Newton Abbot, UK | Store celebrates independent record shops day: An independent record store in Newton Abbot is preparing to celebrate all things vinyl for this year’s Record Store Day. Phoenix Sounds will be throwing open its doors on Saturday April 20 from 8am for the annual event which supports independent music shops. Known for its eclectic mix of music, Phoenix Records is poised to offer a range of exclusive releases from Kate Bush to Neil Young. Owner Roger Cox and his team have planned a series of live performances at the Queen Street shop on the day. Roger said: ‘We are eagerly anticipating Record Store Day. ‘This will be our second year and it is a chance to revel in our love for music and to offer some truly unique and sought-after releases. ‘Since it started, Record Store Day has really shown how much independent record stores mean to music lovers and communities everywhere.’ Performing on the day will be local singer Olivia Rose and Steve Cooper will be attending with his ‘Retrospective’ DJ set.
Yorkshire, UK | Country’s oldest vinyl only shop celebrates 30th anniversary with record release and sale: After 30 years Steve Mathie is still in the groove. The owner of Spin It Records runs what’s thought to the country’s oldest vinyl only record shop. Steve, from Hatfield, who has a stall on Hull’s Trinity Market, discovered at school that vinyl could be a good business. “I was 13 and I had a single, Kung Fu Fighting, and one of my class friends wanted it – he offered me three Elvis singles and two posters for the single. I thought there was a business to be had here.” Steve has since survived vinyl dipping out of popularity, when people were only buying CDs, recessions and most recently Covid. These days it’s not just the middle-aged rediscovering their passion for vinyl and rebuilding scratched collections. Younger fans have also caught the bug. Steve says they want “something tangible to hold and talk about”. They go for 1980s music – Duran Duran, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Spandau Ballet. He said: “Ten years ago the average age of the customers must have been 47—now it’s 27.”
Tavistock, UK | Tavistock vinyl shop tunes up for celebration: A Tavistock record shop owner is advising vinyl lovers to get up early on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 20, as queues for specially pressed recordings are likely to be in high demand. John Chapple, who runs Rival Records in Paddons Row, will be one of 250 independent record shops from all over the UK are expected to take part, with thousands more celebrating across the globe in what’s become one of the biggest events in the music calendar. Some shops will have live music on Record Store Day and all will have an exciting range of exclusive and limited-edition releases. The recordings are often previously unreleased live sets on sometimes novelty vinyl, such as light-up plastic. John, who used to manage an HMV shop, said: “Interest in vinyl has boomed, not only among older people like me who are reliving their youth and seen the fall and rise of vinyl, but also among young people who have never seen vinyl before.”
Stratford, CA | Sound Fixation celebrates new downtown home: Popular Stratford record store in midst of moving from previous Market Square location. A beloved Stratford record store will be opening its doors once again on April 20 in a brand-new location in the city’s downtown. Sound Fixation will be celebrating its grand reopening at at 4 George St. W. with Giving Thanks 420xRSD Dance Party, a special event being held in partnership with the Revival Vinyl Society crew at the Revival House. The free April 20 event will feature vinyl DJ sets from the Revival Vinyl Society, so attendees should expect lots of great music, dancing and fun. The party will also help mark Sound Fixation’s move from its previous location beside Allen’s Alley in Market Square to its new home. Trevor Worsell, the owner of Sound Fixation, got unexpected news in early March that Sound Fixation would have to move.
Oxford, OH | Where to shop this Record Store Day: April 20, also known as Record Store Day, has been on the calendars of record collectors for quite some time now. However, after the closing of Black Plastic, collectors in Oxford were left without a local record store. Record Store Day occurs twice a year, once on Black Friday, and again in the spring. Many local record stores participate, selling limited releases that are only available that day. Artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, The Beatles and Paramore are all participating in this year’s Record Store Day with exclusive releases. Despite Oxford’s current lack of a record store, collectors can still participate in the event by visiting a handful of nearby stores—even if they aren’t in Oxford.
Tacoma, WA | Tacoma’s Bread Truck Records Delivers Slices of Music With Mobile Vinyl Record Store Events: Arising number of even tech-savvy music lovers are finding their way back to old-school vinyl records as a way to own their collections rather than rely on the whines of streaming services to feed their need for tunes. And even younger music lovers are finding the benefits of vinyl albums. “It became a new option for that generation in a lot of ways,” said Tacoma’s Bread Truck Records owner Alan Chalfant. The record revival also allows bands to sell directly to customers and for fans to get “bonus content” that doesn’t come from streaming music, such as punchout puzzles, posters, photo albums, and liner notes, or that records are routinely pressed in various colors. Two issues, however, stand in the way of the resurgence of vintage albums. Brick-and-mortar record stores might not be convenient, and online options might be hit or miss on quality by offering scratched or worn records at pristine prices.
Blackpool, UK | Abingdon Street Market to host its second record fair: Inertial Sounds Record Fair Returns to Abingdon Street Market, Blackpool, Coinciding with Record Store Day. Inertial Sounds Record Fair is set to return to Abingdon Street Market in Blackpool on Saturday, April 20th, aligning with the annual Record Store Day in the UK. The event offers a perfect opportunity for vinyl enthusiasts to enjoy the day by visiting local Record Store Day participating shops and then continue exploring at the record fair to browse through crates of musical treasures. Visitors can expect a diverse range of music stalls, featuring a variety of offerings including vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, merchandise, memorabilia, and Hi-Fi equipment. In addition to the music selection, there will be DJ sets and food and beverage options available at the food hall within Abingdon Street Market. Working in collaboration with local and national record dealers, the fair aims to accommodate various budgets by presenting a wide array of items, from affordable music pieces to rare collectibles.
Billie Eilish Explains the ‘Huge Responsibility’ to Make New Album ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ Her Most Eco-Friendly Yet: “If I don’t use [my] privilege to do some good in the world, then what’s the point?” says the superstar. …“My parents have always kept me well informed and hyper aware that every choice we make and every action we take has an impact somewhere or on someone, good or bad, and that has always stuck with me,” she continues. “I can’t just ignore what I know and go about my business and career and not do something. That’s just not how I was raised, or how I want to live my life.” To coincide with the album announcement, Eilish has updated her website’s homepage to include a sustainability tab, offering a transparent breakdown of the album’s many eco-friendly innovations when it comes to physical product, from vinyl and CDs to merchandise. It’s the culmination of her yearslong efforts to change the music industry from within, as she and her mother, Maggie Baird, have been fighting for more sustainable practices across the business from day one.
Binghamton, NY | Vinyl Record & CD Fair comes to Broome County Regional Farmer’s Market: On Sunday, a Vinyl Record & CD Fair was held at the Broome County Regional Farmer’s Market. Those who attended the event were treated to vinyls and CDs from all eras of music from a variety of vendors. Vendors hailed from across the state as well as Pennsylvania. Fair Organizer Jack Skutnick said in terms of genres of music, just about everything was up for sale. “You could find rock music, you could find easy listening, you could find early rock and roll or metal,” said Skutnick. “Our saying is we sell everything from bock to rock from pop to punk and everything that’s in between.” Skutnick added these events have gained steam in recent years with younger generations showing a particular interest in vinyls. “10 years ago you would have come here and it would have been all gray hair and no hair,” said Skutnick. “Now you look around and there’s a lot of young people.”
