Record Shops

THE BEAT GOES ON
24 Cotham Hill (off Whiteladies Rd), Bristol, tel: 0117 973 7211, email: mclaren7500@aol.com • Taking the shamelessly retro collector’s delight route, TBGO boasts a majority swing toward vinyl, an extensive new and secondhand DVD/video selection and a sideline in paperbacks too. Even the casual browser is likely to find something of interest on some format, from vintage rock’n’roll to modern techno. Firmly emphasising quality over quantity, there aren’t many music shops left with such a laudable attitude. Open 12.15-5.45pm Tue-Fri, 11.15am-5.45pm Sat, open some Sun (call beforehand).

BROAD STREET JAZZ
11 Broad St, Bath, tel: 01225 427494, email: jt@broadstreetjazz.com • One of the last jazz specialist shops left in Britain, covering the traditional to contemporary on CD, DVD and vinyl. With imports from all over the world, including the USA and Japan, they also offer post-free mail order within the UK. Open 9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Sat.

CHEMICAL RECORDS
Unit C2, St Vincents Trading Est, Feeder Rd, Bristol, tel: 0117 971 4924, email: info@chemical-records.co.uk, web: www.chemical-records.co.uk • Proud winners of the Best Record Store gong at the recent National Drum And Bass Awards 2009, Chemical is a dance Mecca: DJ equipment (mixers to earplugs), drum & bass, trance, house, techno, UK garage, hip-hop, hard house, progressive, breaks, leftfield/downbeat, funk and scratch records. A large range of DJ equipment is on display, with a huge range of vinyl on 16 virtual listening posts, giving access to approx 15,000 titles of untouched vinyl. There’s a massive clothing section (featuring various well-known brands including Addict, Fenchurch and Boxfresh) and various gadgets also grace the shelves. Regular in-store events and real time stock information. Order online, by phone or in store. Open 11am-7pm Mon-Fri, 11am-6pm Sat.

CHERRY PICKED
117-119 Stokes Croft, tel: 0117 987 4144, web: www.myspace.com/cherrypickedrecords • Well-established bar/nightclub The Croft also plays host to Cherry Picked Records by day, from 1pm. Good selection of metal, indie, reggae, electronica, folk, world, jazz and noise on vinyl and CD (and the thirsty can grab a cheeky pint while browsing).

DMT SOUNDS
74 Stokes Croft, Bristol, tel: 0117 942 5900, web: www.myspace.com/dmtsounds • Specialising in the hardest dancefloor noises, DMT is a great port-of-call for breakcore, ragga/jungle, techno, house and breakbeat, as well as DJ equipment, PA systems for hire and, for the graf heads, spray paint too. Club tickets are available in advance here as well, with the odd in-store rave up.

DROP RECORDS
27 Broad St, Bath, tel: 01225 444577, email: info@droprecords.co.uk, web: www.droprecords.co.uk, www.myspace.com/droprecords • Underground independent record shop in central Bath serving the finest drum & bass, jungle, breaks, dubstep, hip-hop, reggae, funk, soul, electronica and more - mainly on vinyl but also CD and tape packs. The upstairs secondhand CD section stocks all genres. Open 10am-6pm Mon-Sat.

DSWAT
Unit 34/The Coach House, 2 Upper York St, Bristol, tel: 07814 271976, email: armin@dswat.net, web: www.dswat.net • Fine predominantly online store concentrating on jungle, breakcore, dubstep, drum & bass, electro and all things dirty and underground. Affiliated with the Death$ucker label, DSWAT features a ‘Bristol sounds’ section packed with local labels and producers. You can also browse at the above address or order online then collect in person to save on postage - just make sure you call beforehand.

DUCK, SON & PINKER
9-12 Bridge St, Pultney Bridge, Bath, tel: 01225 465975, email: info@ducksonandpinker.co.uk, web: www.ducksonandpinker.co.uk • If listening is your preference over making music, the long-running music store stocks a good selection of jazz, classical and opera CDs and more, alongside its more famous range of instruments and sheet music. Open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat.

