Category Archives: A morning mix of news for the vinyl inclined

Bridgeport, CT | The Emporium, Bridgeport record shop to close its doors this month: A Bridgeport store specializing in vinyl records and antique books and ephemera will be closing down at the end of this month, according to its owner, Mike Roer. The Emporium’s last day is March 31, Roer confirmed to Connecticut Insider. “The traffic really never recovered after COVID,” Roer said, adding that he noticed car and foot traffic dwindle near the shop post-pandemic. The Fairfield Avenue shop boasts thousands of vinyl records that range from house music to classic rock. Shelves of the store also have antiquarian books and other historical items for sale. Roer said that some of the books and “historical items and historical ephemera” will be donated to Bridgeport’s library.

Lynchburg, VA | RiverView Vinyl moves to 5th street: A Lynchburg record store has moved locations with big plans in the works. RiverView Vinyl is now open in the former Easy Speak Dance Hall space on Fifth street. Co-Owner Steven Ramsey said they are excited to have more room to expand and host events. “The bar, being able to run larger shows at that point, obviously not too big, but music is a big part of what we do here and live music at that point is also very important,” Ramsey said.

Upper Darby, PA | This Upper Darby Record Collector Has a Store, But You Shouldn’t Stay Too Long: The owner of R&B Records in Upper Darby has an interesting customer approach: if you must come to his store, don’t stay long and know what you want, writes Beccah Hendrickson at 6abc. Val Shively prefers doing business by mail. “This is a landfill, not a record shop,” he said. The store, open since 1990, gives him somewhere to keep his extensive collection. “I sell records. I sell enough to still be here. But I love to buy, that’s my game. That’s me at my best,” Shively said. The older and more obscure, the better. He’s been collecting records since the 1950s. “I heard this record ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ by Elvis Presley when I was 12 years old, and I went nuts. I don’t know what it was. It just hypnotized me or mesmerized me or something,” he said. It’s possible he has the largest record collection in the world, numbering in the millions.

Memphis, TN | Record company opening warehouse in Memphis: Light in the Attic Records announced plans to open a warehouse in Memphis. Light in the Attic was established in Seattle in 2002. They largely produce re-issues of classic albums on vinyl. The company is seeking to hire employees in Memphis. They will join Memphis Record Pressing in the Bluff City, which already produces about 100,000 records each day.

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Wirral, UK | West Kirby’s Dig Vinyl to take part in Record Store Day: A Wirral vinyl shop has announced it will be taking part in Record Store Day. Dig Vinyl in West Kirby has announced that it will participate in Record Store Day UK on Saturday, April 12, 2025. This marks the shop’s second year taking part after its successful debut last year. Record Store Day, which began in 2007, celebrates and promotes the distinctive culture of independent record shops with special vinyl releases made exclusively for the event and stocked only by participating retailers on the day. Over the years, it has evolved into a global celebration of record shops, with thousands of stores taking part across the world, including over 260 in the UK. Dig Vinyl expanded to Wirral in November 2023, opening its second shop on Banks Road in West Kirby marking a major milestone in Dig Vinyl’s decade-long journey, which began with the opening of its Bold Street shop in Liverpool back in 2014.

AU | Record Store Day 2025 Australian release list gets updated: Several new titles have been added to the list, including You Am I’s Someone Else’s Crowd: Live at Memorial Stadium, Seattle, August 1994 12”. Two new titles have been added to the list of Aussie vinyl dropping on this year’s Record Store Day. You Am I are releasing Someone Else’s Crowd: Live at Memorial Stadium, Seattle, August 1994 12” for the very first time on vinyl. The record will be released on black vinyl with new album artwork. Royel Otis are also releasing their Nashville Sessions EP 10”, which is sure to be snapped up quickly by fans of the band. These two Aussie acts join the likes of local artists Danni Minogue, Pond, The Saints and everybody’s favourite cartoon dog, Bluey, who all have special edition vinyl available on Saturday, April 12. Confidence Man, Ruel and The Veronicas also have Australian imports up for grabs for international fans.

