Tampa, FL | Check out this Gem of Tampa if you like vinyl records or 8-tracks: If you’re a fan of vinyl records or even 8-tracks, make sure to visit this Gem of Tampa Bay. Sound Exchange is a record store that’s been around since the 80s, with locations in Tampa and Pinellas Park. “What brings an instant memory back more than hearing a few notes of a song? I mean, that transports you immediately,” Sound Exchange General Manager Erin Stoy said. Inside, customers can browse through new and used CDs, cassette tapes, 45’s, 8-tracks, DVDs, VHS tapes, comic books and even video games. “There’s still life and there’s still value in these items,” Stoy said. “There’s no reason for any of this stuff to go into a dump or anything like that.” Stoy also said records and music from the 1980s have been becoming more popular. “I really enjoy seeing the young people come into the store and get excited,” she said.
Covington, GA | Candi Warhol’s provides ‘something for everybody’ with record, apparel collection: Illuminated by its ‘now spinning’ open sign, vibrant artwork and color scheme inspired by the ‘80s and ‘90s, Candi Warhol’s brings a new flare to the Covington Square. Owned by husband and wife Justin and Candice Dean, Candi Warhol’s sells an eclectic collection of records, apparel and skate gear, with a vision to provide a space for everyone to feel welcome. “We thought [Candi Warhol’s] would be something really cool to give to the community,” Candice said. “What’s the one thing regardless of your nationality, race, political views that can bring people together? It’s music, right?” As locals from the area who also collect records and skateboards, the idea of opening a store like Candi Warhol’s is something the Deans have considered for years. When their current storefront location at 1109 Floyd Street became vacant following the closure of a spa, the couple secured their tenancy, opening Candi Warhol’s for business on July 29. “We just got tired of driving an hour away to buy records, skateboards and apparel,” Justin said.
Evansville, IN | Evansville record store ranks among the top 10 in Indiana: One Evansville record store recently found itself among the top 10 best places to buy vinyl in the state! With the vinyl resurgence over the last few years, there are plenty of ways to get your hands on vinyl. You can flip through bins at the flea markets or thrift stores, and big box stores now carry new vinyl. My personal favorite way to buy vinyl is through an independent locally owned record store. Located off of Stringtown Road in Evansville sits an indie record store, Atmosphere Collectibles. Recently BestThingsinIN.com ranked in the top 10 record stores across the state and of course, many are in the Indianapolis area, but one in Evansville made the list! Here is what BestThingsinIN.com had to say about Atmosphere Collectibles: “Atmosphere Collectibles is a music lover’s paradise! With a huge collection of vinyl records, CDs, and tapes, visitors can buy, sell, trade music treasures. It’s the perfect place for anyone looking to add some classic music to their collection.”
Livonia, MI | Local Record Store Spotlight: Rock City Music Company In Livonia. Unlike other record stores I’ve spotlighted, Rock City Music Company in Livonia is a ton more than just vinyl. They’ve got T-shirts, musical gear from every instrument, to gig bags, strings, drum sticks and tons more. Plus, they also give music lessons to up-and-coming rockers. Since opened in 2015, Rock City Music Company has become a music mecca in the metro Detroit area. Along with Vinyl LPs/CDs, they have gear from Fender, Martin, Reverend, PRS, Gretsch, Ibanez, Orange, Ludwig to name a few, as well as in-house guitar and amp repair. Rock City Music Company is best known for our in-store signing events which has seen us welcome a variety of rock’s biggest names such as Geddy Lee (Rush), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Steve Gorman (Black Crowes), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Butch Walker, Buckcherry, Blackberry Smoke, Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper), Gary Holt (Exodus/Slayer) as well as Alice Cooper who will make his second appearance at Rock City Music Company on September 4th, 2023.
Cork, IE | ‘There’s something about dropping a needle’: why record shops are still players in the Spotify age: Streaming offers endless choice but shops such as Tower Records and indies like Plugd in Cork still draw devoted customers. We hear how stores are being powered by vinyl… and, in some cases, cuddly toys. Where’s the music? For decades, shiny CD covers greeted you in the door of any branch of a record store chain. But enter the recently reopened HMV on Dublin’s Henry Street today and pop culture merchandise is what you see first: Funko Pop figurines, plush toys, T-shirts.
Marquette, MI | Vinyl Record Show & Sale Coming During Blues Fest Weekend: The latest classic and new vinyl record extravaganza is coming Labor Day Weekend in Marquette. Jon Teichman, organizer of Geoff & Jon’s latest Vinyl Record Show & Sale, spoke about the event today with Mark & Walt in the Morning. Teichman said the show is extended for the holiday by one day, and will run from from Noon to close from Thursday, August 31st until Monday, September 4th at the Ore Dock Brewing Company at 114 W. Spring Street in downtown Marquette. He added that since the show is the same weekend as the Marquette Area Blues Fest, there will some special selections available for blues music fans to check out. The events are open to all, and will take place in the 2nd floor community room and is co-presented by the NMU Vinyl Record Club.
Pro-Ject unveils T2 W turntable with Wi-Fi connectivity: Play your vinyl via a lossless 24-bit / 48kHz signal. Pro-Ject has launched its latest turntable – the T2 W. Based on an updated version of the T1 turntable design, the T2 W is Pro-Ject’s first approach to Wi-Fi-powered streaming, allowing playback on multiple devices via a lossless 24-bit / 48kHz signal. The T2 W features a 9″ aluminium tonearm and a Sumiko Rainier moving magnet cartridge. Alongside Wi-Fi connectivity, it has a built-in MM phono stage. See the turntable below. The Pro-Ject T2 W is available from September and retails at £899.
Jupiter, FL | Inside the Revamped Double Roads Tavern: The reimagined Double Roads in Jupiter offers live performances, memorabilia, expanded menus, and more in its new, much larger location. A mere 50 feet from its previous location, Double Roads in Jupiter finally opened its doors to customers old and new in late January after going dark for almost two years. Owner Vince Flora shut down the long-standing local music lovers’ haunt in 2021 due to a combination of issues, from COVID to noise ordinances to a lack of sufficient parking. …Double Roads has a bit of everything: daily live music, a full-service restaurant, a record store with a vinyl inventory of more than 10,000, a music and memorabilia store, a pizzeria, and a membership-based speakeasy. “We took everything out, pulled the nails out, and recycled wood as much as possible,” Flora says of transforming the space. “I was the lead carpenter and designer. This is basically a culmination of all the things I always wanted to do but didn’t have the room for previously.”
Linda Ronstadt’s ‘Canciones de mi Padre’ reissued on vinyl for first time in 35+ years: “I’m very pleased to announce that we are re-releasing the vinyl edition of my first Spanish-language album, ‘Canciones de mi Padre,’” says Linda Ronstadt. “I’m very pleased to announce that we are re-releasing the vinyl edition of my first Spanish-language album, Canciones de mi Padre,” says Linda Ronstadt. “This music is like an old friend to me, and I hope the new generation of vinyl fans will enjoy it.” Iconic Artists Group (Iconic) will release Ronstadt’s Canciones de mi Padre on vinyl for the first time since the album’s initial release over 35 years ago. The September 8, 2023 vinyl release of Canciones de mi Padre was mastered by Bernie Grundman from the original digital mix tapes. The album packaging features each song’s Spanish lyrics with an English translation and a discussion of the history of the song or its significance to Ronstadt.
