Boise, ID | Get in line for Record Store Day at The Record Exchange: Get ready to queue up! The Record Exchange, Idaho’s “largest independent music store, steadfastly expanding Idaho’s musical boundaries since 1977,” is celebrating Record Store Day with a l-o-n-g weekend-long celebration starting on Thursday, April 18 until Sunday, April 20. The Record Exchange has been celebrating Record Store Day since 2008 during the Great Recession. It was originally created to remind communities of the joys of gathering to share the experience of music in a record store. Exclusive records are released throughout the weekend, much to the delight of vinyl lovers and spin doctors who wait for the annual event with much anticipation.
Liverpool, UK | Liverpool to host one of the UK’s biggest Record Store Day events next week: Record collectors across the north-west will be delighted to learn that one of the biggest Record Store Day events is being held in Liverpool next week. Record Store Day is an annual event where independent record stores across the UK feature exclusive vinyl releases. You’ll find never-before-released albums, reissues of rare classics, and alternative versions of fan favourites. Liverpool’s own Jacaranda Record Store is gearing up to host one of the UK’s biggest Record Store Day events. At 8:00 AM, Jacaranda Record Store on Slater Street will open its doors, allowing people to get their favourite Record Store Day finds. In the past, eager fans have lined up from the early hours of the morning to ensure they get exactly what they’re after. Those who arrive early this year will receive more than just a guarantee they get their desired Record Store Day picks.
Landsdowne, PA | Record Store Day at Vinyl Revival: Vinyl Revival celebrates Record Store Day, the international day to celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store, on April 20, 2024, from 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Vinyl Revival will stock titles that are Record Store Day Exclusives, RSD First titles, and Small Run/Regional Titles. As part of the Record Store Day celebration, there will be a pop-up shop featuring rock ‘n’ roll pillows by Tamme Handmade. Each item is lovingly made by textile artist Tamme McClelland whose creative imagination goes into every design. Receive free Record Store Day promotional merch with a $50 purchase while supplies last. Enjoy complimentary light refreshments and drinks. Additionally, everyone who makes a purchase will receive a coupon for 20% off a future purchase (some restrictions apply). Here’s how the line works…
UK | Some Scottish vinyl to tempt fans on Record Store Day: It’s Record Store Day next Saturday and on Thursday I finally bit the bullet and started opening all the boxes that have been arriving over the last week. We don’t order the vast amount of stock favoured by some shops but we still had more than 40 boxes to open with a few more to arrive. Scottish bands are not particularly well represented and the bigger Scottish labels don’t really get involved in Record Store Day these days but there are still some interesting releases tempting folk to get involved. The most Avalanche related release comes from The Gentle Waves, which was the solo project of Isobel Campbell, then of Belle and Sebastian. Swansong For You was her second album originally released in 2000 and not pressed on vinyl since that time.
Kansas City, MO | Proudly analog, a Missouri family business keeps cassette tapes alive for new generations: In the past decade music cassette tapes have experienced a revival. Sales have increased more than 440% and popular artists like Taylor Swift are releasing new music on this old analog format. Some people may be surprised to learn that cassette tapes are even still a thing. It’s been a rocky road for the medium over the decades. The industry took a hit when the compact disc came along. And now downloading, streaming and digital formats dominate the media landscape. But defying the odds, cassette tapes have held on. They now enjoy support not only from nostalgic cassette diehards but also from a growing number of new young fans. “The demographic driving the popularity of the audio cassette is not nostalgic about audio cassettes,” says Steve Stepp, who owns National Audio Company in Springfield, Missouri. “They weren’t around when audio cassettes were the big thing.”
Gwynedd, UK | Music lover inspired by vinyl revival opens his own record store in Gwynedd town: Tim Rosa is helping the record store revival as vinyl makes a comeback. Tim Rosa grew up in the 80s and had a fascination with music. His first ever record was a 7″ vinyl of Pet Shop Boys’ “Always on My Mind” and he later fell in love with bands like Oasis, the Rolling Stones and The Kinks. While he started on vinyl, like most he progressed into tapes and CDs – something he regretted later on. This period also saw the demise of record stores across North Wales and much of the UK. Shops like HMV disappeared from North Wales high streets and local names like Kavern Records in Llandudno, Cob Records in Bangor and Wrexham’s Phase One also went. Ten years ago Tim’s affinity for vinyl resurfaced and within a few years he had collected thousands of records. He was then inspired to open his own record store – with The Definitely Maybe opening in Pwllheli last summer, selling men’s (and now women’s) clothes alongside vinyl.
Bowling Green, OH | Goat Records offers accessible prices for collectors: A new spin was put on the college town of Bowling Green with the addition of Goat Records on West Wooster. “I spent like $60 on opening day,” Hudson Tafelski, a 22-year-old senior studying Construction Management at Bowling Green State University, said about the Saturday grand opening of the new, used records store. There, he stocked up on vinyl records he had been wanting or just found interesting. Walking into the nooky store, Mr. Tafelski had in mind some of the sounds of the sixties and seventies. “I was looking for Led Zeppelin, and I got two of them,” he said, walking out with House of the Holy and Led Zeppelin II. His luck was strong, and he ended up coming back a second time on that same day for curious finds. “We look at it, and if the art looks cool, we’ll get it,” Mr. Tafelski said, speaking for himself and his friend, who also racked up some of his own finds.
Sacramento, CA | Construction begins at former Tower Records site in Sacramento. Take a look back in time. There’s a new future in store for the former site of the iconic Tower Records building on Sacramento’s Broadway strip. Construction crews were excavating the site at 2500 16th St., on Wednesday morning, preparing for a new multi-use building that will combine apartments and retail space. The site at the corner of Land Park Drive and Broadway was once home to one of Tower Records’ earliest store locations. Considered a local landmark, the single-story brick building neighbored Tower Café, Tower Liquor and Tower Real Estate. After becoming a Dimple Records store, the building was demolished in 2019. …“At its peak, Tower grew to more than 200 locations in 20 states and 18 countries, and more than 1 billion annual sales,” the Tower Records website said, describing the iconic Sacramento company as a “global brand with a clear and compelling vision.”
Usk, UK | Blue Llama vinyl records opens in Burlesque hair company: Business partners in Usk have expanded their business by adding another venture to their establishment. David Coltherd and business partner Stuart Nicholson have owned Burlesque Hair company on Bridge Steet in Usk for 40 years. Alongside their salon in USK, they have one in Caerleon and one in Newport but have now expanded their business at their USK site by opening a vinyl record store within the hair salon. Blue Llama Vinyl Records opened Tuesday, April 2 and David told the South Wales Argus about his community of businesses within a business idea. He said: “We have recognised with all the changes with modern businesses such as high rising costs and staffing levels, that we had to look at ways to develop into a new way of thinking. “That way is to have a community of businesses within a business, using your current space in more effective ways to generate new income but also giving a client experience.
