It’s all about that “a-ha” moment when you finally find the one after flipping through what feels like an ocean of vinyl all day.
The hallelujah chorus seems to squeak out from …
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It’s all about that “a-ha” moment when you finally find the one after flipping through what feels like an ocean of vinyl all day.
The hallelujah chorus seems to squeak out from the depths of the dusty bin as you lift your find to the light.
You may not have even been looking for it, maybe it found you, but that’s the magic of the hunt for that delicious, slick treasure of vinyl.
That feeling doesn’t come from clicking the “confirm order” button on a screen. Instead it is exclusively packaged and sold in record stores or, in this case, at record shows.
“It’s a treasure hunt,” said Chuck Moses, owner of Resurrection Vinyl and co-organizer of the Port Townsend Record Show.
Along with James Schultz, proprietor of Quimper Sound, and Nate Malmgren of SoundXchange, they are bringing the sixth annual record show back to the American Legion Hall on Saturday, Aug. 21.
Collectors, traders, flippers and dealers come from around the Pacific Northwest to set up their tables full of potential holy grails and hidden gems, Schultz said.
“There will be thousands and thousands and thousands of hidden gems just waiting for prospective buyers to come and take them home to add to their precious collections,” he added. “You never know what people are going to bring to a show like this.”
From Seattle to Portland to Eugene to Tacoma, regional vendors come far and wide to peddle their spin-able goods. This year will see 30 8-foot-long tables full of stock.
Novice collectors, seasoned enthusiasts, and casual browsers are welcome to peruse the stacks of wax.
“When I go to record shows, I like to find what I’m looking for when I get there. It finds me, sort of,” Malmgren said, “that’s part of the fun of it.”
“I don’t go in with a lot of expectations, but I always find a big stack of records every show.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to leave with, but it’s going to be something good,” he added.
At the Port Townsend Record Show, there will be primarily pre-owned records priced for what they’re worth, said the organizers, describing an array of original and collectible inventory.
Visiting record stores in search of that original merchandise can be frustrating. The items worth snagging are often picked through and snatched up before most shoppers can get to them.
“There’s not a lot of original pressed stock out there at record stores and there will be a lot at this show,” said Moses.
There is an advantage, he added, that comes with shopping at shows like this one.
“Early pressings are selling so fast right now. It’s impossible to keep things in stock,” Schultz explained, assuring these shows are the places to find the good stuff.
Record shows are often home to those gems that slipped through the cracks.
“Here’s your rare piece of gold dust that’s been sitting in somebody’s collection,” Schultz added. “That’s what people are really looking for.”
Another advantage at a record show is the ability to get up close and personal with the albums. You can look at the vinyl, study the grooves, and see the wear firsthand.
Besides albums, stereo equipment, CD’s, T-shirts, memorabilia, and more will be available for sale.
This year’s selection was described as “all over the place” by Moses and as spanning “the whole map” by Malgrem.
Early bird admittance will be 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Aug. 21 for a $10 fee. General admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be free. Sponsored by Quimper Sound and KPTZ, live DJs will be spinning records throughout the day along with a sprinkling of raffles, giveaways, and trivia. All ages are welcome.
Participants are asked to respect Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 guidelines as they apply to Jefferson Country on the date of the event.
For more information, visit ptrecordshow.com.
