Nederland, CO | Music and libations for Boogie’s anniversary: Five years ago Ryan Blackwell opened his dream store in his dream location. Nederland was, and in many ways still is, a hotspot of musical culture and creativity, and Blackwell could think of no better place to lay the foundation for Boogie Records. Over the years, Boogie Records has moved to a bigger space and has expanded its inventory to become a paradise for music fans and those addicted to physical media. Though Blackwell’s favorite part of the job is acquiring big collections from record enthusiasts, where flipping through someone else’s eclectic tastes can often yield some incredible results, he’s recently been focusing on expanding the merchandise available at Boogie. From expressive band logo T-shirts repping Nirvana and Wu-Tang Clan, to a variety of music-inspired toys, such as vintage Devo figurines and newer Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem dolls, with these new additions Boogie Records is constantly being enhanced.
Dundee, UK | How Dundee record store Assai became city centre success story: Its owner said Assai has built a community and embraces the power of the internet to encourage people to shop. Noah Kahan is one of the hottest stars in the world, selling millions of albums, attending the Grammys and selling out arenas. But when the Stick Season star wanted to give his album a charts boost, it was a Dundee music shop he turned to. He took the time to sign 500 copies of his album for a special numbered edition to sell through Assai. In the streaming age, a retailer being able to sell this number of physical copies can make all the difference to chart positions. A week after they went on sale, Kahan followed acts like Blur, Liam Gallagher and Green Day—who have also provided unique versions of their LPs to Assai—to have a number one.
Stroud, UK | End of an era—Stroud’s oldest record shop closes its doors for the final time: Saturday (3/9) will mark the end of an era as Stroud’s oldest record store closes its doors for the final time. Trading Post, in Kendrick Street, can trace its history back 47 years, and for the past 23 years has been run by Simon Vincent. On Friday afternoon friends Tom Berry, who runs Sound Records, and Sean Roe and his wife Ritsuko Hidaka from Klang Tone Records made a surprise presentation of a cake in the shape of a record player. “Simon’s the longest-serving record shop owner in town, so we wanted to mark his departure in style, so we thought a record player cake would be a fitting memory,” explained Tom. Simon said: “I’m absolutely blown away by it—and slightly emotional, as I’m sure I will be for the next 24 hours—but these guys are great, and Stroud is very lucky to have Tom and Sean doing what they’re doing, so Stroud’s going to be fine for records…”
How to have the best Record Store Day: Record Store Day (RSD) is an annual event that celebrates independent record stores and vinyl culture with limited editions and special releases. To make the most of this day, enthusiasts need a game plan. Here are some tips to ensure you have the best Record Store Day experience possible. Start Your Research Early: In the weeks leading up to RSD, check out the official list of releases and decide what you’re interested in. This list is usually released in advance on the Record Store Day website. Also, follow your favorite artists and labels on social media for any surprise announcements. Plan Your Route: Determine which record stores you’ll visit beforehand. Some shops may offer exclusive items or in-store performances, so prioritize them according to your wishlist. Remember to consider store opening times and distances between shops to maximize your time efficiently…
Brighton, UK | Top 5 Record Stores in Brighton: Walk five minutes in any direction and you’ll be sure to run into one of the many record stores that are scattered around Brighton. From smut record sections to hosting Declan Mckenna, I’ll be ranking my top five record stores and all the weird, wonderful and wacky quirks that come with them. 1. Resident: Located opposite Snoopers Paradise, Resident is hard to miss and usually one of the first record stores that Sussex freshers fall into. It’s undoubtedly the biggest on this list, both in terms of shop size and social media presence, boasting an impressive 25.2k followers on Instagram (@residentbrighton), and they even publish regular newsletters. The layout has spacious walkways and ramp access, so it is fully accessible. Resident is also well known for its vast array of live music events. From Declan McKenna to Crawlers, and more recently the star-studded The Last Dinner Party, there is something for everyone here…
Riyadh, SA | Alkhobar’s Bohemia brings music to Saudi Arabia’s capital: Alkhobar-based Bohemia Art Cafe and Records has opened a new branch at The Warehouse in the Kingdom’s capital where visitors can enjoy coffee, buy vinyl records and vibe with live music. Overlooking the picturesque rocky hills that showcase the beauty of historic Diriyah, the standalone vinyl shop and cultural music hub is situated at the end of a trail of warehouses. …Co-founders Fawaz Alsulaim and Mansour Alhmaid met at university in the UK, where they studied mechanical engineering. They each had different tastes but both loved music. They opened Bohemia Art Cafe in Alkhobar in 2018 and it has become a sonic refuge for them and their clients. Alhmaid, who is from Riyadh, told Arab News about the significance of the new location: “We are very proud that this (Riyadh location) attracts the right clients. The client base in Riyadh is way bigger than Alkhobar; they enjoy different genres of music here — it’s all types, a bit of everything.”
The Year Discogs Shit The Bed: Ravenomics: Jacked fees and chaos brought all of the record platform’s faults to the surface. So you’re running a database of records with a storefront attached. It’s a bit niche, and the site looks like something made with Netscape Composer circa 1997, but it’s got a lot of goodwill. Your humble little site is still the best way to find and buy or sell rare and out of print records. It connects buyers and sellers pretty well, and provides a lifeline to record stores, the most beleaguered but indispensable members of the modern vinyl ecosystem. Such a site might make a good business—maybe a bit precarious but a pretty good one if you don’t have investors breathing down your neck for a 10x return on their capital. If you do want that kind of thing, you’re probably in the wrong business. The people that run Discogs are probably in the wrong business. That’s the most generous conclusion you can come to after a year in which they’ve managed to piss off sellers, alienate buyers and stir up so much confusion in the marketplace that nobody really knows what a record is worth anymore—ostensibly the reason the site exists.
Coke Studio’s hypnotic vinyl comes to life with moving animation: Every time the record owner spins one of Coke Studio’s hypnotic and multi-sensorial ‘Video Vinyls,’ the illustrated animation sequence drawn on the discs comes to life, as if it were playing a cutout movie. It’s a surefire way to entertain the record owner both visually and musically. While listening to the vinyl’s tracks, the record owner can also watch the animation sequence unfold on their turntable, everything already painted and recorded for them to enjoy. These hypnotic vinyls enter as a form of celebration for the 7th season of the TV program Coke Studio Philippines. The studio has always been a platform where musicians from different genres come together to collaborate and create original music for their fans. This time, Coke Studio Philippines partnered with Ogilvy Singapore to spearhead the project. Together, they collaborated with illustrators to animate the traditionally analog vinyls, making a spirited statement about their shared creative endeavors.
Street Fighter 6 Drops an Exclusive Collector’s Edition Vinyl Box Set: Street Fighter 6 launched last summer and has gone to sell over 3 million units worldwide since then. Its much anticipated release was followed by series of special collaborations and collectables that included a sneaker with Onitsuka Tiger and a totally radical link up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And, now, fans who want to feel immersed in the game—even when they’re not playing—can do so, as the game’s official soundtrack has been launched as a limited edition vinyl box set. …As well as the four records, fans are treated to a Street Fighter-themed slip mat created by artist Drew Tetz, which features a hypnotizing zoetrope design that will give Chun Li’s ‘Spinning Bird Kick’ a run for its money. If that wasn’t enough to satisfy the most die-hard of Street Fighter collectors, a sticker set as well as a 24-page art book with original illustrations of all 18 of the game’s starting characters are also included.