UK | Record Store Day 2025: When is it, Scottish participating shops, available records, how to buy, and can you buy online? Vinyl outsold CDs for the first time in over 35 years in 2024—meaning that this year’s event celebrating the reinvigorated music medium is likely to be as popular than ever. Record Store Day has become a major event for vinyl lovers since the inaugural event in the US in 2007 sold barely more than 10 different limited edition pressings by artists including Death Cab for Cutie, R.E.M. and Stephen Malkmus. Now over 200 independent record stores across the UK take part each year, selling thousands of copies of exclusive vinyl, from new releases to old classics. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event.

Sarasota, FL | Record collector turns passion into retail with Vinyl Vault: The vintage record store held its grand opening March 2, inviting The Garbage-Men band for a performance. When he found a space in an old plaza near Downtown Sarasota, Brad Schalk decided it was the perfect retro spot to house vintage records. He had started collecting records in high school before he moved into selling them. On March 2, his store, Vinyl Vault, held its grand opening celebration. While the new store has around 20,000 vintage records in stock, he hopes it will also serve as a hub for the community, offering “open mics and kind of a community outreach.” “I want to be a touchstone for the community to bring collections in that maybe they don’t know much about, and then feature that stuff,” he said.

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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.

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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.

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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…”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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The must have records for Record Store Day 2025: Record Store Day is a day for celebrating iconic records. Exclusive releases will be available, anywhere from classic albums to unreleased demos from your favorite artists. There are over 100 limited editions this year, but these are the must haves for vinyl collectors in 2025. Three time GRAMMY-winner, Charli XCX, will be releasing 10,000 units of Number 1 Angel, a collection of 10 tracks that were recorded over the span of a month at her residence in LA and in the UK. 10,000 units of a 7″ vinyl for “Guess (feat. Billie Eilish)” will also be available. The Cure will be releasing their 6th studio album, The Head on the Door, on a picture disc for the very first time. The album was originally released in 1985 and was produced by Robert Smith and Dave Allen at Abbey Road Studios in London. The LP features tracks like “The Blood,” “Close To Me,” and “A Night Like This.”

Millcreek, UT | Groove on: Vinyl Revival returning to Millcreek Common. Vinyl record collectors may want to swing by the Millcreek Common soon for some good old-fashioned crate digging. Vinyl Revival will spin at the Public Market at Millcreek Common from Feb. 27 through March 30, seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For even more record fun, the event is expanding from two weeks last year to a whole month. A grand opening will be held on March 1 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., with activities such as record bowl making, screen printing, live DJs, and a Utah Lowriders car show. In addition to hundreds of records, the pop-up market will also feature CDs, cassettes, concert memorabilia, rock ‘n roll clothing, accessories, and more. “Vinyl records are making a comeback. I think people are drawn to the nostalgia of their youth with vinyls. Listening to vinyl can be a more engaging experience that connects people with each other and the music.

Minneapolis, MN | Famed Minneapolis record store name-dropped on FOX’s new show: The longtime record store wasn’t aware ahead of its mention. FOX’s new TV drama, “Doc,” name-dropped a famed Minneapolis record store in its latest episode. The mention of Electric Fetus, which has sold records in Minnesota since 1968, came during the episode that air Tuesday evening. A patient in the show mentioned how much of a fan he was of Prince, naming albums like Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, and of course, Purple Rain “Controversy,” “1999” and “Purple Rain.” Actor Scott Wolf (playing the remarkably well-informed Dr. Richard Miller) later said this to the patient: “I’ll tell you what, once you heal you can hit up the Electric Fetus for some vinyl. Prince practically lived there.” The beloved local record store quoted the line, adding: “Just what the #DocOnFOX ordered!!” An Instagram user asked the store if they knew about the mention ahead of time, and Electric Fetus replied that they had “no clue.”

Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh Has A New Artist-Run Vinyl Pressing Plant—Hellbender Vinyl: A new artist-run vinyl pressing plant is operational in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, catering to artists of all career levels. Hellbender Vinyl is co-founded by Jeff Betten and Matt Dowling and based in the Lawrenceville neighborhood in the East End. Hellbender is a relatively new company, but it has quickly become one of the most trusted vinyl processing plants. It manufactures 7”, 10”, and 12” vinyl records with a commitment to delivering award-winning customer service. Hellbender is a member of the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) and aims to support artists at every stage—from emerging talents to well-established names. It is one of only 40 vinyl pressing plants in the United States, offering artists a chance to have their music available to fans in a sought after physical format.

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AU | Record Store Day 2025 Unveils Australian Release Slate: The Record Store Day 2025 release schedule is a kind of magic — it will make your money disappear. When the 18th edition of RSD rolls around on Saturday, April 12th, vinyl hunters will have a chance to score special editions by such homegrown acts as Pond, The Saints, The Grogans and even that world-beating blue heeler, “Bluey.” More than 200 stores nationwide will throw their doors open for RSD 2025, an annual celebration of independent music retail and the glorious times that can be had in a record shop. …“Have you ever watched the movie Empire Records?,” remarks frontman Nicholas Allbrook. “Have you gazed upon the cover of DJ Shadow’s album Endtroducing? Going to the record store is one of life’s greatest, most wholesome pleasures, and if it too gets gobbled up into our phones along with banking, dating and reading, then we are a very, very poxy species indeed.”

Danville, VA | River District Records curates and celebrates vinyl: Nestled behind a quiet home in Danville lies a hidden gem for music lovers—River District Records. The business, founded by Joseph Richardson, is a labor of love that reflects his passion for vinyl records and his commitment to sharing that passion with others. His is a story of resilience, love, and dedication. Joseph, a Danville native and U.S. Army veteran, has always had a love for music, but it was not until after his time in the service, where he lost some of his hearing due to prolonged exposure to artillery, that he found himself even more drawn to the tactile experience of vinyl. Despite the challenge of his hearing loss, his connection to music remains strong, with the analog sounds of his records offering him a unique and powerful way to engage with the art. His favorite? Gladys Knight, whose soulful voice continues to resonate deeply with him.

UK | That should be a smash hit… John Lewis to sell records in its stores again as department stores seeks to join the vinyl revival: John Lewis has become the latest High Street name to join the vinyl revival, announcing that it will sell records again. The department store, known for its home appliances and furnishings, has teamed up with indie music retailer Rough Trade to offer customers a range of classic albums at its stores and online. Records have made a remarkable comeback since the early 2000s – last year 6.7 million vinyl albums were sold in Britain. And John Lewis’s decision to bring them back into stores was influenced by a 17 per cent increase in sales of turntables and record players over the past five years. Jason Billings-Cray, a buyer at John Lewis, said: ‘It’s clear there is a strong market for the format.

Kingsport, TN | Vinyl’s shocking comeback: Why everyone’s talking about records again. It’s 2025, and there’s a sound revolution taking place you might not have seen coming: Vinyl records are back in a big way. Against all odds, this old-school format has soared in popularity, with global sales jumping over 20% in 2023, online audio distribution platform Bandcamp notes. But what’s driving the masses to spin records in an era when any song is a click away? It’s more than just nostalgia — it’s a cultural movement, a quest for a deeper, more intentional experience that streaming just can’t offer. In today’s world, everything is immediate. Playlists shuffle mindlessly, and the next hit song is a tap away before the first one fades out. Vinyl, on the other hand, demands attention in a different way. It’s not just about the music; it’s the ritual. From selecting a record, gingerly placing the needle, and watching it spin, there’s a physical, almost meditative aspect to it.

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Morristown, TN | Stacks of Wax: Soundtrax music store opens in Morristown: “Somebody was trying to tell me that CDs are better than vinyl because they don’t have any surface noise,” longtime BBC radio DJ John Peel once said. “I said, ‘Listen, mate, life has surface noise.’” With MP3s following CDs, and streaming options following soon after, music can still be as free from “surface noise” as we want it to be, but those wanting something a little more tangible can now drive to Soundtrax Records in Morristown and browse their large selection of vinyl records and explore music in a way that now seems quaint. “I think people like the experience and the fact that music is physical; it’s yours, you can connect to it,” Soundtrax Owner David Price said. “It’s a disposable world, and records are something you can keep.

