Imagine a record store without that record store smell (we all love the smell of vinyls, don’t get us wrong). Okay, good.
Imagine a record store without that record store smell (we all love the smell of vinyls, don’t get us wrong). Okay, good. Now imagine that record store smell being replaced with the smell of yum-o Hardywood beers. Getting there.
Now, imagine this record store serving you the Hardywood beers as you sort through a SEA of vinyl records with your dainty and/or calloused fingers. Yeah, that exists.
This Sunday October 11th at Hardywood Brewery, Vinyl Conflict and Steady Sounds come together here in RVA to birth a mecca of vinyl record fairs named VG Minus.
“The record fair idea has been tossed around between locals a lot for a long time. There are a couple fairs in town that happen frequently. I’ve wanted to do it for quite some time but my real push was after doing one of the asbury park New Jersey punk rock flea markets organized by Hold Fast Records,” Bobby Egger, owner of Vinyl Conflict in RVA’s Oregon Hill neighborhood said in an interview. “They encouraged me strongly to go home and do it myself. Marty Key from Steady Sounds immediately shot to mind and we started planning right away.”
VG Minus will bring to us, those who praise the vinyl record world, a total of twenty vendors selling a hodgepodge of vinyls from all genres between aisles of tables within the Hardywood brewery in Scotts Addition.
Genres range from Punk to Soul, Tone to Textures, Reggae to Metal, and even Disco.
Vinyl Conflict usually serves up a good dose of Punk, Metal, and Hardcore at their shop while Steady Sounds allowed a lot of the same along with other varying genres/sub-genres of records and connections that helped prepare for the event.
According to Egger, the planning of this event took about six months with a few scratches along the way, but finding vendors and a venue for holding the event was eventually seamless, allowing the event to move at record speed:
“We had a few places in mind, but Hardywood really has such an inviting atmosphere and their own following. As hardcore record nuts we additionally have our own followings (and each shop has cross over as well as separate fans),” Egger said. “The idea to do it with the brewery falls into that music is enjoyed by all, and Hardywood continues to keep supporting the Richmond music scene.”
Egger (who recently returned from a vinyl excavation in Japan) and Key, along with Vinyl Conflict, Steady Sounds, and other vinyl shops in our area will bring some great records and merchandise your way this weekend.
“You can expect a fantastic and well curated selection of sellers who really take pride in their interests. Fantastic Djs with great taste. And the potential to spend your last penny to your name and be alright with it.” Egger said.
About six exclusively vinyl DJs as well as local RVA band The Milkstains will be present to set the tone and cap the event off for the VG Minus on Sunday October 11th at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery.
And don’t sweat, you should already know that numerous food trucks and Hardywood brews will be always be present. Pfft.
