Author Archives: TVD HQ

Miami, FL | Adrian Quesada Helps Sweat Records Celebrate 20th Anniversary: Sweat Records has long championed the work by Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada. Adrian Quesada, the multitalented musician and producer behind Black Pumas, is set to headline Sweat Records’ 20th-anniversary celebration at ZeyZey on March 15. While the event is primarily a testament to the two decades of Sweat’s dedication to Miami’s music scene, Quesada’s presence adds an extra layer of significance, as the independent record store has long championed his solo work. The Latin Grammy-winning Mexican-American artist grew up in Laredo, Texas, absorbing a rich blend of musical influences that have shaped his diverse career. “Because I grew up in a border town between two countries, two languages, and two cultures, I have always found it easy to navigate between various worlds, particularly in music…”

Devon, UK | ‘Cherished our time on Queen Street’, says record shop ahead of move: ‘We have cherished our time on Queen Street’ says a Newton Abbot record shop ahead of its move to new premises within the town. Phoenix Sounds, one of Devon’s leading, independent record shops, has today, Monday, March 3, announced that will be leaving Queen Street. The shop says the decision is not linked the controversial scheme to enhance the road, rather it is a result of ‘rising costs’ which ‘forced us to look for alternative premises to ensure the survival of Phoenix Sounds.’ ‘We have cherished our time on Queen Street, but this next chapter presents an exciting opportunity to keep bringing you great music, brilliant finds, and the same passionate service—just in a new spot’ Phoenix Sounds’ Marsha and Roger Cox said. Phoenix Sounds, whose current lease ends on June 14, will reopen in new premises in East Street, a stones throw from St Leonards clock tower, on Monday, June 23.

Boise, ID | Record Exchange faces possible price increases as Trump tariffs take effect: In the past weeks, the Trump Administration has unleashed a barrage of tariffs against some foreign countries, impacting their business. The Record Exchange in downtown Boise is a place where people can find a bit of reprieve from the monotony of everyday life. However, the owners cannot ignore what is happening in the real world. In the past weeks, the Trump Administration has unleashed a barrage of tariffs against some foreign countries, and co-owner and marketing director Chad Dryden said it is impacting their business. “It’s a nice thing to go into a record store when you need some mental comfort food, and spend a couple hours on a Saturday and forget everything that’s swirling around in the world or your world, and to come here and buy a record and go home and engage with that and feel better about yourself,” Dryden said.

Sydney, AU | Andrea Black travels the world for vinyl records, these spots stand out: Based in Sydney, travel writer Andrea Black’s love of collecting music has taken her on a quest to visit record shops over the world. Andrea Black started collecting records when she was 16. “I grew up in Perth and every Saturday my friends and I would go to Dada Records to sift through the racks and then to 78 Records to hunt for vinyl. My husband collects as well—between us we have about 10,000 records,” she says. “I like to find records that came from the city I’m travelling in. Memphis and New Orleans are particularly good for this as both cities have produced a rich vein of music. “I have bought a few portable record players on my travels because I can’t wait to get home to play the records.” Here, she shares her favourite locations for record shopping.

Read More »

Houston, TX | Physical Music Is More Popular Than Ever in Houston: Even in the digital age, independent record stores like Cactus Music and Vinal Edge are thriving thanks to music fans wanting to support their favorite artists. …Vinyl, as a medium, never actually went away. Even as cassette tapes, CDs, and then digital files all became mainstream distribution options for artists and record labels, the little polymer that could continues chugging along to entertain physical media collectors, serve as an owned archive in an age of licensing, and provide musicians with higher royalty rates than what they’d otherwise receive with an mp3 file. In fact, Billboard revealed that, in 2022, 43 percent of albums sold were vinyl records, representing a 17-year pattern of growth. “It’s just a great format overall. Just the size of it. You get the graphics. There’s the ritual of it. You can put in really cool posters and all kinds of stuff. You can have fun with the packaging, and it’s just vibrant, you know…”

Hobart, AU | Hobart-based Suffragette Records part of movement to amplify female artists in male-dominated industry: When visiting this record store in Hobart you might find Lauren Carter and her three daughters playing hidden gems or well-loved works from a breadth of female artists. In 2020, Lauren was on a mission to listen to more music by women. But whilst sifting through the crates of records at her local record stores, she became frustrated, unable to find her favourite artists on vinyl. After breakfast one morning she posed an idea to her husband Oberon: a record store that just celebrates music by women. Three months later, Suffragette Records was opened at Battery Point. …Passionate about empowering women, Suffragette Records is an extension of the values Lauren instilled within her daughters from a young age. “I’ve always said to girls, ‘Make sure you take up space, because you deserve to be here, and you deserve to do whatever you want to do.'”