Tokyo, JP | A Vinyl Lover’s Guide to Tokyo’s Record Stores: In a city that seems to run on digital energy, there’s something magical about Tokyo’s thriving vinyl scene. While streaming might rule most of the world, the humble record store remains a cornerstone of Tokyo’s analog culture. Whether you’re hunting rare Japanese pressings, seeking out contemporary releases, or simply looking for a record after visiting one of Tokyo’s listening bars, keep reading for the essential record shops across the city, from multi-floor megastores to intimate specialist havens. Tower Records: While Tower Records has faded from many global cities, its presence in Tokyo remains strong. The flagship Shibuya location stands as a nine-story monument to music culture, with its sixth floor dedicated to an impressive vinyl collection spanning both new releases and vintage finds.

Houston, TX | The art behind the vinyl record: A look inside ‘Good Stuff Records’ in downtown Houston: Alicia Cannady is the owner of ‘Good Stuff Records’; a vinyl record shop inside Downtown Houston’s ‘Off the Record.’ It’s an independent record store that’s bridging the gap in communities through music. Cannady has been operating this shop since 2023. She initially started with popups, online and then became apart of this partnership where she’d operate at the front of the store. She says that what she loves most is engaging with customers through music. According to Cannady, only 3% of independent Black owned record shops in the U.S, but vinyl is still thriving and quite popular here in Houston. Traditionally for the past 3 years, for Black History Month, Cannady does a vinyl challenge on social media to focus on supporting and highlighting black artists.

Washington, DC | Good news about good dudes in ‘Love and Vinyl’ at Byrdland Records: Performed in an actual record shop, Bob Bartlett’s homage to vinyl is also a heartening rom-com. When you enter Byrdland Records near Union Market to take in Bob Bartlett’s immersive, site-specific play Love and Vinyl, be prepared to experience a sweetly funny and tenderly heartfelt rom-com that will amuse you and move you in surprising ways. For starters, the plot turns out to be not at all what the setup would suggest. It’s nighttime; interior; a hip, urban record store stocked with racks and racks of LPs—rock, punk, metal, soul, hip-hop, pop, dance, gospel, blues, reggae, jazz, DC Go-Go—a veritable vinylophile’s heaven. The sole proprietor, a woman, has closed up shop and gone to a back room but not locked the front door. She lives upstairs, alone. Suddenly, a man comes through the door, followed soon by another. From their bro badinage, we get that this rendevous was premeditated. And abruptly, the lights go out.

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UK | Sound investment: John Lewis teams up with Rough Trade to sell vinyl: Decision to stock records in some stores and also sell online dovetails with rising demand for turntables in its shops. Alot of adjectives have been used to describe the middle-class favourite John Lewis but rock’n’roll is probably not one, until now. The department store chain is teaming up with the indie music retailer Rough Trade to sell records. In doing so it becomes the latest big high street name to bring back vinyl as Britons swap Spotify playlists for the crackle and warmth of listening to a physical LP. Last year, WH Smith reintroduced records in 80 shops after a three-decade hiatus. While John Lewis might be the go-to place for curtains or a new fridge-freezer, music fans head to Rough Trade to immerse themselves in music. Its stores host pop-up gigs and sell coveted vinyl reissues alongside the latest headphones and rock star autobiographies.

Paris, FR | Paris’s best record shops: where to find the rare gem? Whether you’re an avid collector, a vinyl enthusiast or simply curious in search of new musical discoveries, Paris is brimming with record shops from a wide variety of backgrounds. From jazz and rock to electro and hip-hop, here’s a detailed guide to the best places to find your favorite LPs. Despite the rise of streaming, vinyl is enjoying a considerable revival. Music lovers still appreciate the authenticity of analog sound and the uniqueness of each edition. Paris, a true capital of culture, is no exception to the rule, offering a multitude of record shops, each with its own identity. Whether it’s a store specializing in electronic music, jazz or indie rock, each Parisian record shop offers a unique experience, where you can discover classics as well as little-known nuggets.

