Teesside, UK | Sound It Out Records, Stockton, announces sad closure: A well-known record and independent music store in Teesside has announced it will be closing at the end of this month in a heartbreaking social media post. Sound It Out Records in Stockton-on-Tees has confirmed with “great sadness” that it will be closing its doors for good on August 31. The store, on Yarm Street, is highly regarded as the only independent record shop in Teesside, and has amassed an impressive 8,000 followers online. The announcement comes just months after Sound It Out’s owner Tom Butchart, 50, sadly passed on June 9 in the shop despite the best effort of ambulance staff and colleagues. Tom’s wife Clare Butchart said in the statement the closure of the business is partly down to the loss of Tom, saying the store was his “baby.” The statement reads: “It is with great sadness I announce Sound It Out Records will cease trading from the 31st of August 2023. It has not been an easy decision.”
Minneapolis, MN | US hairdresser makes people look like rock stars at his salon and record shop: When he isn’t mistaken for Tommy Stinson of the Replacements, Jon Clifford has become one of the most recognised guys in the Twin Cities music scene in the United States. He doesn’t play music, though. Instead, the 58-year-old south Minneapolis native is in the business of trying to make other people stand out like rock stars. “I’m a goofy, skinny hairdresser who has a lot of really cool friends and clients”, is how he humbly put it. Through his HiFi Hair and Records near Loring Park in downtown Minneapolis – hair salon + record shop = genius – Clifford has become a beloved booster, cheerleader and benefactor within the local music scene. He’s sort of the Minneapolis equivalent of Los Angeles radio jockey Rodney Bingenheimer, a friendly fixture and superfan with a haircut as cool as his taste in music.
Oxford, MS | A crash course in Oxford’s art scene: For such a small city, Oxford is brimming with all sorts of artistic and cultural attractions, from art galleries to performance venues. Whether you’re looking to engage in some Faulkner appreciation, check out up-and-coming local acts or browse textile art, at least one spot in Oxford will have you covered. Here’s a mere taste of what Oxford has to offer in the arts and culture realm. The End of All Music Record Store: Specializing in both new and used vinyls, The End of All Music is an indie record store located on the Square. Aside from vinyls, the shop also sells a smaller selection of CDs and audio equipment. The End of All Music offers a wide selection of records, making the store a wonderful place to buy music from your favorite artists or to try out new ones.
Leicester, UK | Putting the needle on the funky record: Leicester project will document the stories behind the music. A Leicester-based arts organisation is to launch an innovative project to explore the cultural impact of UK independent record stores that specialised in Black music since 1950. 2Funky Arts has also put out a call for stories and memories to share, also for volunteers from across the country. Dubbed ‘The Record Store & Black Music, A UK History’ – the project will link in with Black History Month 2024- and further enhances the organisation’s ethos – to celebrate Black music, develop new artists and host events to showcase local talent in the community. Ten years ago, 2Funky Arts created Spectrum – a documentary exploring the history of Black music in Leicester, which unveiled a largely untapped era which laid the foundation for this new project. The organisation itself grew from 2Funky Records (1997-2012)—a specialist independent music store.
Bay View, WI | Wisconsin’s First Listening Lounge Planned for Bay View: A vinyl-focused lounge, bar and event space coming to former Lee’s Luxury Lounge. A new concept from The Vanguard owners Jim McCann and Chris Schulist will trade sausages for sound systems. The pair, along with partners Holly Doar, John Dykstra and John Kuester, plan to open a new, vinyl-focused listening lounge, bar and event space in the former Lee’s Luxury Lounge, 2988 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. The previous tavern, famously blessed by Lakefront Brewery co-founder Jim Klisch, closed in May after a 20-year run. The as-yet-unnamed business will include a bar and event space to complement the listening lounge — offering a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere where vinyl enthusiasts can enjoy food, drinks and community with fellow music lovers. “The idea is to be able to give our guests the opportunity to enjoy many different styles of music in a comfortable, welcoming environment,” McCann said in a statement.
Phoenix, AZ | On the creepiest block in metro Phoenix, it’s Halloween year-round. Meet the ringmasters: At the intersection of Alma School and Elliot roads in Chandler, it’s Halloween 365 days a year. You might not know it though. At first glance, it looks like just another suburban shopping area. But die-hard fans call it the horror corridor. …Asylum Records brings together horror and music fans. The interior of Asylum Records is big enough to house hundreds of CDs, vinyl records and memorabilia, but small enough to be inviting, and not overwhelming. Spare a glance upwards toward the ceiling and you’ll see dozens of autographed records, instruments and other memorabilia. At the center of the store sits a giant autographed pentagram that was once used as a tour and album cover prop by the ’70s-’80s punk band Plasmatics. The record store carries all types of music, but they also appeal to horror fans largely through in-store autograph signings and meet and greets with actors. On signing days, Robenalt moves aside some of the t-shirt displays to make room for the celebrities.
East Lothian, UK | Scotland’s first-ever vinyl pressing plant is under construction, Seabass Vinyl: It’ll open its doors this October in East Lothian. Scotland’s first major vinyl pressing plant is due to open this year from a family-run business in East Lothian, just outside of Edinburgh. Seabass Vinyl will begin taking orders from September 2023 ahead of its official opening in October, and initial plant commissioning from early November onwards. The pressing plant is said to be an independent, family-owned business from David and Dominique Harvey, with a mission to become one of the greenest pressing plants in the world, per Resident Advisor. Plans for the new plant were revealed last summer, confirmed by August 2022 after the pair signed the lease and submitted planning permission. …The sustainable plant went under construction in April, and is projected to open by October this year. “We’re artist-centric with an emphasis on quality and sustainability,” founders David and Dominique told Resident Advisor.
HGTV’s Christina Hall Brings Luxe Style To A Vinyl Record Collection: Christina Hall is known for her stylish designs and renovation ideas, which she regularly shares on her many HGTV shows. One such idea is a stunning storage and display solution for a rather expansive collection of vinyl albums in square covers. The effect is both functional and visually beautiful. In Season 1, Episode 6 of “Christina in the Country,” Hall used a wall of deep custom shelves placed beside a remodeled fireplace to both store the owner’s vinyl collection and create a stylish listening area in the corner of the living room. It’s a space that feels both part of the greater room’s design and also has its own cozy little listening nook with seating and accent lighting. Painted a stunning deep color, the shelves are built-in and intentionally designed to compactly and safely hold vinyl records with their 12-inch square dimensions. The albums themselves become signature pieces of art and personalize the space with the homeowners’ love of music.
Sunderland, UK | Sunderland indie bar to host night of vinyl alternative classics over bank holiday weekend: DJs at 7even in Derwent Street will be spinning vinyl on Sunday, August 27 ahead of the August bank holiday. A Sunderland bar is hosting an alternative vinyl night over the bank holiday weekend and will see two DJs go head to head. DJs at 7even in Derwent Street will be spinning vinyl on Sunday, August 27 ahead of the August bank holiday, for a special night of tunes played on record. 7even’s Spin Vinyl night will feature a stellar line up of indie and alternative classics, with music from Oasis to Wet Leg, as DJs Dave Redfearn and Jake Dury play back-to-back, showcasing some of their favourite tunes. The DJs, who share an appreciation of music on vinyl, both have extensive record collections and decided to host the night to share songs that they love in a format that they believe changes the way the music sounds.