Stone, UK | Sad sign of the times as record store shuts today and goes completely online: It has been open for seven years. A town centre record store is shutting today – and going completely online. Fish Records has been in Crown Courtyard, in Stone, for the past seven years. But it closes for good this afternoon. It follows a closing-down sale in recent weeks. In a social media message to customers, the shop stated: “It is with regret that we at Fish Records announce the closure of our Stone shop from 1 March. Unfortunately it is no longer viable to operate a physical record store. We will continue to operate online with an enhanced and expanded offer. “We would like to thank those loyal customers and friends made over the past seven years. Your support has been appreciated. To those who still come in and say I didn’t know Stone had a record shop well it won’t from 1 March.”

Leeds, UK | The Vinyl Whistle: How a Leeds record store once owned by a Premier League referee became a West Brom stronghold: Leeds might be a one club city but one small corner is firmly Albion. To be more precise, it’s the corner of a record shop. Wander into the back room of The Vinyl Whistle in Headingley, a 15-minute drive or so from Elland Road and you can’t help but notice three pictures on the wall behind the counter. …Westwater is an Albion season ticket holder who has lived in Leeds for more than 30 years and bought the shop nearly 18 months ago from its previous owner, former Premier League referee, Jon Moss. It is the latter who was responsible for its witty, football-themed name. “I was never going to change that,” smiles Westwater. “The football connection suits me down to the ground as that and music are my two passions.

Read More »

Denver, CO | Despite rising costs and competition, Denver record stores are spinning gold from new customers: By any standard, Greg Daniels is a Denver music veteran. He’s been playing in bands since the mid-1990s, and has lately been reissuing albums from his past groups Glass Hits and Vaux on limited cassette runs, then selling them at his Drop To Pop Records and Curio, at 2185 N. Broadway in downtown Denver. Despite its 88-square-foot footprint—and the fact that it’s only open Thursdays through Saturdays—he sees a steady stream of tourists, vinyl collectors and scenesters digging through his curated collection of vintage punk, indie rock, jazz and pop LPs. As the only record store in the commercial core of downtown, he also sees music legends such as Billy Corgan (of Smashing Pumpkins) pop in for a look, thanks to online searches that balance out his lack of pedestrian traffic.

Miami, FL | Sweat Records Celebrates 20 Years of Music, Community, and Resilience: Sweat Records, Miami’s beloved independent record store, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Sweat Records, Miami’s independent record store staple, is gearing up for a monumental milestone—its 20th anniversary. Founded in 2005 by Lolo Reskin, Sweat has not only weathered the ups and downs of Miami’s volatile cultural and real-estate landscape but has also emerged as a key player in shaping the city’s music scene. To commemorate the occasion, Sweat is hosting a special 20th-anniversary event on Saturday, March 15, at ZeyZey, featuring an impressive lineup. Headlining the night is Grammy winner Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas performing some songs from his albums Boleros Psicodélicos and Jaguar Sound.

Manchester, UK | New Northern Quarter venue will double up as bar, book shop and record store: A brand-new music-led bar and venue is set to open in Manchester’s Northern Quarter this spring. renae, which will open on Thomas Street, is described as a ‘multi-concept venue set to redefine community spaces.’ The project is a shared vision of two long-time friends who first met on a dance floor back in 2010. Opening in stages, renae begins its journey with the launch of its ground-floor neighbourhood music-led bar on Fri 28 Mar. By day, the ‘laid-back yet stylish space’ will operate as a curated record and book shop, with an intimate bar serving craft beers, natural wines, and cocktails at ‘accessible prices’ late on into the evening. DJ and digger Patrick Ryder from Manchester collective Talking Drums, formerly of Piccadilly Records, will be stocking the finest new releases from global boutique labels alongside a second-hand selection of crowd-pleasing classics, rarities and future favourites.

