Monmouth, UK | Grinning Soul Records open in Monmouth: Goldie Lookin’ Chain rapper Graham Taylor and novelist and broadcaster Gary Raymond are using a start-up loan from the Development Bank of Wales to share their love of vinyl records in Monmouth with the opening of Grinning Soul Records. As Monmouth’s only vinyl record shop, Grinning Soul Records can be found at White Swan Court on Priory Street. The micro loan from the Development Bank has been used to part-fund the kit out of the new shop and purchase stock. Having been close friends since their school days in Newport, Graham Taylor of Welsh rap group, Goldie Lookin’ Chain and BBC presenter and author Gary Raymond had a childhood ambition to open a record shop. Gary Raymond said: “Music fans come from all over the world to visit Monmouth as the home of Rockfield Studios, the legendary Welsh recording studios. Bohemian Rhapsody was recorded here yet there was no record shop in the town.”
Sussex, UK | Business secretary visits vinyl and bottle shop as he launches trade board: A secretary of state visited a Sussex town to launch a new initiative for small businesses. Jonathan Reynolds, secretary of state for business and trade, took a trip to Shoreham yesterday, March 13, visiting local traders. Mr Reynolds also unveiled the new Board of Trade yesterday, made up of CEOs and business leaders including Apprentice star and entrepreneur Mike Soutar, BT Group chief executive Allison Kirkby and Michelle Ovens CBE, the founder of Small Business Britain. Members of the board will strive to be “advocates and ambassadors for their sector, supporting businesses so they can trade more and grow.” During the trip, Mr Reynolds and members of the board visited a number of small businesses in Shoreham town centre, including Slipped Discs record shop, Fresh Cut Flowers and Palate, a specialist wine and beer shop.
Edinburgh, UK | Avoiding the rookie mistakes in Record Store Day stock up: There is nothing more frustrating than seeing people make the same mistakes over and over again, so last week’s episode of The Apprentice, pictured, was particularly annoying. Many of the candidates each year claim to be fans of the show and yet regularly go on to make the same mistakes that have happened in the previous series. Even if they haven’t particularly watched the programme before you would think that once they knew they were going to be on they would swat up on the tasks which are generally the same in each series. …I’m starting to get the same feeling as we are told the numbers we will receive for Record Store Day releases. There are always some cutbacks on some of the bigger titles and our aim is always to try to make sure that we at least have all the big releases for most if not all the day, as we don’t want to return to the bad old days when we would spend most of the day disappointing people that we didn’t have what they wanted.
Toronto, CA | The history of the iconic Sam the Record Man in Toronto: When it comes to legendary Toronto retail landmarks, few could truly rival the cultural significance of Sam the Record Man, where stepping into the store felt like you were entering the heart of the world’s vast musical catalog, and the knowledgeable staff there could effortlessly find you any record—no matter how obscure—with just a few hums of a tune.A staple of the city’s music scene for half a century, the iconic record store became much more than just a regular place to buy albums, it became a gathering spot, a symbol, and eventually, an institution, with its towering neon sign of two spinning discs above Yonge Street. Born in Toronto in 1920, Sam Sniderman’s journey into the world of music retail began in 1937, when he started selling records in his brother Sidney’s College Street store, Sniderman Radio Sales and Service. The two brothers convinced the family to designate a corner of the store for records under the name “Sniderman’s Music Hall,” and by 1959, the business was booming.
Twin Falls, ID | As seasons turn, so do the turntables at this new record store in downtown Twin Falls: “I’ve been collecting records since I was a kid,” said Derek Anderson. “And just the way they feel, they sound from the first time you open up, the smell, you know that none of that translates in digital.” Anderson was pulling vinyl records out of crates and shelving them on Friday, March 14, when I stopped by the newly opened Modern Sounds on Main Ave in Downtown Twin Falls. He said in five years since opening his first store in Boise, he’s seen how ready people are for an authentic alternative to digital streaming. “They’re actively listening. They’re sitting down, absorbing the cover art, opening the record and pulling the liner notes out,” Anderson said. “It’s turned into part of their lifestyle.” After successfully hosting a winter pop-up shop in Twin Falls for a few years, Anderson has transitioned to a full-time location, which opened just this past month.
Minneapolis, MN | The Linda Lindas Record Store Day Signing: We’re excited to have The Linda Lindas at the Electric Fetus on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 12th, for a signing at 1:45pm!! To secure your pass for the signing line, you’ll need to order No Obligation on indie exclusive translucent pink vinyl. Each pass admits one person to the signing line to meet the band and get their record signed. At the event we’ll have a poster for each person in the signing line and you may get that signed too. There is a limit of two records (and passes) per order. THIS EVENT IS LIMITED TO 75 PASSES. Choose in-store pickup when you order. The item will become unavailable when passes are sold out. Your 7-digit order number is your confirmation that you will get your pass(es). You will receive a second email when your order is ready for pickup. We highly recommend you pick up your order before Record Store Day if possible, as that is our busiest day of the year.
Dogfish Head: The return of our partnership with the Grateful Dead calls for a chart-topping Record Store Day! For the record, 2025 is a BIG YEAR. It marks 30 years of brewing off-centered ales at Dogfish Head, it’s the 60th anniversary of our good friends The Grateful Dead, AND, to top it all off, it’s our 10th year of being the Official Beer of Record Store Day! Music has been a part of Dogfish Head since before we were Dogfish Head. When a 20-something Sam Calagione was hammering out a business plan for a brewery back in 1995, he was fueled by the music of Miles Davis, Guided by Voices, The Replacements and, of course, the Grateful Dead. So, it’s a natural fit for a brewery that makes “Analog Beer for the Digital Age” to be a part of a celebration of the unique culture of record stores and the special role they play in their communities. And in 2015, we made it happen when we became the Official Beer of Record Store Day!
Erie, PA | The Erie Record Riot! Over 10,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Sat March 22nd at Quality Inn & Suites: The Erie Record RIot RETURNS! It’s a GIANT vinyl record POP-UP sale at the Quality Inn & Suites. Sat March 22nd. 10000+ vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and amazing family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. A giant record store lands in Erie! Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! LPs and 45s and CDs too. 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!
Even Your Hobbies Aren’t Safe From Trump’s Tariff Chaos: From vinyl collecting to tabletop games, hobbyists are feeling the pressure of America’s economic turmoil. Perhaps you’re tired of the nonstop flow of bad news since President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, and you’re unplugging a little with some hobbies. That might mean reading more novels or comics, collecting vinyl records or Blu-Rays, getting into knitting or art, or finally cracking that Wingspan board game that’s been gathering dust on your shelf. Sadly, I have bad news: Even your hobbies can’t escape global politics. Trump has been quite erratic in his trade wars with Canada, Mexico, and China this year. Yet even with all the confused delays and exemptions, the fact remains that the tariffs he’s imposing on those three countries are universal. These import taxes are meant to attack every single product that originates from our bordering neighbors and our East Asian rival. Yes, there are loopholes, but the overall effect is clear: These countries are to be punished, and our dependence upon them means we’ll be shouldering lots of pain as well. Our politicians are straight-up admitting that!
Follow The Vinyl District on Facebook HERE, Instagram HERE, Threads HERE, Bluesky HERE, and X/Twitter HERE.
