San Marcos, TX | Sundance Record Lagoon changes name and ownership: Well-known San Marcos vinyl shop Sundance Record Lagoon has a new owner and with it, a new name. Kevin Kotara took over ownership of the business in early August. Sundance Record Lagoon is now Sundance Records. Looking back: The vinyl shop’s original owner Bobby Barnard, who died in 2020, first opened the store in 1977 as Sundance Records & Tapes and sold records, tapes, CDs, posters and more. After several relocations around downtown San Marcos, the store closed in 2012. A former employee of Barnard’s, Tomas Escalante, reopened the store with help from Barnard’s wife, Nancy Barnard, in 2021. Kotara, who worked at the original Sundance in the nineties, has now taken over the business.
Washington, DC | Indie Record Store Profile: Home Rule Records in Washington, DC: As part of a series on independent record stores, Billboard looks at one of D.C.’s only Black-owned shops, where vice president Kamala Harris has been known to visit. WWhen Home Rule Records owner Charvis Campbell got a cold call from the Office of the Vice President of the United States on May 3, 2023, he felt the way most people would have when confronted by the same scenario: perplexed. “It felt like an interview, like a background check,” Campbell tells Billboard. “When we were done, I was like, ‘Wait, this is kind of weird.’” But the calls continued. Next, VP Kamala Harris’ representative asked if anyone from the Uptown Washington, D.C., record store would be in the shop that day and mentioned that someone from the office might stop by. Then, Campbell got another call from a different representative who strongly suggested he stick around. The next thing he knew, the Secret Service came to inspect the 2,700 sq. ft. independent record store—and then the vice president followed.
Puget Sound, WA | Spin zone: Stop by these record shops near the 1 Line: Just like the never-ending list of Washingtonian music talent, we’re keeping it going with part two of a few of our favorite record stores near 1 line stations. Sit back, relax, turn on some tunes (if multitasking’s your thing), and enjoy the next installment of Spin Zone. Westlake: Holy Cow Records. Holy cow, a record store in Pike Place Market?! That’s right, this aptly named used record store features some classic and rare vinyl’s in one of Seattle’s most iconic locations. Walk 0.2 miles away from Westlake station and take the plunge into this rabbit hole of a collection. Sub Pop Records on 7th: Sub Pop and grunge, like a cup of coffee and Seattle. This iconic record label known for signing bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney most definitely features their albums and a selection of other records at their store on 7th. 0.4 miles from the station, check out Sub Pop and maybe even bring home a slice of music history…
Sugar House, UT | Raunch Records Sugar House: A Destination for Vinyl Enthusiasts: Raunch Records, in Sugar House, is home to vintage vinyl records, skateboards, magazines, books, shirts, and anything else related to punk rock, free thought, and Salt Lake City’s subculture. Brad Collins moved into a small storefront on this community’s main street in late 2009 to relaunch Raunch Records, just as the attractive area began its transition into a densely populated downtown. His hole-in-the-wall shop at 1119 East 2100 South also feels densely populated—packed with vintage vinyl records, skateboards, stickers, magazines, books, shirts and anything else related to punk rock, free thought, and Salt Lake City’s subculture. Now in his mid-60s, Collins has been key to that subculture for more than four decades. But the longtime musician and former radio host of “Behind the Zion Curtain” said he pursued his passions out of sheer interest rather than rebellion against Utah’s dominant culture. “Really, I’m not that combative,” Collins said.
Manchester, UK | Noel Gallagher returns to iconic Manchester record shop as he marks milestone Oasis anniversary: Noel Gallagher has been looking back on the record that changed it all for the Manchester band. In a brand new interview released last night, Noel Gallagher has returned to the legendary Sifters Records in Manchester to reflect on Oasis’ iconic debut album Definitely Maybe. The former Oasis frontman spoke to musician and journalist John Robb at the record shop on Fog Lane in Burnage and recalled the story of how the seminal record came to be. The 30-minute film was issued just ahead of the record’s 30th anniversary which falls on Thursday, August 29. It also comes ahead of new limited edition versions being released too. In the film, Noel discusses the recording processes that led to the finished article of Definitely Maybe. He also calls Oasis as a band ‘made by the people’ and compares his and brother Liam’s performance styles. On the band’s success, he reflected: “To say to somebody in 1993, ‘Where’s guitar music going?’ They’re not going to go, ‘Right we want this f******* band from Manchester with a f****** singer who’s 19, lairy, he’s writing the songs, he’s ripping off everybody who’s f***** dead.
Sydney, AU | Why Ziggy Ramo turned to vinyl to share his message about righting past wrongs: Musician and writer Ziggy Ramo is among Australia’s rising stars turning to vinyl records to reach his fans. And the global vinyl trend shows no signs of slowing, with industry forecasts of sales doubling this decade. Australian singer Ziggy Ramo is giving an acoustic guitar performance at a small record store in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo. His songs — such as the track Sorry from his new album — feature themes of dispossession and colonisation. “Sorry means nothing if you do it again,” he sings to fans. “We’re the good guy, we like to pretend.” The song includes audio of former prime minister Kevin Rudd’s 2008 apology to the stolen generations. “The message of [the song] Sorry is that words have meaning,” says Ramo, 29. “Saying sorry means you don’t do it again. Right. And unfortunately, I think we as a nation are still grappling with really understanding what we’re apologising for.
Sydney, AU | Akin Atelier designs JAM Record Bar to feel like being “inside a giant speaker.” Pink plywood and exposed insulation combine in this monochrome bar in Sydney, designed by local architecture office Akin Atelier to evoke the cosy feel of Tokyo’s mid-century listening bars. Akin Atelier founder Kelvin Ho designed JAM Record Bar for Justin Hemmes, the CEO of the Merivale hospitality group, who also ran the music label JAM Recordings. A passion project for Hemmes and his sister Bettina, the bar is named after their parents John and Merivale, who used the JAM label for various ventures alongside their successful hospitality business. The idea for the bar came from a trip to Japan taken by Hemmes and Ho, where the pair enjoyed sampling the atmosphere of Tokyo’s iconic listening bars. “We wanted to create an immersive and fun environment,” said Ho, who has collaborated with Merivale for over 15 years on roughly 20 projects.
Sydney, AU | This music journalist amassed 50,000 records. Now he’s selling all of them. In an unassuming storage unit among the industrial blocks of western Sydney, a record collection apparently too vast to be counted is about to be auctioned off. Records, CDs, books, magazines, newspaper clippings and other rock music ephemera sit haphazardly on warehouse shelves as potential buyers sift through what is estimated to be over 80,000 items. The value of each item ranges from $20 books to rare records that could fetch closer to $20,000. The entire collection will go under the hammer on August 30, when a lucky bidder will become the owner of what could be Australia’s largest trove of rock music memorabilia. The seller is 72-year-old Glenn A. Baker, an eminent music journalist and commentator for over 200 magazines and the author of at least 16 of the books in his own collection. After more than 50 years of collecting, the sale of the building housing the storage unit has triggered Baker to sell his stash.
Carson, NV | Vinyl Pick-nic: Fourth Sunday Each Month. Join Will Houk from Carson City Community Radio 95.1FM KNVC for a lazy Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. as the BAC Exhibition Hall is turned into a listening lounge. Will is bringing a crate of vinyl records and guests are encouraged to bring records of their own that they would like to share for a spin on the provided turntables. Take in the current art exhibition while getting exposed to new music, making new friends, sipping libations, and enjoying eats from a Food Truck. This is a free all ages event, food and beverages are available for purchase. Brewery Arts Center – East Building – Exhibition Hall, 449 W King St., Carson City, NV.