Richmond, VA | Coffee-and-records shop Le Cache Dulcet opening in Arts District: A former music industry pro relocating from the West Coast is turning his love of coffee and vinyl records into a new business venture in Richmond. Patrick Weaver planned to open Le Cache Dulcet at 109 E. Broad St. on Friday. The coffee-and-records combo was inspired by Weaver’s years living in Los Angeles, where he rekindled a passion for vinyl and developed an interest in coffee over professional and social meetups in the city’s cafés. “In 2017, I started to pay attention to what I was drinking, picking up the terminology and what I liked to drink at these cafés. It was around that time I got back into collecting records…”

Read More »

Asheville, NC | Harvest Records celebrated its 20th anniversary as vinyl records continue to inspire a new generation of musicians in Asheville: Asheville serves as a foundation for the comeback of vinyl as local stores continue to promote the narrative of a beloved classic into the hands of a new generation, according to Harvest Records Co-Owner Mark Capon. “I don’t know that we ever would have necessarily predicted the vinyl resurgence as it is now, but I think we’ve always known from the beginning that there’s people like us that want to support musicians, buy music, collect music, have that experience with music that’s beyond just the digital relationship,” Capon said. …“We set out to create a space that sold music but also was sort of a safe fun environment for people to just congregate and hang out, and talk about their lives and talk about music and what it means to them…”

London, UK | Grooves Records is London’s vinyl haven for music lovers: Though small and narrow, Grooves Records is brimming with character. Step inside, and the walls are plastered with gig posters and album release flyers, while shelves overflow with vinyl in every colour and pressing—most shrink-wrapped, others well-worn from years of love. Music plays softly in the background, never too loud but always drawing you in. Some days, it’s a newly released album. Other days, it’s a hidden gem that makes you stop in your tracks, forcing you to listen. Grooves was founded 21 years ago by Troy Hutchison and David Clarke, both veterans of the city’s legendary Dr. Disc Records shop. “We were both vinyl fans,” Hutchison says. “It wasn’t quite how it is today back then, but we made vinyl a priority while stocking CDs and DVDs, and it slowly grew from there.” While the name wasn’t chosen on a whim, it didn’t take long to settle on it. “We were just spitballing names, and that one was on the list, and it stuck,” Hutchison laughs. “It’s one of those classic, solid record store names.”

Long Beach, CA | World Famous VIP Records sign may get a new home across from original Long Beach store: After years of languishing in storage, city officials are planning to return the famous VIP Records sign to Central Long Beach. Officials confirmed last week—barring public disapproval—their desire to raise the sign at the southwest corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, across the street from the original storefront location. It will sit on a quarter-acre plot of public land, which officials said can be used to hold events, artwork or something more permanent—it all depends on what the community wants, they said. The location was laid out during a community forum Thursday at Long Beach City College, during which officials detailed building plans ahead of the Summer Olympics in 2028.

Randolph, VT | Speaking Volumes Opens Third Store in Downtown Randolph: The purveyor of used books, records, vintage clothing and antiques will set up shop in an old grain mill on Main Street and will also offer Vermont-made crafts. Central Vermont will soon have a new purveyor of used books, antiques, vintage clothing and vinyl when Speaking Volumes opens its third store, in downtown Randolph. Proprietor Norbert Ender said he’s excited to continue the tradition of promoting “slow shopping and slow fashion” with the upcoming launch of the new location. The Austria native and former restaurateur opened his first used-book store in 2006 on Burlington’s Pine Street behind Barge Canal Market, the latter of which he also founded but has since sold. He followed that with a record store and audio repair shop across the street on Marble Avenue. “Over the years I’ve been accumulating so much inventory, and I’ve been looking for additional outlets,” said Ender.

Read More »

Summit, NJ | Local music fans are sad about record shop’s closing: After nearly 70 years in business, Scotti’s Record Shops is coming to an end. The store was first opened in Summit in 1956 by Anthony Scotti. There were also additional locations in Madison, Morristown, Chester and Gillette. Through the years, the stores were consolidated and the Morristown shop closed in 2011. Anthony’s son, Gary, has been running the Summit store since the early 1980s. In addition to thousands of vinyl records and compact discs, the store also carried turntables, cleaners, receivers, speakers, rock T-shirts, books, posters, vintage memorabilia and recycled vinyl crafts. They also sometimes had live music at the store and participated in Record Store Day since it officially began in 2008. …There is no specific date for the store’s closing, but Scotti anticipates near the end of February.

