While streaming music is available at the click of a button, there are a number of music listeners who are turning off the digital tunes and going old-school.
Vinyl is tangible. It’s an experience.
For David Read, Vinyl Record Guru president and event organizer for the second annual Nanaimo Record Show, the difference in sound quality is a big factor for choosing vinyl.
“It’s still the closest thing you can get to hearing the artist live,” said Read.
He loves to sit and listen to a record. He gets lost in the moment of music while he reads the liner notes or admires the album cover’s artwork.
He started listening to vinyl records when he was about eight. He remembers sitting on the floor in his pyjamas reading an album.
“It seemed like the greatest thing in the world,” said Read.
Vinyl lovers can connect and find everything from rare concert posters, collectible music books and records during the second annual Nanaimo Record Show, which is Sunday (April 17) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10, located at 129 Harewood Rd.
Admission is $2 at the door and kids under 12 are free.
“A record show has that appeal of a treasure hunt,” said Read. “There are so many different genres available it’s just mind blowing. You might find the jewel in the crown that you were looking for.”
Read said vendors were “clamouring” to join the show and there is a waiting list for people wanting to sell. Vendors range from everything from specialty sellers to people with personal collections. There are collectible records, new releases and some records for as little as a dollar.
Read said the legion kitchen and bar will be open so people can come down and have an enjoyable afternoon.
“It’s a real community event. Everyone wins,” said Read.
Read said last year he saw a lot of attendees sit and enjoy the food and share with their friends the finds they unearthed during the event.
Vinyl has been making a resurgence over the last few years.
According to Nielsen, a global information and insight company, vinyl sales remained strong in 2015, up about 40 per cent over 2014.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
