Other Music Documentary to Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival: While the words “legendary” and “record store” may fall together a bit oddly for some, one that truly lived up to the billing was New York’s Other Music, which closed in June of 2016 after more than 20 years in business. Renowned for the kind of fringe and hard-to-find and next-big-thing music that its name suggests — this writer (who eulogized the store at the time of its closing) bought the first Strokes EP there on consignment in 2000 — the store was known and revered by music-heads all over the world; it was the epicenter of several local scenes, its employees included members of Animal Collective, Anti-Pop Consortium and multiple DJs and future industry executives.
Newport, UK | City is set for Record Store Day: Newport Now Business Improvement District is supporting Record Store Day UK for the third successive year. Last year the BID joined forces with Newport independent record store Diverse Vinyl to produce a free music and spoken word festival in the city centre. The event was so successful that we are repeating it next month. Newport’s Record Store Day festival on Saturday, April 13, is funded by Newport Now and curated by Charles Street-based Diverse Vinyl. The festival takes place across five city centre venues and all performances, mainly from Welsh acts, are free of charge. Prior to the live shows, Record Store Day will kick off at Diverse Vinyl’s shop from 9.30am until 4pm. Limited edition vinyl releases from top artists will be available to buy. The vinyl rarities are the basis of Record Store Day, encouraging people to use their local independent record store.
Hoodoo Gurus’ Dave Faulkner, Kate Ceberano and More Announced As Australian Record Store Day Ambassadors: JUST IN: The 12th Australian Record Store Day is set to be a big one. The internationally recognised celebration of supporting recorded music has named Hoodoo Gurus Dave Faulkner, Australian music legend Kate Ceberano and NSW rock band Hockey Dad as Australia’s 2019 ambassadors. Held on Saturday 13th April Record Store Day has sales, rarities and pop up gigs across the world in your favourite record store. Internationally, Pearl Jam have been named as the international ambassadors. For more info visit: www.recordstoreday.com.au
Can a 34-year-old Canadian business school dropout rescue Britain’s HMV? British newspapers are calling Doug Putman a “saviour” who will rescue the nation’s iconic music brand, HMV. But don’t tell him that. “I’m starting to blush,” says the 34-year-old entrepreneur with a shy smile, standing inside one of the 85 Sunrise Records stores he owns in Canada. “I just keep saying I feel lucky that we were able to do it.” Just how lucky he is, though, remains to be seen. He’s gambling millions of dollars, betting he can turn around the fortunes of 100 failing stores on the other side of the ocean, in what many experts consider a dying industry. The young businessman, soon to be a first-time father, is making regular trips to London to meet with HMV staff at its head office. He needs to get everyone at the company on board with his strategy to restore the ailing brand to health.
Albuquerque, NM | UNM Fine Arts Library launches vinyl record exhibit: They say that vinyl is making a comeback, but at the University of New Mexico, it never left. That’s what the UNM Fine Arts and Design Library wants to show. It’s new “Archives in the Grooves” exhibit currently showcases the school’s nearly 20,000 piece record collection. It covers an outstanding legacy of musical history and culture. You can catch the exhibit at the library through April 30.
Manchester, UK | Manchester’s lost shops: A department store with a farm in the basement and the record shop at the heart of Northern Soul: The Spin Inn: This city centre record shop was pivotal to the Northern Soul scene in the 60s and 70s. It was originally based on Cross Street before moving to Pall Mall and was the north’s main import specialist, bringing in soul and dance records from America and Europe. It was nominated by music-lover Melvin Thornley, who said it stocked all the sounds that Manchester soul fans were looking for. “His side window had Tamla Motown singles in their orange sleeves, including The Four Tops,” he wrote. “These were not in the national chart but sold like mad in Manchester.”