FOPP RECORDS
27-29 College Green, Bristol, tel: 0117 937 7110, web: www.foppreturns.com • Back in the saddle as a discount retailer, now backed by HMV, Fopp continues its usual dirt cheap piled-high range of chart titles and back catalogue business. The occasional live in-store set to boot. Open 9am-6pm Mon, 9.30am-6pm Tue-Sat, 12pm-6pm Sun.

HERE SHOP AND GALLERY
108b Stokes Croft, Bristol, tel: 0117 942 2222, email: shop@thingsfromhere.co.uk, web: www.thingsfromhere.co.uk • Dedicated to local independent music, Here bristles with DIY not-for-profit spirit and some of Bristol’s most interesting sounds. Run by volunteers, also among a treasure trove of goodies are music-related mags, books, art, clothes and comics. True mavericks. Open 10.30am-6.30pm Tue-Fri, 10.30am-5.30pm Sat.

PAYBACK RECORDS
45 St Nicholas Market, Corn St, Bristol, tel: 07966 347412 • Vinyl evangelists who, in keeping with their chosen era, manage without a web presence. They continue to devote main energies to funk, soul and particularly reggae, from vintage wax to up-to-the-minute dancehall. Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat.

PLASTIC WAX
222 Cheltenham Rd, Bristol, tel: 0117 942 7368, email: dave.kellard@plasticwaxrecords.com, web: www.plasticwaxrecords.com • Over 180,000 secondhand/rare items, a 10% discount card is available, and bulk purchase offers galore. Deals in CDs, vinyl, 78s, DVDs, videos and books. A sample-hunter’s paradise, with rarities to clearance bargains. Open 9.30am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat, 12noon-4.30pm Sun.

PRIME CUTS
85 Gloucester Rd (below RePsycho Clothing), Bristol, tel: 0117 983 0007, email: msavage72@hotmail.com • Cheerful staff and a vast stock, Prime Cuts remains a top destination for crate diggers hunting for breaks, but also has expanded CD and DVD ranges. That hasn’t affected their range of drum & bass, hip-hop and 60s/70s psychedelia nodding to the clothes store it shares premises with. Tickets also available. Open 10am-5.30pm Mon-Sat.

PK MUSIC EXCHANGE
51 Gloucester Rd, Bristol, tel: 0117 924 1658, email: paulsellit@hotmail.com • Secondhand vinyl and CD emporium where you can also pick up band, hi-fi and DJ gear. Old skool ravers, hip-hoppers and technoists are particularly well catered for. Buy, trade, sell. Open 9am-5pm Mon-Sat.

PROVIDENCE MUSIC
1 St George’s Rd, Bristol, tel: 0117 927 6536, fax: 0117 927 6680, email: shop@providencemusic.co.uk, web: www.providencemusic.co.uk • Specialist in classical CDs, as well as printed music, also selling musical gifts and accessories and offering a mail order service, plus tickets for many classical concerts in Bristol. Open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat. See also Music Shops, Instrument Makers & Repairs.

ROCK SHOP
63-65 St Nicholas Market, Bristol, tel: 0117 927 7300, web: www.myspace.com/therockshop_uk • Metal and punk records aplenty, while the central shop concentrates on a range of official rock merch, particularly clothing. Members of Slipknot, Alkaline Trio, Good Charlotte and Megadeth have popped in previously, which should be recommendation enough for aficionados. Open 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat.

ROOTED RECORDS
9 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol, tel: 0117 907 4372, email: peverelist@rootedrecords.co.uk, web: www.rootedrecords.co.uk • If you want dubstep, this is the place to come. Still vinyl disciples, as well as latest releases from city labels Punch Drunk and Tectonic, there’s a sizeable range of grime, drum & bass, jungle, independent hip-hop, reggae, roots, funk, breaks and electronica. Also available: CDs, DVDs, plus all manner of gig/club tickets, with friendly, knowledgeable staff. Open 10am-6pm Mon-Sat.

TUMI
Unit 2, Ashmead Business Centre, Ashmead Rd, Keynsham, Bristol, tel: 0117 986 9216, fax: 0117 986 2588, email: info@tumimusic.com, web: www.tumimusic.com • World music of all styles, focusing on Latin American, from the multifarious Tumi collective.

Back to Musicians Guide Index