago, New York and the UK. The opening also featured a small in-store, and maad will continue to throw similar events in the hope of “showing the talent and art of the people who approach us,” Madrid, AKA mood, told Resident Advisor. “maad was born from the need for us partners to have a meeting point in the city,” he continued. “It’s an oasis that’s a space for everyone to feel good in this chaotic city, where a community is generated and the main axis is to exchange ideas, knowledge, experiences and create. Music and skateboarding saved us and I hope it can also save many more people.”‘
Geelong, AU | Vintage vibes for the holidays: Why vinyl from Popcultcha Records tops the gift list: Popcultcha Records vinyl is the ultimate Christmas gift for music lovers! This festive season, give the gift of music with a touch of vintage charm – vinyl from Popcultcha Records, Geelong’s premier independent record store. Nestled above their flagship Ryrie Street store, Popcultcha Records is a treasure trove of over 4000 in-stock vinyl titles, as well as an incredible range of books, comics, graphic novels, manga, apparel and much more, making it the ideal destination for Christmas gift shopping. Whether you’re shopping for an audiophile, a collector, or someone just discovering the magic of vinyl, Popcultcha Records has you covered. Staffed by experts and collectors with obsessive ears and an exhaustive understanding of their chosen genre, here you’ll find everything from Xavier Rudd, Van Morrison, Nick Cave, The Kooks, Black Sabbath and Prodigy, to Pixies, Taylor Swift and Silverchair, and everything you could imagine in between.
Boise, ID | For 45 Years, Boise’s The Record Exchange Keeps On Spinning: Everyone has their pick of their best local record store. Whether you love the people who work there, love their selection, or both, every vinyl fanatic has their go-to brick-and-mortar to peruse. Visiting every single independent record shop in the country seems almost impossible, so sometimes we only hear about the fantastic work a record shop is doing from afar. The Record Exchange in Boise, Idaho is one of those shops you see online and dream of visiting. The shop has adapted and grown over its nearly 5-decade lifespan into a hub for the dedicated vinyl collectors in their community. Glide had the pleasure of asking co-owner of The Record Exchange Chad Dryden a few questions about the shop, its history, and its strong sense of community.
Brighton & Hove, UK | Goo Records & Music Venue Trust announce charity album to support Brighton & Hove venues: Brighton-based indie record label Goo Records has teamed up with Music Venue Trust (MVT) to create a fundraising live album featuring the cream of the Brighton music scene. The album is titled ‘Alive By The Seaside’ and will be released via Goo Records on 26th January 2024 on clear blue sea vinyl, CD, download and streaming services – All profits go to Music Venue Trust to support venues in Brighton & Hove. It features ten Brighton-based bands, recorded playing live in a Brighton venue during 2023. Alongside legends like The Wedding Present and Immersion (Colin Newman and Malka Spigel), it also features exciting performances by rising stars such as Hutch, ĠENN and Welly. Goo Records founders Tony Bartholomew and Dorian Rogers were inspired to pull the album together by what they were seeing in the live music scene in Brighton. Tony Bartholomew explains: “This compilation album is both a celebration and a snapshot of a period of time that feels special—the Brighton live music scene in 2023.”
Montavilla, OR | Replicant Bar and City Noise Records Coming to NE Glisan: In early 2024, City Noise Records will relocate from NE Broadway to 7035 NE Glisan Street. Next door at 7033 NE Glisan Street, the owner of the punk and metal music store will launch a new beer and wine bar called Replicant with his partner Lydia Crumbley. Renovation crews working on the 1917-era storefronts encountered some age-related complications, but work is now well underway for a mid-March or April opening. The 810-square-foot bar’s name originates from the 1982 sci-fi movie Blade Runner. The film featured synthetic humans known as replicants, hunted in a futuristic Los Angeles. Bar and record store owner Gianpiero Milani is a fan of the film and will use it for some of the bar’s theming. However, co-owner Lydia Crumbley explained they will not attempt to recreate a bar environment from the film. Replicant will offer non-alcoholic drinks alongside beer and wine, with a food menu that includes vegan options.
Melton, UK | Chance to buy and sell at Melton record fair: Collectors, dealers and music fans will gather in Melton on Saturday for the latest record fair. The Stockyard, on the livestock market site, is once again the venue for the popular event, which offers opportunities to buy and sell vinyl records. Celebrity guest is Drew Stanstall, the saxophonist with the Neville Staples band and a former sax and flute player with iconic 1970s and 1980s band, The Specials, who will be entertaining with some live busking. Anyone who wants to sell their old vinyl records on the day can book a table by calling Chris on 07788 281766 or Andy on 07774 669172. Seller tables cost £20 each. You can also attend to get a valuation for old records. There is free entry and car parking for sellers and browsers from 10am to 2pm, with hot and cold drinks available. Organiser Chris Popple said: “Melton Record Fair is much more than just a record fair—it’s a social day out for all music lovers.”
Grand Rapids, MI | Great Lakes Records spins out unique lathe-cut vinyl for West Michigan artists: The small, Grand Rapids vinyl production operation offers local and regional acts a rare opportunity to provide fans with a physical ‘piece of nostalgia’ that showcases their music. Leaning over an illuminated workbench, George Paulin labors with painstaking precision. After closely inspecting a blank record, he places it atop a motorized lathe where it slowly spins. His reflection appears in the pristine gloss of rotating vinyl. A very small (and very expensive) diamond needle carves grooves along the surface while debris is sucked into an almost microscopic vacuum. It’s quite mesmerizing. The process takes less than five minutes. “Lathe-cut records can really benefit independent artists because they can be pressed and sent out within a week. We can create a physical product and help artists offer a piece of nostalgia to their audience. I look at this as a way of future proofing and giving power back to artists,” says Paulin.