Saskatoon, SK | 100 per cent used Resurrected Records opens in downtown Drinkle Mall: “We’re trying to bring in the big names, the ones that people look at and go, oh damn, I can’t believe this is here.” Businesses and non-profit organizations regularly open and move in Saskatoon. Today, the StarPhoenix talks to Nicholas Kucey who opened Resurrected Records downtown in the Drinkle Mall in December. Kucey bought a turntable about five years ago, which ignited a passion for records. He has travelled all over Western Canada tracking rare records down and decided a space to buy and sell records would be ideal. His store now features over 5,000 records of all varieties. Kucey shares a space in Drinkle Mall with Lindsay Scarrow, who opened Replacing You, selling a wide variety of clothing. Watch for a feature on Replacing You in next week’s New Faces, New Places in the StarPhoenix.

Watford, UK | Looking back at a much-loved Watford record shop: Finding the latest music from your favourite group or singer can be as simple as picking up a mobile phone and searching an online streaming service but for plenty of people it will always be a much more physical act. Visiting a shop and browsing through rows of records or CDs was an essential part of growing up for so many of us—and it continues to this day for some readers. While stores such as HMV, Our Price or Virgin would have been the preferred destination of some music fans, others opted for a trip to an independent retailer—and in Watford there was one that will hold fond memories for plenty of readers. Located in St Albans Road, Past & Present records had a big selection that catered for virtually every genre imaginable. This picture was taken by a Watford Observer photographer on 23 years ago on February 1, 2002 when, sadly, our photographers’ diary records the shop was closing.

UK | On side A, our baby’s first words! The vinyl-carver sparking a craze for cutting records at home: Using a diamond needle, lathe-cutters can turn blank vinyl discs into your very own record—with a pressing run of however many or few you fancy. We report on a booming business. If you want to buy a bespoke, brand-new machine to cut your own vinyl records at home, there seems to be just one man who can help you. Ulrich Sourisseau’s workshop is in a disused railway station in a remote part of the Black Forest in Germany, and he is in extremely high demand. He’s selective about who he sells his machines to, and if he does agree to make you a bit of kit, he’s a little old-school. “He’s cash-only, so I had to travel there with €7,000 on me,” recalls Jon Downing, who bought one back in 2017. Downing then began running his own micro record label in Sheffield, Do It Thissen (that’s “do it yourself” in Yorkshire dialect), specialising in music from his home region.

Read More »

Marquette, MI | Emporium record store hosts grand opening: The Emporium record store hosted a grand opening event on Friday, Feb. 14 at their new location on Third Street in downtown Marquette. The store carries gently used vintage vinyl along with vintage toys, CDs, comics and more. “We also pride ourselves on tracking down that elusive recording that you’re looking for and filling special orders,” said Jon Teichman, the store’s owner. Community members were welcomed to stop in and browse the store, something the owner had been looking forward to for months. “All the challenges and stress of the last four months just melted away once the first customer walked through the door at high noon on Friday and the steady flow of people continued all throughout the day until we closed the doors at 8 p.m. that night,” Teichman said.

Linden, MI | Jack’s Record Stache finds new home in Linden, pays homage to Flint roots: Looking for the latest Grammy winners? Or maybe you are searching for a vinyl that has a limited edition? Jack’s Record Stache may just be what you need. The music haven recently opened at 123 N. Bridge Street in downtown Linden. The beloved record store was previously nestled into the space near Flint Local 432 for more than five years. The move comes from the owner, Jerry Crago, finding his way to be closer to home after he and his wife recently had a child. Crago said he is excited for this new chapter, as downtown Linden has seen a boom in new businesses open in the last few years, including a bookstore, coffee shop and new skate shop. “I just had a desire to be closer to home, be able to be around my son more and even be able to bring him into work,” Crago said. “It’s a small town. My wife and I live there, which is a big part of the move. Our new shop, it’s located right in the heart of downtown.”

Lima, OH | Community rallies to support Groamy’s after fire: On Jan. 12, Groamy’s CDs and Tapes was damaged in a fire. Since then, the business has been out of commission—but the community came together to host a benefit for the store. Hosted by Lima’s Finest Food Company, supporters of Groamy’s and bands from near and far turned out to help him get the store back up and running. A silent auction featured a variety of donated items and memorabilia—and, of course, the bands performed rockin’ music for the crowd. The event showcased what Groamy and his business mean to the Lima community. “He has done so much for the community that when it happened, we instantly were like, “What can we do?” He’s done so much for the bands, and really, anything that goes on here in Lima, he’s done so much for them that we really wanted to kind of show him that Lima appreciates everything and get him back on his feet.”

