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

It’s great to have a big window in the shop!

Being three floors up you get a great view, and having a lot of natural light provides a great vibe for browsing the racks. The shop is eclectic, all genres are stocked, with a good spread of music from around the world.

I think with so much music having come and gone, people who were once more tribal in their tastes are now discovering genres they never would have expected to enjoy. For the younger generation, there is so much music at their fingertips to discover. I pride myself on providing a space for people to pick up a bit of anything. 

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

The first record sold at the new shop in Leigh was Daft Punk ‘Homework’

The most recent record sold was a new release on the Leaf Label from Laurence Pike called The Undreamt-of Centre.

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

First proper record shop I visited would have been Vinyl Exchange in Manchester. My first purchase was a Bob The Builder CD from Woolworths (RIP).

(Woolworths, I mean, not Bob). 

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

I’ll go for Vinyl Resting Place in Afflecks Palace, Manchester. Top selection of 2nd hand goods!

We’re both on the 3rd floor of our respective buildings, it must be the best floor for record shops.

What’s your most memorable record store experience?

Hacker The Dog (of CBBC fame), visited the shop this year… don’t think that will ever be topped. He was shopping for Pet Shop Boys singles.

How successful has Record Store Day been for your store?

Record Store Day has been great for the shop, and keeps growing here every year! The awareness it draws to local records shops is unmatched, and we have gained so many repeat customers from the day. 

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

Impossible to choose… but best in recent memory was Feist last year at Victoria Warehouse. Despite all that she’s released I think she’s still way underrated.

What's your all-time favourite book?

Someone got me a book for Christmas called ‘Ye-Ye Girls Of 60’s French Pop’, that’s a gooden. A great deep dive into the history and scene of it, plus some cool photographs and artwork in there.

What's your all-time favourite film?

Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders, 1984)

What would make up your desert island discs?

Khruangbin & Vieux Farka Toure – Ali

Dina Ogon – Self Titled

Beatles – Revolver

Sade – Promise

Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, Mad City

George Harrison – All Things Must Pass

Beach House – Devotion

Aldous Harding – Designer

OTHER RECORD STORES