Record store finds its groove

BENDIGO Vinyl has already built a following in the local music community before even setting up shop.

Trading online and regularly at the Sunday Showgrounds market, co-owners Paul O’Farrell and Sam Edmonds said their business is all about making records accessible to listeners of all genres.

“Bendigo seems like a cool city, it’s quite arty, there is a decent music scene, there’s lots of local artists floating about and we didn’t think there was enough for those people,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“So many people we’ve spoken to so far have mentioned that they travel into Melbourne once a month to go and pick up records.”

Now, the duo is seeing regulars at their stall buying anything from English pop star Harry Styles to American heavy metal band Metallica.

Last year, their most purchased artist was ARIA award winning Aussie band The Teskey Brothers, and Mr Edmonds said there was a growing trend among audiences to buy a physical copy of the music they love.

“Buying music outright and having something that you own is super appealing to the younger demographic here,” he said.

“Sometimes there feels like potentially there’s a disconnect with digital consumerism and the ease of use, and maybe it doesn’t say as much about you as you’d like it to.

“Whereas when you own something, when you can show people and you can put the wax on and drop the needle, it’s a connected, richer, more intimate experience.”

With plans to move into a shopfront soon, the co-owners said they were looking to build a collection around what customers want, and there’s a chance it won’t be sorted by genre.

“So, you’re going to have Taylor Swift next to Megadeth,” Mr O’Farrell said. “I’m getting a kick out of that.”