Now Spinning: Wesleyan University’s Record Fair

Carolyn Martin, Staff Writer

 

For most people, Sunday is a day to sleep in and relax. However, that is not what Sunday means for these record collectors.

For them, it is a day to dig and browse through multiple bins to see what they can find and add to their ever-growing collections. This record fair is held at Wesleyan University in Middletown in Fayerweather-Beckham Hall each fall and spring. It is presented by Wesleyan’s radio station WESU 88.1 FM.

This year some of the vendors were Redscroll Records (Wallingford), Records The Good The Bad Kind (Vernon), Bad Kitty music (Macomb, IL) and Spin That Records (Springfield, MA). These record stores predominantly feature alternative and rock artists, but do carry a few releases to cater to the country, pop and rap music listeners.

Some tables featured records from the seller’s personal collection. And there was nothing close to a shortage of Beatles records, so if you like them, you will definitely find something here — or a few things.

One of the best parts for the people here is how each vendor is eager to talk about music, what they are selling and just music in general. It really brings the record collecting community together.

Besides that, collectors learn from each other. They learn about artists, concerts, even about other record fairs. The day is about a lot more than just making a few purchases.

However, records are not the only thing being sold. Most booths sell CDs too and there was one booth just selling posters of musicians and pop culture like David Bowie, Frank Sinatra, The Joker and “Suicide Squad.”

Another booth featured band shirts and concert shirts from various bands and festivals — Fall Out Boy, Avenge Sevenfold, Warped Tour, Global Citizen festival — along with books on bands and musicians like Green Day and Kurt Cobain.

There was really something for everyone.

Now it should be said that this record fair caters to oldies as a genre — but do not let that scare you into not going. There are a select few bins each table has that feature newer releases and soundtracks — if you are into to that sort of thing.

And do not forget to stop by the WESU table and pick up some of its swag; they sell canvas bags, which are extremely useful.

WESU also accepts record donations; any donations the station receives and what is sold at the record fair helps keep WESU 88.1 FM going.

If you are a record collector, know someone who is and missed out on this, or just want to experience the Wesleyan record fair fear not, you will get your chance to go in spring 2019 when the next fair happens or like them on Facebook so you know when the next fair is.

But if the fair does not fit into your schedule, check out these record stores and local stores in each state on Recordstoreday.com.

Happy collecting!