Latest news with #NightZoo
The Star
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
The Hangout: Spin the black circle
Today I want to chat about vinyl. It has made a massive comeback over the past few years after falling out of fashion in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Back then, we were all buying cassettes and then CDs. I still remember walking into CNA to buy Guns N' Roses on tape, and recording Barney Simon's Night Zoo on my hi-fi instead of heading to bed, even though school was calling the next morning. I even had one of those very cool tape cases that neatly housed my cassettes and Walkman, so I could take it to friends' houses after school. How cool were we? I also remember hanging out at the old Randburg Waterfront, browsing CDs at the music store. Some of my very first CDs were Violent Femmes and Pixies, bought at the now long-gone Musica. Do you remember what your first buy was? I still have a big collection of CDs, and I have even seen bands selling cassettes at gigs again. But I digress. We are here to talk about vinyl. The first vinyl pressings date back to the 1930s and 1940s, which is almost a hundred years ago. That is pretty wild, and now they are back in full swing. I chatted to one of the vinyl gurus at Mr Vinyl, based at 44 Stanley in Milpark, and here is what Bret Dugmore had to say: 'The vinyl revival is an amazing story of how the human condition and our search for meaningful and mindful experiences brought back an old music format that modern society gave up on in the pursuit of ease and convenience. The experience and ritual of buying a vinyl record, putting it on a turntable, lowering the needle and carefully listening to it, while examining the artwork and lyric sheets, is by far the best way to experience music. All generations, with our youngest customers being nine or ten years old, have fallen in love with the art of collecting, caring for and listening to vinyl records. The vinyl revival was well underway overseas by 2010, but it only really took hold in South Africa around 2012. Mr Vinyl started as a hobby for me. I would buy a crate of records from a friend at a record label and sell them online. One crate turned into two, then four, and soon a large portion of my house was filled with vinyl. That gave me the push to find a retail space. We went from clicks to bricks and opened our doors at 44 Stanley in 2017. It has been our home ever since, and we have become a hub for music lovers across Johannesburg. We stock and sell all genres, and we feature the widest selection of new vinyl in South Africa.' And that's not a lie! Bret and his team really do have an outstanding store and a phenomenal selection of vinyl to choose from. I have also discovered a few fantastic vinyl fairs. There are plenty around, but here are two I think are worth checking out. The Soweto Record Fair is happening tomorrow at Native Rebels Restaurant, 1345 Kadebe Street, Central West Jabavu, Soweto. Entry is free, and you can flip through loads of records while great DJs spin vinyl and you enjoy a relaxed brunch vibe at this lovely restaurant. Then there is the Spin Music Fair, managed by Benjy Mudie of Vinyl Junkie. It brings together some of Gauteng's top vinyl dealers on the last Sunday of every month at Pirates Bowling Club in Greenside. The fair offers thousands of new and pre-loved records, from rock and pop to jazz, soul, soundtracks, hip hop and more. Crate digging is a massive part of the vinyl experience, whether you are on the hunt for a rare find or just admiring the beauty of old-school album artwork. The fair runs from 9am to 2pm and entrance is free. If you cannot make it to a fair, visit Benjy's beautiful store at 94 Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie, Randburg. It is a music lover's paradise, and Benjy's knowledge is second to none. Every visit feels like a little musical adventure, whether you are a lifelong collector or just getting started. I also often hear from people wanting to sell their vinyl collections. Both Bret from Mr Vinyl and Benjy from Vinyl Junkie can help with valuations and sales. You will be in good hands, as their passion for music and the format is matched by their honesty and care. Your beloved records will be going to good homes. If you have a collection gathering dust in your garage or storage, I urge you to go and get it. And for those who play theirs religiously, you need no coaxing — just dive in and feel the music.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
The Hangout: Spin the black circle
Today I want to chat about vinyl. It has made a massive comeback over the past few years after falling out of fashion in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Back then, we were all buying cassettes and then CDs. I still remember walking into CNA to buy Guns N' Roses on tape, and recording Barney Simon's Night Zoo on my hi-fi instead of heading to bed, even though school was calling the next morning. I even had one of those very cool tape cases that neatly housed my cassettes and Walkman, so I could take it to friends' houses after school. How cool were we? I also remember hanging out at the old Randburg Waterfront, browsing CDs at the music store. Some of my very first CDs were Violent Femmes and Pixies, bought at the now long-gone Musica. Do you remember what your first buy was? I still have a big collection of CDs, and I have even seen bands selling cassettes at gigs again. But I digress. We are here to talk about vinyl. The first vinyl pressings date back to the 1930s and 1940s, which is almost a hundred years ago. That is pretty wild, and now they are back in full swing. I chatted to one of the vinyl gurus at Mr Vinyl, based at 44 Stanley in Milpark, and here is what Bret Dugmore had to say: 'The vinyl revival is an amazing story of how the human condition and our search for meaningful and mindful experiences brought back an old music format that modern society gave up on in the pursuit of ease and convenience. The experience and ritual of buying a vinyl record, putting it on a turntable, lowering the needle and carefully listening to it, while examining the artwork and lyric sheets, is by far the best way to experience music. All generations, with our youngest customers being nine or ten years old, have fallen in love with the art of collecting, caring for and listening to vinyl records. The vinyl revival was well underway overseas by 2010, but it only really took hold in South Africa around 2012. Mr Vinyl started as a hobby for me. I would buy a crate of records from a friend at a record label and sell them online. One crate turned into two, then four, and soon a large portion of my house was filled with vinyl. That gave me the push to find a retail space. We went from clicks to bricks and opened our doors at 44 Stanley in 2017. It has been our home ever since, and we have become a hub for music lovers across Johannesburg. We stock and sell all genres, and we feature the widest selection of new vinyl in South Africa.' And that's not a lie! Bret and his team really do have an outstanding store and a phenomenal selection of vinyl to choose from. I have also discovered a few fantastic vinyl fairs. There are plenty around, but here are two I think are worth checking out. The Soweto Record Fair is happening tomorrow at Native Rebels Restaurant, 1345 Kadebe Street, Central West Jabavu, Soweto. Entry is free, and you can flip through loads of records while great DJs spin vinyl and you enjoy a relaxed brunch vibe at this lovely restaurant. Then there is the Spin Music Fair, managed by Benjy Mudie of Vinyl Junkie. It brings together some of Gauteng's top vinyl dealers on the last Sunday of every month at Pirates Bowling Club in Greenside. The fair offers thousands of new and pre-loved records, from rock and pop to jazz, soul, soundtracks, hip hop and more. Crate digging is a massive part of the vinyl experience, whether you are on the hunt for a rare find or just admiring the beauty of old-school album artwork. The fair runs from 9am to 2pm and entrance is free. If you cannot make it to a fair, visit Benjy's beautiful store at 94 Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie, Randburg. It is a music lover's paradise, and Benjy's knowledge is second to none. Every visit feels like a little musical adventure, whether you are a lifelong collector or just getting started. I also often hear from people wanting to sell their vinyl collections. Both Bret from Mr Vinyl and Benjy from Vinyl Junkie can help with valuations and sales. You will be in good hands, as their passion for music and the format is matched by their honesty and care. Your beloved records will be going to good homes. If you have a collection gathering dust in your garage or storage, I urge you to go and get it. And for those who play theirs religiously, you need no coaxing — just dive in and feel the music.
