Leigh, UK | Iconic records store in Leigh considers closing after 46 years: “Use us or lose us” is the message from an iconic records store in Leigh that is considering closing after 46 years of business. Sandra Bennett, 58, and dad Peter Driscoll, 83, are owners of Fives Records in Leigh’s Broadway. This week, Sandra put out a heartfelt plea to the residents of Leigh about the struggles they have been facing over the past few months. Fives Records first opened in Leigh back in 1977, which after just a year they outgrew so moved into a bigger premises where they stayed for 25 years. They later moved to 103 Broadway, where they have remained ever since. A second branch opened in Rayleigh in 1981,although that closed back in 2006. Sandra has admitted things have been “worse than ever” and they are now considering closing the Leigh site for good.
San Francisco, CA | Richmond’s Throwback Record Shop Keeping SF’s Spirit Alive: NOISE is a compact retail shop on the Balboa Street corridor in the Outer Richmond. Within its tiny storefront is a world full of music lives; huge sounds, rhythms, beats, melodies all coexist within these walls. NOISE is a throwback from the ’60s with a modern twist. It is an intergenerational family-run business. It is a treasure trove of vinyl records, an art gallery and live music venue. NOISE first opened its doors in 2015. “NOISE is a representation of what I remember San Francisco in the ’60s to be,” said Sara Johnson. Johnson, born and raised in the City, is the mother of the owner of NOISE, Daniel Brown, a collector of albums since he was six. Brown does all the purchasing of the vinyl records, and he is also a professional musician and saxophonist. “It’s what I remember San Francisco being, in terms of the artwork, the music, the camaraderie,” Johnson said.
Rockford, IL | IL music fans excited for reopening of popular record store: After much anticipation, one of Rockford’s favorite shops has risen from the ashes of a tragic fire that destroyed the business. It’s funny, the other day someone asked me where I like to go shopping. I’m a pretty simple guy, so my list is relatively short. I basically like to go to record stores. When I’m on vacation, that’s what I’m looking up to check out. Luckily, Rockford is home to a few. There’s nothing like popping into a local music shop and spending some time walking around. I’ve spent many a day hanging out at CD Source. I’ve followed them around to their different locations throughout the years. If they served food, I don’t think I would ever leave. You can easily tell by my wardrobe that most of my extra money goes to buy music.
Liverpool, UK | New vinyl store Matsuri Records opens in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle: It may be small but it promises an impressive selection of new and second-hand vinyl records. A small but perfectly formed vinyl record store specialising in international music has opened its doors in Liverpool’s vibrant Baltic Triangle. Tucked away on Kings Dock Street, next door to Black Lodge Brewery, Matsuri Records promises to be a haven for music aficionados and record collectors alike. With an impressive selection of new and second-hand vinyl records and an emphasis on international and world music, the shop is the perfect hub for those seeking new releases and rare finds. Owners Craig and Paul have forged partnerships with some of their favourite record labels, including Mr Bongo, Analog Africa, Soundway, Domino, Warp and Light In The Attic. The store will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12-5pm, perfect for having a browse before going for a bevvie.
Bridgeport, WV | Vinyl record store in Bridgeport sees booming sales in opening months: For the last several months, a Bridgeport business has been booming along Main Street by offering an old product that has had a rebirth in the past decade. Right before Christmas last year, Roundabout Records opened on Main Street. It’s a store that specializes in vinyl records. Vinyl records were a staple for decades before falling out of style, but over the last decade, vinyl record sales have soared. Roundabout Records is owned by Christopher Lacaria, a 2002 graduate of Bridgeport High School and teacher at North View Elementary School. “We specialize in the rare and obscure, but that’s not to say that’s it. We have something for anyone,” said Lacaria, who works at the store with his wife, Emily. Lacaria says the records available stretch from Taylor Swift to Captain Beefheart and everything in between. “We have roughly 3,000 albums. I don’t want to overwhelm you with quantity, but quality.”
Bridgeport, WV | Bridgeport High Grad Opens up Roundabout Records at Market on Main as City Now Part of Vinyl Comeback: For the last several months, a Bridgeport business has been booming. And it has been booming right along Main Street offering an old product that has had a rebirth in the past decade. Right before Christmas, Roundabout Records opened on Main Street. Although they are not a one-trick pony, the specialty of the shop is vinyl records. For those who do not know, vinyl records were a staple for decades before cassettes, compact discs, and then digital formats of music pushed it to the side. Over the last decade, vinyl records and their sales have soared. A recent report from the Recording Industry Association of America showed $1.2 billion in purchases in 2022, which is a 20 percent jump from last year. Even more impressive, for the first time since 1988, the same report said records outsold CDs.
Resident Advisor relaunches Community Connections in Montreal and Copenhagen: The event series will spotlight and platform the work of local collectives, community spaces, record stores and radio stations. Resident Advisor is relaunching its global event series RA Community Connections (RA CC) later this week. Organised by our 35-plus Global Contributor Network (GCN), RA CC will span in-store networking events, interviews with local artists on radio stations and free workshops in various cities around the world. The events will happen with the help of our city managers, who live and breathe their local scenes. The series launches this Sunday, June 11th, in Montreal. Vinyl institution La Rama Records and local station Shift Radio will take over Osmo x Marusan café. The event will combine a pop-up record store with a livestream featuring local DJs.
I love second-hand vinyl shopping – but don’t leave record stores without doing this: For the love of vinyl, get them out of sleeves and let light guide you. …It might seem obvious, and perhaps it’s already part of your crate-digging process, but you’d be surprised (or not, perhaps) how many people I see tucking records under their arms and heading to the checkout and handing over a card without even pulling the vinyl from their sleeves to see their condition or asking the owner to play them. Just because it’s being sold in a physical shop on a high street or at a market or whatever, as opposed to on eBay or Discogs, doesn’t mean it’s in ‘mint’ or even ‘very good’ condition – even if the cover is in good nick (which, to be fair, is often a good indicator of whether the record inside is too). If you’ve found a bargain you think is too good to be true, it might just well be. Shop owners are oft experts, of course – they know how to price records depending on their condition and, therefore, worth.