Duncan, BC | Business Notes: Doom City Records opens in downtown Duncan: A new record store has opened above the Duncan Garage Cafe & Bakery. Doom City Records, which opened just before Christmas, sells used and new records, CDs, cassettes, local art and other merchandise. Owner Jeremy Horgan said he has always had a passion for music, and really enjoys chatting with people about it, so it seemed only natural to him that he’d open a record store. Horgan, who is from Duncan, said he worked at Red Arrow Brewing for seven years before opening Doom City Records, and graduated with a Masters in Business degree from the University of Victoria last summer, so he’s well grounded in what it takes to run a successful business. He said, in partnership with Cowichan Green Community, Doom City Records will donate 100 per cent of sales from records donated to the store to the Pregnancy Food Connections Program, which provides vouchers for vegetables, beef and eggs to pregnant women, for the rest of the year.

Read More »

Marquette, MI | The Emporium vintage vinyl opens in new location: The Emporium on South Third Street is part record shop, part boutique, and part pop culture museum. The brainchild of music aficionado and pop culture expert John Teichman, the Emporium is not just a music shop, but a repository of memories, “There’s really something for everybody. Certainly, we have a lot of new and used, gently used, vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes, VHS, DVDs, T-shirts, stickers, jewelry, original art, books, and a little bit of everything,” said Teichman. Teichman describes the items available at the Emporium as artifacts, pieces of Americana, and a conduit to a specific time in our lives. “The unifying theme is really that we want everybody who walks through the door to connect with something that they find, something that they see,” explained Teichman. Having been on Washington Street previously, John chose his new location carefully, wanting to be a part of the community that is uniquely Third Street.

Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia’s Only Black-Owned Record Shop and Listening Room: SOOK Vinyl & Vintage: Tucked away in the heart of Germantown, SOOK Vinyl & Vintage is more than just a record shop—it’s a cultural hub dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black music, art, and history. Located at 7169 Germantown Ave, SOOK is Philadelphia’s only Black-owned record store, offering a space where vinyl collectors, music lovers, and culture enthusiasts can gather, discover, and engage with Black artistry in its most tangible form. Founded by Rashied Amon, SOOK Vinyl & Vintage is the culmination of years of passion, persistence, and community engagement. The store’s roots trace back to 2021 when Amon launched the Black Culture Museum, an annual pop-up event showcasing vintage Black music, apparel, and memorabilia. “I’m a son of a DJ. I came across my father’s collection in my grandmother’s attic maybe 10 to 15 years after he passed,” Amon shared during an interview with The Quintessential Gentleman. “That drove me to go and collect vintage Black music, tangible media, wherever I came across it. And that’s how this shop came to be.”

UK | These are the UK record shops inspiring your fave new artists: Crate-diggers, it’s time to go on a road trip. Record shops are magical places. Not only are they the perfect place to discover your new favourite band or fall back in love with a familiar classic, they also offer a powerful introduction to the community that music inspires. Last year it was reported that the demand for vinyl had increased in the UK for the 16th year in a row while the number of indie records stores also hit a 10-year high, with 461 to choose from. To celebrate this continued interest in the art of crate-digging—and as part of our ongoing partnership with all-around audiophiles Marshall, who know a good vinyl shop when they see one—we decided to ask some of our favourite new acts for their record store recs…

Chattanooga, TN | Driving Our Economy Forward: Yellow Racket Records. …Ben Vanderhart, Owner, Yellow Racket Records says, “Welcome to Yellow Racket Records. The name just came to me sort of like an epiphany. I was starting a record label, and I had a collie at the time, and I drew his portrait on a Post-it note and I wrote yellow racket records, and it just stuck. I just liked it. He was my racket. He was really loud. He had a big bar. We wanted to start a record store, and we signed a lease in February 2020. I got the keys the first week of March and then the next week the whole world shut down. When you look at sort of the evolution of formats overtime going from vinyl to 8 tracks to cassette to CD. It was all about portability and convenience. And now the most portable in the most convenient way of listening to music is on your phone or smart device and using the Internet. But I think a lot of people have found it that leaves a gap.”

Read More »