Tell us little bit about your record store?
We’re one of Melbourne’s longest running second hand record store chains. We’ve been open for over 35 years now. We have two shops one on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy and a massive one in Blackburn. We sell mostly second hand records, CDs and DVDs with a small selection of new vinyl. Recently we have started to sell stereo equipment too.
What are you doing to celebrate Record Store Day? What special releases/offers will you have?
We’re having a store-wide sale with 20% off everything. That’s pretty special. We’ve got some bands coming in to do in-store shows. Fitzroy has Council of Elders, Easy Dada and DJ Brett Sheyezer playing upstairs and out at Blackburn we’ve got Miles Brown of the Night Terrors doing a set at 2pm. There is talk of staff dressing up as rock stars for fun but we’ll see if that really happens.
What do you credit as causing the ‘vinyl revival’ we currently find ourselves in?
Vinyl rules. It sounds the best, it looks the best, it feels good. Sometimes it almost feels like it loves you back. Everyone should go out and buy a record player today if they don’t have one. You won’t regret it.
What is your most obscure record and why?
That changes constantly, we’ve got some pretty cool 7” singles kicking around at the moment. For an example we’ve got this Captain Australia & the Honky Tonk single which is the only release from a band that included Ronnie Charles and Richard Wright (The Groop) plus members of The Dream, The Iguana, Aesops Fables, Somebody’s Image and the Heart’n’soul band. All those bands are pretty obscure themselves really.
Who is the most famous/weirdest/prominent customer that is been in your store? What did they buy?
Our Fitzroy store gets the occasional visit from touring musicians who are checking out Brunswick Street. We’ve had all sorts, this year we were pretty excited to get a visit from legendary Dj and record label boss Andy Votel for a bunch of record nerds it doesn’t get much better than that. Probably best not to mention the weirdest.
What’s the best thing about the Diggin’ Melbourne guide?
Beside it being a map to all the records stores in town (so awesome)? I guess the best thing about the Diggin’ Melbourne guide would be the wax you get to take home with you when you head out on the town with it in your pocket.
For more information contact visit dixons.com.au.
