Luton, UK | Iconic record store Vinyl Revelations to celebrate 30th anniversary at Luton’s Hat Factory: Entrepreneur and music promoter Andy Chesham is known and loved in Luton for his iconic Vinyl Revelations shop in Cheapside – soon to celebrate its 30th anniversary with an extravaganza at The Hat Factory. But what many of his fans may not know is that he was Luton Town Football Club’s youngest stadium manager while still a teenager. …But he was made redundant in 1994 and the proceeds gave him the wherewithal to open the record shop he’d always wanted. “I jumped at the opportunity,” Andy smiles. “My obsession with music and records had me buying and selling records while still at school – some to classmates at Stopsley High and others via mail order. My chance finally came when we opened on May 2, 1994, in Luton’s indoor market in the Arndale Centre – now The Mall.”
Glasgow, UK | Legendary rock band coming to Glasgow for intimate gig: A legendary rock band is coming to Glasgow to perform an intimate gig at a city record store. GUN will perform to crowds at Assai Records on Sauchiehall Street on April 12, 2024. The group is embarking on a whistle-stop ‘Record Store’ tour and will be visiting nine music shops in eight days with a ‘stripped back’ set. It comes after the release of their brand new single Boys Don’t Cry which is described as a “testimony to the glory of hard, loud rock.” The single is taken from the Glasgow band’s forthcoming new album, Hombres, which is set to be released on the same day as the Glasgow gig. We previously reported that GUN are already set to visit Glasgow on April 26 with a gig at iconic East End venue St Luke’s.
Louisville, KY | Kentuckiana’s Largest Record Show Strikes a Chord at Ten 20 Brewery: Explore the resurgence of vinyl records at the Fleur De Flea record show in Louisville. From rare finds to beloved classics, join over 300 attendees in celebrating the timeless allure of physical music formats. In the heart of Louisville, a melody of history and culture played out in an extraordinary gathering this Saturday. Over 300 music enthusiasts converged at Ten 20 Brewery, not just for the craft beer, but to immerse themselves in Kentuckiana’s largest record show, hosted by Fleur De Flea. Amidst the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses, attendees found themselves in a haven of vinyl records, CDs, and music memorabilia, a testament to the enduring allure of physical music formats. The event highlighted not just the wide array of music genres available on vinyl but also the communal experience of music shopping.
Cheektowaga, NY | The Buffalo Record Riot! The Buffalo Record RIot! It’s a WONDERFUL vinyl record POP-UP sale at the Knights Hall in Cheektowaga! Over 15,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and amazing family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. The Buffalo Record Riot returns! It’s a WONDERFUL vinyl record POP-UP sale at Knights Hall, 2735 Union Road in Cheektowaga! Over 15,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and amazing family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz and more. Dust off that turntable and come on down. DOOR PRIZES TOO! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
Bristol, UK | Bargain Hunt star sells rare Bristol record for over £1,550 at auction: Only 500 copies of the album were pressed in 1971. A rare vinyl record by a Bristol band has been sold by Bargain Hunt auctioneer Tim Weeks for a staggering £1,580. Five hundred copies of Folkal Point’s self-titled album were pressed in 1971 but following a fire over half of those were lost due to flood damage. With the resurgence of vinyl record collecting over the last decade, high end collectors are on the hunt for obscure releases and lesser-known albums. Folkal Point has become one of the most sought-after records in the world. This particular copy was found by Tim when a member of the public brought in a collection of 300 records that were left in a garage when they purchased a house. “If I had a pound for every time a customer comes to us with a collection and says ‘I don’t think there’s anything valuable in there’, and yet after a quick flick through of their box we manage to find some treasures hidden within it, I would probably have enough money to buy my own copy of Folkal Point!”
Auckland, NZ | Kiwis pressing ‘biovinyl’ records made of cooking oil and gas: Polyvinyl chloride (or PVC) has been the standard material used to make records for decades. But now, as the medium’s popularity continues to grow and artists look to reduce their emissions, that might change. Kiwi pressing company, Holiday Records, was now taking orders for “biovinyl” – which it had been testing for a manufacturer over the past year. The material replaced fossil fuel-based PVC with used cooking oil and industrial gasses — and these ingredients also meant the records were 100% recyclable. “We are producing one of the most sustainable vinyl records on the planet at the moment,” Holiday Records’ Joel Woods told Breakfast. He said the records sound “amazing” and “exactly the same” as PVC.
Chapel Hill, NC | Vinyl, CD listeners feel connected through physical media: …Today, listening to music is as easy as clicking a few buttons on a phone screen, but some listeners prefer the physical copies for a sense of nostalgia and intention — 2022 marked the 17th consecutive year of increased vinyl sales in the U.S., according to Luminate’s U.S. Year-End Music Report. The co-owner of All Day Records, Ethan Clauset, said the public’s fascination with these forms of music has always been present. All Day Records is located in Carrboro and opened a storefront in 2010. They primarily sell vinyl, along with CDs, tapes, stereo gear, books, magazines and occasionally some musical instruments. Clauset said that a tangible copy of music carries more weight in a person’s life than digital music, both physically and conceptually. Vinyl holds memories, Clauset said. When someone listens to vinyl, they create associations with the physical cover art, the feel of the paper sleeves or the weight of the vinyl, he said.
Sioux Falls, SD | The vinyl revival: …People have always had the desire to try new things and living in a day and age where almost everything is electronic, people reflect on what the past was like which brought forth a fascination for vinyl music. The resurgence of record players has stemmed from people yearning for music that is high quality in the sound that it produces. While digital platforms have come a long way, music lovers believe that vinyl records produce a more immersive and rich experience. People may currently have an interest in vinyl music now due to the distinctive art that each vinyl casing displays and uses to catch viewers’ attention.
