If you like your music in a format you can skin up on (rather than an MP3), hate the corporate gloss of chain stores and point blank refuse to buy music from a supermarket, then a record fair is the place for you.
With independent record stores closing quicker than pubs, many towns are now left without a decent place to go and browse – and even buy – non mainstream music. Well, keep your minces peeled cos there could be a record fair coming your way.
Rockaway Record Fairs are run by the incredibly clued up Simon Philips. He does not have much of a web presence, so we thought we would share this link to his Tumblr page, which has all the dates and venues for all his fairs this year.
If you want a copy of the first Millions of Dead Cops CD, a limited edition box set of singles by The Incredible Bongo Band or a second hand copy of an album by Mr Peppermint on red vinyl, Simon is your man.
You can catch up on Simon joining us on the Peppermint Iguana Radio Show to talk about record fairs, gig promotions and life working in Newport Provisions Market by listening to the cloudcast below.
Here be the dates of his forthcoming fairs – but check his website for updates, cos things might change.
April
- Sat. 2nd NEWPORT – Newport Indoor Market, High Str.
- Sun. 3rd MALVERN The Cube Albert Road North
- Sat. 9th STROUD – Imperial Hotel, Station Road
- Sun. 10th PENARTH – Paget Rooms, Victoria Road
- Sat.16th ABERGAVENNY – Castle Street Methodist Hall
- Sun. 17th ILFRACOMBE – Pavilion Room, Landmark Theatre
- Sat. 23rd HEREFORD – Imperial Hotel, Widemarsh Street
- Sat. 30th Oxford – Methodist Hall, New Inn Hall Street
May
- Sun. 1st BRIXHAM – Scala Hall, New Road
- Sat. 14th BRIDGWATER – Arts Centre, Castle Street
- Sat. 21st WELLS – Seager Hall, Union Street
- Sun. 22nd WANTAGE – Leisure Centre, Portway
- Sat. 28th ST. IVES – St. Ives Theatre Lower Stennack
- Sun. 29th LAUNCESTON – White Hart Hotel, Broad Street
- Mon. 30th HAY ON WYE – Butter Market High Town
June
- Fri. 3rd PADSTOW – Memorial Hall
- Sat. 4th PENZANCE – Methodist Hall, Chapel Street
- Sun. 5th REDRUTH – Community Centre, Foundry Row, Chapel Street.
- Sat. 18th BARNSTAPLE – Baptist Church Hall, Boutport Str
- Sun. 19th WEYMOUTH – Royal Hotel, Esplanade
- Fri. 24th BIDEFORD – Amateur Athletic Club, The Pill
- Sat. 25th TOTNES – Methodist Hall, Fore Street
- Sun 26th ILFRACOMBE – Pavilion Room, Landmark Theatre
July
- Sat. 2nd NEWPORT (IOW) – Parish Centre, Town Lane
- Sun. 3rd SWANAGE – Mowlem Theatre, Seafront
- Sat. 9th FALMOUTH – Methodist Church Hall, The Moor
- Sun. 10th BRIXHAM – Scala Hall, New Road
- Sat. 16th NEWPORT – Newport Indoor Market, High Str
- Sun. 17th TENBY – Tenby United RFC, Upper Frog Street
- Sat. 23rd TRURO St Georges Church Hall St Georges Street
- Sun. 24th LAUNCESTON – White Hart Hotel, Broad Street
August
- Fri. 12th PADSTOW – Memorial Hall
- Sat. 13th ST. IVES – St. Ives Theatre, Lower Stennack
- Sun. 14th BUDE TBC
- Sat. 20th ABERGAVENNY – Castle Street Methodist Hall
- Sun. 21st SWANAGE – Mowlem Theatre, Seafront
- Sat. 27th NEWPORT (IOW) – Parish Centre, Town Lane
- Sun. 28th WEYMOUTH – Royal Hotel, Esplanade
- Mon. 29th HAY ON WYE – Butter Market High Town
September
- Sat. 3rd STROUD – Imperial Hotel, Station Road
- Sun. 4th PENARTH – Paget Rooms, Victoria Road
- Sat. 10th TOTNES – Methodist Hall, Fore Street
- Sun. 11th WANTAGE – Leisure Centre, Portway
- Sat. 17th HEREFORD – Imperial Hotel, Widemarsh Street
- Sun.18th MALVERN – The Cube, Albert Road North
- Sat. 24th WELLS – Seager Hall, Union Street
- Sun. 25th TAVISTOCK – Tavy Club, King Street
- Fri. 30th BIDEFORD – Amateur Athletic Club, The Pill
October
- Sat. 1st BARNSTAPLE – Baptist Church Hall, Boutport Str
- Sun. 2nd ILFRACOMBE – Pavilion Room, Landmark Theatre
- Fri. 14th PADSTOW – Memorial Hall
- Sat. 15th PENZANCE – Methodist Hall Chapel St.
- Sun. 16th ST. AUSTELL – Sembal House, West Hill
- Sat. 22nd ST. IVES – St. Ives Theatre, Lower Stennack
- Sun. 23rd LAUNCESTON – White Hart Hotel, Broad Street
November
- Sat. 5th FALMOUTH – Methodist Church Hall, The Moor
- Sun. 6th REDRUTH – Community Centre, Foundry Row, Chapel
- Sat. 12th ABERGAVENNY – Castle Street Methodist Hall
December
- Sat. 10th TRURO St Georges Church Hall St Georges Street
- Sun. 11th ST. AUSTELL – Sembal House, West Hill
- Sat. 17th STROUD – Imperial Hotel, Station Road
- Sun. 18th TAVISTOCK – Tavy Club, King Street
- A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR DEALERS AND CUSTOMERS THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT