Leicester, UK | New record shop owner ‘completely overwhelmed’ after flying start: Vinyl Shakedown Records was opened in Burbage by a friend of the Nervous Records owner: A Hinckley musician who opened a vinyl record shop earlier this month says he’s been “completely overwhelmed” by the support of the local community and beyond. Singer, former DJ and avid record collector Grant Decker launched Vinyl Shakedown Records in Burbage, in the hope of continuing the legacy of his friend, Nervous Records owner Gordon Hayes, who died in January this year. Grant, who lives in the town with his young family, had known Gordon for 10 years and said he was a great friend. “He did so much for music in Hinckley and around the Midlands. People travelled for hundreds of miles just to go to his shop. I can only imagine that he would want a record shop to continue in our area.” Having started spinning the decks in 1998, Grant spent a number of years DJing, and during that time amassed a huge collection of thousands of records.
Ocean View, DE | Shock Vinyl expands inventory: Since opening in early February, Shock Vinyl Record & Music store, tucked inside a corner building in downtown Milford, has continued to increase its inventory. Customers who came into the store to browse have returned to see their own personal record collections on consignment. That’s boosted inventory for store owner Marc Clery, a longtime photojournalist who retired from the industry last year to pursue his retirement dream of selling music and collectibles. The record selection includes The Beatles, Rolling Stones and jazz performers who were recorded on first pressing Blue Note and Impulse record labels. Clery said he is delighted to have these incredible albums in his bins alongside his own impressive collection. “Most of the records are excellent to mint condition, which is great for customers purchasing vintage vinyl,” he said. “I’ve also purchased hundreds of new and vintage albums from classic pop and rock bands since opening in February this year.”
Annapolis, MD | The Annapolis play inside a vinyl record store: In 2023, there’s a certain romance to stepping inside a vinyl record shop; turn back the clock, turn on the turntable, connect with folks in your town, and play the music you love. At Ka-Chunk Records in Annapolis, there’s another kind of ‘play.’ Bob Bartlett teaches theater at Bowie State University. He likes to write plays meant to be viewed and acted in unorthodox places – like in a laundromat and in the woods. The record store will be the site of his romantic comedy, Love and Vinyl. “There’s a history of families passing down vinyl, generation after generation. That’s part of the heart of the play, that this means all so much to so many,” said Bartlett. The setting, actors say, adds to the intimacy of the production.
Toledo, OH | Toledo’s Culture Clash Keeps The Art Form Of Collecting Alive: From the furthest corner of Ohio comes a record shop dedicated to diversifying not only their shelves but everyone who walks through their doors. Culture Clash is located in the heart of Toledo and has withstood the test of time and continues to grow and expand its reach with every passing day. The shop has become a favorite among locals through the in-store concerts and meticulous curation process that lines their store with a fantastic selection of LPs. Along with selling everything from stereo equipment to vinyl cleaning supplies, Culture Clash has dedicated its space to true collectors and newcomers all the same while keeping the music at the center of it all.
Huntsville, AL | 5 shops to visit in Downtown Huntsville’s Clinton Row: Maxwell’s Music. Clinton Row is one of downtown Huntsville’s best kept secrets that more people need to know about. Keep scrolling to learn more about the unique shops you’ll find in Clinton Row and how to find it. Another reason Clinton Row reminds me of Lowe Mill: it has a record store. Maxwell’s Music is a stacked record shop full of treasure tucked away in Clinton Row. I had a lovely time browsing this selection of quality, older records and chatting with owner Jared Maxwell. He has been curating his vinyl collection for 20 years and has been at Clinton Row since 2018. His top priorities are quality and condition (no record will have a scratch on it—impressive for a nothing-new record shop).
Marquette, MI | Vinyl record show returning to Ore Dock Brewing Co.: The show will run from Thursday to Sunday from noon to close. The vinyl record show is returning for another year at the Ore Dock Brewing Co. in Marquette. The 4-day event will house thousands of vinyl records with a variety of musical artists, both classic and modern. The event will also feature other types of media such as cassette tapes, 8-tracks, and CDs, as well as books, posters, and t-shirts. Food trucks will also be present during the show, and live musical performances will begin in the evening. Teichman says the record show will also host “mass media trivia night” at 6:00 pm on Sunday. The show will run Thursday through Sunday from noon to close each night at the Ore Dock Brewing Co.
Portland, OR | Record Store Bathroom Has “Staff Picks” Written Next to Certain Urinals: Local record store Death and Waxes added “staff pick” signs at certain urinals in their restroom to let customers know which ones are preferred among employees, sources who honestly couldn’t tell the difference between any of them confirmed. “Everything in this place has to be curated, including our own employees,” said shop owner Benjamin Huxton. “All staff picks vary from your average pisser to a sleek, 2023 reissue of the classic Sloan waterless urinal. Each one comes with a color-splashed urinal cake, some of which are rare versions that only sold in Japan. So far, they’re a hit among our customers and I would know as someone who waits in the restroom for hours at a time to see which urinal patrons select. Happy to report that almost 30% of the people use the staff pick ones. Huge success.” Employees of the store were eager to share the reasoning behind their picks.
Brussels, BE | Tintin creator’s vinyl collection and turntable set-up in Brussels: Georges Prosper Remi, known by the pen name Herge, was a Belgian cartoonist. He was also the brains behind the most popular European comic of the 20th century, ‘The Adventures of Tintin’. This comic makes people nostalgic even today and has influenced generations to come that weren’t even born during its publication. …Herge also fancied listening to music and also had strong opinions about it. This love for music is evident through the Tintin comics as well. Although he made quite a lot of references about opera in it, he wasn’t a big fan. He found it boring and said that it made him laugh. Something that he did like a lot however was pop and rock music, The Beatles and Pink Floyd were his favourites. He was also an audiophile and owned an entire record collection and a turntable setup. Both these momentos are now preserved in the ‘Herge Museum’ in Brussels.
