Happy festival season, Nashville! Not all of us locals love negotiating the big crowds of CMA Fest and Bonnaroo to see live music, so I thought this would be a good time to chat about shopping for vinyl. What better time to find some new tunes and hole up at home to listen without paying for parking downtown?
Best for a Beer and a Browse: Vinyl Tap
East Nashville’s Vinyl Tap offers the dream combination: A big record selection and a full bar. Browse racks of new and used vinyl, then talk about it with your friends while you enjoy a cocktail or two. If you’re a dedicated record collector, join their 33 ⅓ Club that earns you $33.33 after 10 new record purchases of $30 or more.
Best for Live Appearances: Grimey’s New & Preloved Records
Housed in a former church in Inglewood, Grimey’s is one of Nashville’s leading independent music spots. New releases are popular draws (check the website for the details each week), but collectors also like to spend time combing through bins on two floors. Don’t skip the regular album signings — this Friday it’s The Red Clay Strays. The murals on the exterior are photo-op favorites.
Best for Discovering New Tunes: Third Man Records
The sleek black exterior that houses Jack White’s Third Man Records hides a shop full of riotous color and fun discovery. The store, of course, stocks music from the Third Man label, plus other novelties. Reserve a spot in advance for $30 to take a tour of the recording facility. Their adjoining venue, The Blue Room, hosts everything from concerts to game and trivia nights.
Best Excuse To Thrift: Elevator Vinyl
If you read last Thursday’s Keep It Local newsletter, you know I love to shop second-hand. Lykke Haus is one of my favorite places to look around and pretend I live in a house that looks like a retro movie set. Elevator Vinyl is located inside that Trinity Lane shop, and stocks some rare finds — check their Instagram for new arrivals. (Anybody else experiencing extreme nostalgia at the sight of these cassettes?)
A view from the stacks at Clarksville’s AndVinyl. (Amanda Clark / AndVinyl)
Worth the Drive
Perhaps you want to be a little farther away from the city this weekend, so I’ve got some ideas for vinyl shops that are worth paying current gas prices. Each of these are in towns about an hour away, and are easy destinations for a day trip.
I’m a diehard fan of Columbia, Tennessee and that’s in part because of its public square, chock-full of cool shops like Variety Records. Make a day of it and eat well while there. I love Gold’s Deli with my whole heart (bring me a pastrami, please), and people who frequented Savarino’s when it was in Hillsboro Village will be happy to visit their market in Columbia.
Luna Record Shop, located inside The Factory at Franklin, is a woman-owned gem open 7 a.m-10 p.m. daily, so there’s no time that they won’t be able to cure your jonesing for a new album. And, of course, The Factory has plenty of other shops, restaurants, bars, and even a restored carousel to entertain you.
People sometimes roll their eyes at me when I tell them I am headed to Bowling Green, Kentucky. It takes me less time to get there from Inglewood than it takes to get to Franklin, but I guess because it is in a different state, it seems far. Once there I can check out Mellow Matt’s Music & More. As a bonus: This weekend is Duncan Hines Days in Bowling Green. It wasn’t until last year that I learned he was a real person from Bowling Green, and not just a name on a cake mix.
Finally, downtown Clarksville is a great place to window shop and check out public art galleries and the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center. In the heart of downtown is AndVinyl, an old-school shop where the staff want to chat with you about your favorite finds.
