Kent, UK | Music venue Elsewhere in Margate to celebrate year anniversary: In harsh times for independent music venues, one such place has found cause to celebrate. Elsewhere in Margate was co-founded in 2018 by Sammy Clarke, who wanted to provide a place to nurture local artists and a space for cutting edge music events. “It’s a fully dedicated music venue, which is something that Margate hasn’t really had before,” he said. “Especially a venue that supports and champions emerging talent from the area and also brings in touring artists that are getting national plaudits.” In just a year the venue has been able to snag bookings from buzz-bands like Squid and Black Country, New Road. This Friday and Saturday, Sammy and co are celebrating the first birthday of the business with 2 nights of live music.
Staunton, VA | New record store opens in Staunton; Owners wish to share their love of vinyl: Ken Bahrs Jr. remembers listening to the vinyl records of Charley Pride and the Moody Blues with his mother growing up. He loves the scratching sound it makes right when you put the needle on the record and it spins for just a bit with a crackle as the song starts up. Vinyl evokes a certain memory for him, and many others. “I think when you play a record, it takes you back,” he said. “When you play an old record on an old player, you can hear the difference.” He and his wife, Tanya, have been collecting and selling records for years in various booths like the Factory Antique Mall in Verona or similar businesses across the state. Now, they are bringing their collection to the people of Staunton with their new store The Vinyl Asylum. The two have thousands of records in the store, which opened up at the beginning of September.
Chicopee, MA | Music lovers crowd Union Station Banquet Hall for Northampton Record Fair: Old school music lovers who prefer the sound of vinyl records packed Northampton’s Union Station Banquet Hall Sunday for the Northampton Record Fair. An estimated 60 to 70 thousand vinyl records featuring all types of music were up for sale. Many collectors are of a certain age dating back to when Vinyl was in its prime, but you might be surprised at how many young people prefer vinyl. 13-year-old Mason Gunther of Ludlow said he loves vinyl over the more contemporary music delivery systems. Gunther told 22News, “Because, with vinyl music and everything, new music doesn’t have as much emotion as the old music. And the record you really get the feeling, the nostalgia.” Vinyl record dealers from throughout the northeast had no trouble finding a market for their albums featuring music that ranged from hits of the 1950s to the soundtrack of the movie “Jaws.”
Ashby, UK | Owner of record store explains decision to auction off more than 40,000 records and CDs: There will be between 350 and 500 lots up for sale. The owner of a record store of which most of the contents are going up for auction says the decision to move on from the shop has not been an easy one. Ben Duncombe first opened The Attic music shop in Ashby Town Hall four and half years ago. In that time he has collected an impressive stock of more than 40,000 records and CDs, as well as various memorabilia and music equipment. Now most of the stock, including the shops fixtures and fittings, is going up for auction. The 36-year old from Ashby said: “One of the main reasons I have decided to move on is because I want to spend more time with my wife and daughter. “When you are self-employed, you don’t get an awful lot of holiday time because you are constantly working.” Ben says that the decision to sell the stock was not taken lightly, but he will not be leaving everything behind.
Mission Viejo, CA | There’s something about a physical copy: Remember when records were the primary source of listening to music? Yeah, me neither. I only vaguely remember when CDs were popular, and even that blew over quite shortly. In today’s era, physical media’s importance is greatly declining due to the large streaming and downloading giants that currently (and probably from now on, always will) dominate the industry. These digital applications are predominantly utilized because they’re easily accessible, relatively inexpensive, and well, because everyone is doing it. And afterall, you can’t really drag around a Crosley turntable like you can an iPhone. Clearly, there are valid reasons for streaming music as opposed to buying a physical copy of an album you really like. However, this poses a dire threat to the fate of tangible media. When only a small population regularly purchases physical copies, how will this form of media ever sustain a healthy life? It seems implausible that the original method of listening will make a comeback.
Brian Setzer rocks this Christmas with splatter vinyl releases: As he gears up for this year’s “Christmas Rocks! Tour,” guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and three-time Grammy-Award winner BRIAN SETZER has announced the November 8 release of limited red & white and green & white 12″ vinyl versions of two of the BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA’s classic Christmas albums, DIG THAT CRAZY CHRISTMAS and BOOGIE WOOGIE CHRISTMAS. Pre-order DIG THAT CRAZY CHRISTMAS here. DIG THAT CRAZY CHRISTMAS–originally released in 2005–will be issued as a red and white splatter LP. The album stands out next to traditional Christmas records and is as timeless as SETZER’s first Christmas album BOOGIE WOOGIE CHRISTMAS (2002). BOOGIE WOOGIE CHRISTMAS–which was previously released on vinyl–will be commemorated on a 12″ green and white splatter vinyl. Both will be released Friday, November 8 on Surfdog Records in advance of BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA’s 16th annual “Christmas Rocks! Tour.”
For the first time, Amy Grant to release limited-edition Christmas vinyl box set: ‘Home for Christmas,’ ‘A Christmas Album’ & ‘A Christmas to Remember’: One of top-selling Christmas albums of all time, Grant’s ‘Home for Christmas’ also available as stand-alone debut vinyl release. For the first time ever, multi-Platinum, multi-Grammy Award winner Amy Grant is releasing her successful Christmas projects in a limited edition vinyl box set on Oct. 11. The one-of-a-kind set will feature “Home for Christmas,” as well as two other classic Grant Christmas projects “A Christmas Album” and “A Christmas to Remember.” A special and nostalgic way to celebrate the projects that have made Grant synonymous with Christmas, the box set also includes a bonus 7-inch vinyl featuring two rare tracks: a cover of “Merry Christmas Darling” and “Let the Season Take Wing,” only available in the vinyl box set. The set also includes handwritten lyrics of fan favorite “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song).”