Albany, NY | The surprising place you can find great vinyl records in Albany, NY: If you love vinyl and you haven’t been to this spot, you’re missing out on an opportunity to find some really great records. In the day and age of streaming music being the easiest way to enjoy all of your favorite songs there are still people who love to hear them on physical media. CDs and vinyl records have become a novelty thing for so many younger people who didn’t grow up with those forms of media. It’s all making a comeback. Recently I started to fall back in love with vinyl. It wasn’t something I ever really collected or listened to. Growing up in the 90s I was a CD kid. I had a huge collection of CDs and I remember going to places like Coconuts, Record Town (before it was FYE), and Best Buy when that came into the Capital Region. After getting a record player from my partner and my kids over Christmas I am fully obsessed with getting as much vinyl as possible. I found a place in Albany that is a great spot to pick up some classics.

Atlanta, GA | Editor’s Journal: Loving Atlanta. Peaches Records, H. Johnson on WABE—there are plenty of reasons to love Atlanta. My monthly ritual in college was a drive into Atlanta to make the rounds of the rich array of record stores across the city. My favorite haunt was Peaches, a warehouse-sized store that prided itself on having the back catalog of just about every music artist imaginable. This was long before iTunes and Spotify. There was a sense of exploration and discovery from walking into a record shop that’s sadly absent in the digital age. Most often, I had a couple of target albums I knew I wanted; after that, I could spend an hour or more flipping through the bins of albums in search of something that would catch my eye. The store also had an area for “cutouts,” albums that had flopped on the market and could be had for a buck or two. I’d usually walk out with five or six albums: a couple of certainties I knew were good and the rest experiments.

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Chicago, IL | Wax Trax building gets final landmark recommendation: The former records store is located at 2449 N. Lincoln. The Commission on Chicago Landmarks has approved a final landmark recommendation for the former home of Wax Trax! records. Located at 2449 N. Lincoln, life and business partners Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher opened the WAX TRAX! records store in 1978. Their shared passion for music inspired the retail venture and their personal tastes, creative generosity, and willingness to take risks shaped the store into an international source of eclectic and ground-breaking music. Meeting Criterion 1 for its value as an example of city, state, or national heritage, WAX TRAX! invigorated Chicago’s music scene. With bootlegs, imports, and hard-to-find records, cassettes, CDs, and videos, WAX TRAX! became an international retail destination. WAX TRAX! helped to shape the world’s perceptions of Chicago music.

College Park, MD | As CDepot closes, nostalgia for physical media lives on: Another business bites the dust in College Park. After serving the community for more 30 years, local record store CDepot closed its doors on Friday. Since the late ’80s, CDepot has sold a collection of CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, books, video games and vinyls in its store. Nowadays, customers can easily purchase these types of physical media at a large department store or general retail spot like Target or Walmart, but these companies can never match the charm of a record store. …CDepot is not the only local record store that has gone out of business recently. Last summer, the Record Exchange in Silver Spring closed after more than 26 years. Towson’s Record and Tape Traders—in business for more than 40 years—officially closed in 2019. And Kemp Mill Music in Temple Hills closed its last location in 2017.

Jacksonville, FL | Jacksonville record shop open for over 50 years, still thrives with vinyl resurgence: A Black-owned business in the Lackawanna neighborhood has been around for over 50 years. That business is DJ’s Record Shop. Owner Jerry West said he’s been keeping the community listening to hits for decades. The shop has been in its current location at the corner of McDuff and Edison Avenues since 1974 but has been in existence since 1968. “When I started I had less than $50,” West said. West said when he started there were around 14 records shops in the area. Now, his shop is the last one standing. “It’s just something about music I love,” West said. “Like I said I’ve been doing it ever since I was 19.” West said although he’s been around for decades, his sales have gone through ups and downs. But recently with the resurgence of vinyl records things have been good.

