Sticky Black Tarmac

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Get ready to celebrate Record Store Day. Find your nearest record store, where you can get exclusive access to new vinyl releases, event locations, and more.

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Sticky Black Tarmac

Leigh Spinners Mill, Park Lane, Leigh, WN7 2LB

07502 495064

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UPCOMING RECORD STORE DAY EVENT

GIVE US THE BACKGROUND - WHEN AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN A RECORD SHOP?

I opened Sticky Black Tarmac (SBT) in October last year, name taken from a lyric in The Jam’s ‘That’s Entertainment’…. a trio of words that could loosely enough be connected to a slab of vinyl which was good enough for me! A record shop had been a ‘wouldn’t that be good to do’ kind of idea for a while, as it is for a lot of people I guess, but whilst being stuck working from home in lockdown I mulled over it more and more and thought why not have a proper go at this? Being on the outskirts of Salford especially, it seemed a little mad that there wasn’t a record shop local to my area. It’s always easy enough to get into the city centre and have a wander round all the great shops in and around Manchester, but I knew there must be more people like me wishing there was a true local for our neck of the woods - especially considering the history and contribution to music round here.

Tell us a little bit about your store? What's the vibe?

The shop itself is a small space located in the Ellesmere Shopping Centre, Walkden. A good range of stuff is packed in here, indie, rock, pop, hip hop, soul etc. I’d say 85% of the stock is new but there is a good selection of second-hand vinyl which is expanding. A lot of shops will say the same, but it’s a two-way thing, as much as I love ordering in and recommending stuff to people, a lot of it is influenced by the people who shop here. I’m fortunate that a good range of people pop in, it’s a relaxed atmosphere and all are welcome.

Can you remember the first record you sold in the shop? And the last?

First record sold in store was to a fella called Jordan who works in ‘Clouds’ (another shop in the centre I’m based in) he picked up, appropriately, ‘Saint Cloud’ by Waxahatchee. The last, at the time of writing was Galaxie 500 – This Is Our Music.

Do you remember the first record shop you went to? And do you remember the first record you bought?

First record shop I went to was Vinyl Exchange as my dad was always in and out of there, but the first record I actually bought (or handed over the counter the money my mum gave me) was in Woolworths on Swinton precinct – Bob The Builder ‘The Album’. My taste peaked there.

What is your favourite record shop (apart from your own!) and why?

I’ll use this opportunity to give Wax & Beans the love, not that they don’t get enough! Friendly place, great people, great stock.

What’s your most memorable record store experience?

Impossible to pick. I never tire of the day-to-day music chat with people in the shop, I’m a simple man!

How was your first ever Record Store Day?

You expect it because its RSD, but to turn up and see people queuing to get into your shop is mad, and I don’t think it will ever not be. It was great so see a lot of new faces alongside the regulars, and even better that a lot have returned since! In a sentence, a dead good day.

What's the best gig you've ever been to?

Difficult to choose…. but best in recent memory has to be Kelly Lee Owens at the Ritz in Manchester last year. She blew my mind, brilliant start to finish.

What's your all-time favourite book?

I don’t read enough to pick out an all-time favourite - when I do pick up a book it’s usually an autobiography, Johnny Marr’s ‘Set The Boy Free’ was a good read.