Plan B Forum

The other side of the tracks

By Andy Roberts
BBC South East Wales

Maybe it's my age, but even though I can now get most of the music I want via the internet, nothing beats the pleasure of rifling through the racks of a bricks-and-mortar record store.

From Paris to Prague, San Francisco to Sydney, Toronto to Tunis, my travelling partners over the years have had to tolerate or join my pilgrimages to these palaces of vinyl, cassette and compact disc in search of an elusive New Order 12" or Rolling Stones rarities that probably don't exist.

But you don't have to leave the country to experience the pleasure of crate-digging and rack-rifling - there are still havens of rare musical delights to be found in south east Wales.


Cardiff's Spillers Records is the great-granddaddy of them all - famously known as the oldest record store in the world, founded in 1894 when sheet music was the prevailing format. It's the place where many famous Welsh bands have sold their first singles - in fact some may well have been formed as a result of "musicians wanted" notices posted on the board.

Still hanging on in there despite competition from the internet and the pressures of city centre redevelopment, you'll find well-stocked specialist sections devoted to jazz, blues, reggae, rockabilly and more as well as rock and pop, including the latest local bands.

In Newport, Diverse Music is a similarly eclectic and credible store which also promotes local bands and bills itself as the city's only physical ticket outlet.

It's also notable as one of the UK's leading retailers and distributors of vinyl records, making a comeback among indie kids and audiophiles alike.


Co-owner Paul Hawkins and colleague Matt Jarrett are also active on the live music scene in Newport, as promoters of a regular Americana and country night called Hot Burrito.

Diverse has survived despite the reputation of Hawkins' co-owner Mark Southall, once known as "The Jinx" because six different record shops closed within six months of him joining the staff.

Dance music specialist Catapult has been a fixture in Cardiff's High Street arcade since 1993, stocking DJ equipment along with vinyl and CDs.

Meanwhile while Jamesy offers an extensive range of rockabilly compilations at his Dynamite T-shirt emporium in Cathays, Cardiff.

Looking outside the cities, Abergavenny Music in the Monmouthshire market town is primarily an outlet for classical releases, but fans of folk, jazz and blues will also find something of interest.

Honourable mention must also be given to sellers of second-hand or collectable records such as D'Vinyl in Roath, Cardiff, Kelly's in Cardiff Market and Troutmark and Rockaway in Newport Market where you'll often find a surprise or two.


Graham Jones, a record retailer and author of Last Shop Standing: Whatever Happened to the Record Shop? says independent stores in Wales have fared better in the digital age than those in other parts of the UK.

"They still stock Welsh-speaking bands, Welsh customers are maybe more loyal, and there's a better community spirit amongst the people of Wales," he told BBC Radio 1.

"Shops like Spillers, Diverse, Derricks (in Swansea) and Cob (in Bangor) were the biggest accounts for me in Wales seven or eight years ago and they still are today.


Despite the economic downturn, Jones says independent stores are enjoying a revival due to the resurging popularity of vinyl and the collapse of chains like Woolworths and Zavvi which has removed much of the competition.

But he says the key to long-term survival will be in keeping their musical ears close to the ground.

"Record shops are like talent scouts - they're the ones who support the up and coming artists," says Jones.

"People like Spillers will tell you that their best selling things are compilations of local bands, or from local musicians.

"That's why I'm a great fan because they support the local community and support the local music scene."



Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/local/ ... 002258.stm

Published: 2010/04/07 09:46:24 GMT

Blur’s first single since the band reformed last year was going for up to £200 on internet auction sites last night, after just 1,000 copies were released.

Fool’s Day was issued as a one-sided seven-inch vinyl on Saturday, which had been designated Record Store Day to highlight the plight of independent record shops, of which there are only 300 left in Britain.

The track, the first to be recorded by the group’s original line-up since Graham Coxon, the guitarist quit in 2002, was one of 100 special releases. The Rolling Stones released 1,000 copies of the previously unreleased Plundered My Soul, also on vinyl.

Blur reunited for a series of live events last year, but this was their first release since getting back together. Damon Albarn, the lead singer, said: “We want independent record stores to continue, they’re an important part of our musical culture. Music is a simple way for Blur to show our support and we hope people like it.”


Other musicians also released special editions , including the Pet Shop Boys, Babyshambles, Lily Allen and the two remaining Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, who offered a version of Paperback Writer. Sir Paul said: “There’s nothing as glamorous to me as a record store. This is why I’m more than happy to support Record Store Day and I hope that these kinds of stores will be there for us all for many years to come.”

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 101512.ece