Los Angeles, CA | The house where 28,000 records burned: Charlie Springer spent a lifetime building his music collection. The Los Angeles fires incinerated it. Before it burned, Charlie Springer’s house contained 18,000 vinyl LPs, 12,000 CDs, 10,000 45s, 4,000 cassettes, 600 78s, 150 8-tracks, hundreds of signed musical posters, and about 100 gold records. The albums alone occupied an entire wall of shelves in the family room, and another in the garage. On his desk were a set of drumsticks from Nirvana and an old RCA microphone that Prince had given to him at a recording session for Prince. A neon Beach Boys sign—as far as he knows, one of only eight remaining in the world—hung above the dining table. In his laundry room was a Gibson guitar signed by the Everly Brothers; near his fireplace, a white Stratocaster signed to him by Eric Clapton. Last month, the night the Eaton Fire broke out, Charlie evacuated to his girlfriend’s house. And when he came back, the remnants of his home had been bleached by the fire. The spot in the family room where the record collection had been was dark ash.

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Bowie, MD | Bowie State University Professor Bob Bartlett Always Seeks to Innovate: Bowie State University Professor of Theatre Bob Bartlett isn’t just a playwright. He’s a visionary who brings theatre to unexpected places, making audiences see stories unfold in a whole new way. His latest play, “Love and Vinyl,” is no exception. Set in a real record store, this site-specific production is a celebration of music, memory, and human connection. For Bob, theatre is meant to be immersive, engaging, and transformative.“Whenever regional theatre is being produced in an alleyway or a bar or in someone’s home, I’m there,” he says. “Something magical and beyond theatrical happens when we take our art out of traditional performance spaces.” With “Love and Vinyl,” he taps into that magic, bringing audiences into a world where every spin of the record evokes a memory.

Chicago, IL | Terror Vision Records And Joe Swanberg Opening Pop-Up Video Store In Lakeview: The owner of Graveface Records and Curiosities and the Chicago-based director are opening Terror Vision Records and Video, a pop-up shop and video rental store next door to the Music Box Theatre in April. Two days after they were handed the keys to the place, Ryan Graveface and Joe Swanberg were standing in a mostly empty storefront on Southport Avenue surrounded by dozens of boxes filled to the brim with movies. “This is so not even barely scratching the surface,” Swanberg said, waving his arm over the thousands of Blu-Rays, DVDs and VHS tapes in the boxes, which came from Graveface and Swanberg’s private collections as well as the record store, museum, music venue and curiosity shop Graveface owns in Savannah, Ga. …The shop will be open from April 1 to Sept. 30 and not a day more. It’ll be a true pop-up, Graveface said. “We will be born and we will die,” he said.

Wenatchee, WA | Wenatchee Valley Vinyl Record Expo Founder Creates Space For Young Bands To Shine: Joel Myrene is passionate about music and creating spaces where young bands like the Wenatchee Valley’s Icarus can play to all ages. On Saturday, Feb. 8 I went down to the Wenatchee Odd Fellows Prosperity Lodge #301 on Chelan Avenue in Wenatchee and interviewed Rayce Jones, Finnegan Hart, William Rodriguez and Landon Ortiz – four teenage boys who make up the band Icarus. It was an all-age, drug and alcohol free rock show featuring Icarus and two other bands produced by Joel Myrene, founder of the Apple Valley Vinyl Record Expo. In addition to organizing that once-yearly vinyl record and music collectible expo, Myrene spends his free time producing music shows for local bands. And nurturing young bands like Icarus, giving them a stage to perform for their peers and promoting the performing arts to young folks is a priority for him.

Erie, PA | The Erie Record Riot! Over 10,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Sat March 22nd at Quality Inn & Suites: The Erie Record RIot RETURNS! It’s a GIANT vinyl record POP-UP sale at the Quality Inn & Suites. Sat March 22nd. 10000+ vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and amazing family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. A giant record store lands in Erie! Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! LPs and 45s and CDs too. All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz and more. Dust off that turntable and come on down. DOOR PRIZES TOO! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!

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