Lockhart, TX | Plum Creek Records & Tapes new for musical finds in Lockhart: Everything from $1 used albums to rare finds priced much higher, Plum Creek Records & Tapes hopes to hit touch the musical hearts of Lockhart. The store, owned by Max Yancy and Grace Reyer, had a soft opening for much of May but is bustling now with a full slate of material in its cozy business. Customers were seen on a recent day thumbing through the variety of albums PCR&T has obtained, some through co-op agreements with Antone’s Record Shop in Austin as well as consignment through local collectors. Plum Creek Records & Tapes will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., and Friday from 1-6 p.m. The store will offer new and used albums, with its focus to stock local artists such as RF Shannon, Chazz and Emile Bessette, Rattlesnake Milk, Jane Leo, and others.
Loves Park, IL | After Losing Everything In A Fire, CD Source Is Set To Open In A New Space In Loves Park: Before he decided to rebuild both his business and his extensive collection of CDs and records, Brian Bowman took time to grieve the loss of a shop he had grown over more than a quarter century. CD Source, located inside the former Park Theatre at 5723 N. Second St., was destroyed in an electrical fire last September. Then it was demolished and cleared away because of safety and nuisance concerns. “It’s not a person, obviously, but I went through the same sort of stages,” Bowman said. Now Bowman is on the cusp of a new stage. He’s preparing to reopen CD Source in a new location at 5704 N. Second St., just across the street from the shop he ran for years after moving from downtown Rockford. The new site will open at 11 a.m. Monday. …He said rebuilding the original store would have been too expensive, but they found a fitting location across the street that could be remodeled.
Chicago, IL | Wild Prairie Vinyl & Vintage is closing in June: Gossip Wolf has been fond of Wild Prairie Vinyl & Vintage since it opened in KStarke’s old spot at 1109 N. Western in late 2017, so it’s no fun to report that co-owners Natasha Rac and Alex Gonzales will permanently close Wild Prairie on Sunday, June 11. Gonzales says the couple have been feeling burned out and talking about closing up for a while. “We just had to tear the Band-Aid off,” he says. “It’s our decision. It’s not about money—it’s time to move on.” Rac and Gonzales have been selling off their vintage stock to local shops, and they’re in talks with several record stores about buying their inventory of 25,000 records. Depending on how those deals shake out, Wild Prairie may hold closing sales, and Gonzales says they’ll host a farewell party. “We’re trying to figure out everything right now,” he says. “It’s literally a day-to-day operation.”
Port Orchard, WA | Record store takes a spin in downtown PO: Of all the collections accumulated by one of Port Orchard’s newest business owners, none brought more of a smile to the face of Julian Maltby than his extensive assortment of vinyl records. It’s a passion that he grew up with in the walls of a record store operated by his father. As his passion grew for the dated music format, the music industry rediscovered vinyl as a viable product. Today, vinyl continues to thrive in an entertainment economy that left it for dead just a few decades earlier. “There’s lots of interest for vinyl coming back up for years and years,” he said. “As of 2022, according to NPR, it took over all of the media sales, physical sales in the industry.” The rise in popularity, along with a continued love for music, motivated Maltby to start a new venture as a business owner. By the end of June, C-Side Records is expected to open in downtown Port Orchard.
Middlesbrough, UK | Vinyl record plant hailed ‘true Middlesbrough success story’ less than 18 months after launch: Press On Vinyl created tens of thousands of vinyl records a month from its warehouse at the Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park. An internationally acclaimed vinyl record plant has been hailed as a ‘true Middlesbrough success story.’ Less than 18 months after opening, Press On Vinyl has already produced tens of thousands of vinyl records a month, described as the ‘best quality in the world.’ Based at the Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park (TeesAMP), Press On’s directors had originally planned to create a small DIY operation to press small amounts of vinyl for their record label, Goosed Records. …They saw an opportunity to transform the large factory into an efficient business for music lovers. The space now boasts four specially engineered pressing machines, a lathe, a laboratory and even a sound mastering studio and rehearsal space.
Minneapolis, MN | Making Vinyl Conference Spins Into Minneapolis: Plymouth-based Copycats Media will host the sixth annual vinyl record conference, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the LP format and Prince’s 65th birthday. Calling all vinyl enthusiasts: The nation’s biggest conference dedicated to the making of vinyl records, the Making Vinyl Conference, is coming to Minneapolis from June 7–8 at the Loews Minneapolis Hotel. Hosted by The ADS Group (whose subsidiary company, Copycats Media, opened Minnesota’s first major record-pressing facility last year), the industry centered trade show will feature numerous panels and presentations to discuss the future of vinyl, including panelists Dawn and Jim Novak of Electric Fetus, who will represent the “Women in Vinyl” and “Minneapolis Love Vinyl” panels respectively. Hot topics of discussion will span trends related to manufacturing, marketing, and sustainability. This year’s conference will notably celebrate 75 years of the LP format as well as commemorate the birthday of Minneapolis’s own pop star: Prince.
Melton, UK | Special attraction at Melton’s latest record fair this weekend: A talented saxophonist who has a link with a legendary band will be busking at Melton’s latest record fair on Saturday. Drew Stanstall will be performing at the event, at the Stockyard on the town’s livestock market site, which is free to attend, 10am to 2pm. He is taking a break from touring with the Neville Staple Band, which is fronted by the former member of The Specials, who had huge hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Organiser, Chris Popple, said: “It’s fantastic that Drew is taking time out to come see us at the fair in Melton. “Having him at the record fair is something special for Melton and for us involved in the event.” Chris will also be playing vinyl records on a set of 1980s disco record decks. Traders will be selling vinyl and CDs and visitors can bring their own records and memorabilia to get a free valuation from dealers. Parking is free via gate eight on Nottingham Road.
Cork, IE | Vinyl collectors will be gathering at a Cork market for the Record and CD Fair: Ready to find the needle in the haystack? If you’re in the mood for immersing yourself in the world of dusty albums, on the hunt for a hidden gem, or perhaps eager to sell off or exchange some of your vinyl collection, the Vinyl Record and CD fair takes place at The Marina Market Cork on Saturday, June 10th. Organised by Record Fairs United IE, the event promises to be a haven for vinyl enthusiasts and music lovers who are up to the challenge of sifting through the stacks to find the one that friends and family will be hearing about (and listening to) for years to come. And don’t worry if you start feeling a little peckish after a while, there are plenty of food trucks and stalls about to keep you fed and watered all day.
Audio-Technica shares Sound Burger release date and three new colours: Listen to your records on the go. Audio-Technica has unveiled the release date and three new colour options for its Sound Burger portable turntable. Following the success of the Sound Burger’s sold-out limited run for Audio-Technica’s 60th-anniversary celebrations last year, the company is now introducing black and white versions, with a yellow colourway set for release this summer. While the Sound Burger is portable, it offers Bluetooth and RCA connectivity for both wired and wireless listening. The Sound Burger has a die-cast aluminium alloy platter with a damping design, a 12-hour battery life, and a replaceable ATN3600L stylus. Accessories such as a 45 RPM adapter, an RCA audio cable (3.5 mm male to dual RCA male), and a USB cable for charging (USB Type-A / USB Type-C™) are also included in the package.
