Introducing Huntsville’s Vinyl Trail!
Hey, all you cool record rats! The needle's just dropped on some fresh news, and it's got us all ears! Word on the street is that a NEW Vinyl Trail is about to start spinning in our own backyard right here in Huntsville. If you're the type who gets a rush from the crackle of vinyl, swoons over the art of gatefold sleeves, and can spend hours flipping through milk crates for forgotten gems, then this Vinyl Trail is going to be your new groove. This is a developing story, so keep your headphones on - we'll add more details as they come in. For now, drop that stylus on your favorite record, crank up the volume, and let's dive in!
The masterminds behind the Vinyl Trail, Chip Bowen and Brad Clasgens from AVIQ, recently sat down with us to give us the inside scoop.
VISIT HUNTSVILLE (henceforth, VH): Tell us how the Vinyl Trail came about. What's the idea behind it?
Brad: “It grew out of the success that Downtown Huntsville Inc. and the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) have had with similar initiatives like the coffee trail, craft beer trail, and mural trail. At AVIQ, we're all about celebrating music and helping our customers experience it as it was meant to be heard, crystal clear and full of soul.“
Chip: “We noticed we were continually meeting engineers or government contractors on temporary duty who were looking up local record stores and checking out the vinyl scene in Huntsville. We thought, 'Let's make it easy!' So we created a way to guide them to each store, and since each has its own unique flavor, we’re promoting them collectively to create a robust and diverse record scene here. The more people know about Huntsville's vinyl scene, the more likely they are to visit and spend time in our wonderful city. If vinyl is what you want, we've got it! All of us record stores are part of this tribe, and we're simply banding together to create a stronger record scene!”
VH: What exactly is this Vinyl Trail you’re spinning up?
Brad: “For the launch, it includes the three Huntsville record stores - Vertical House, Black Rose, Maxwells - and AVIQ, with the gracious support of Downtown Huntsville and the CVB. We're planning to add Signals Museum when it opens later this year, and we'll continue to expand as new record-related stores pop up.”
Chip: “We’ve built great relationships and have solid connections with the local record shops, and we all work well together. We saw an opportunity for all of us to benefit by joining forces. The idea is to hold events together and promote each other.”
VH: How will the Vinyl Trail play out? (pun intended)
Brad: “We're planning regular cross-promotion events. AVIQ will be opening on select Sundays, and we'll host quarterly record sales in our showroom - imagine all three stores under one roof, creating a vinyl lover's paradise! It's all about fostering a community around vinyl.”
Chip: “Saint Stevens will be organizing listening events here on some Saturday afternoons. Think of them as mini vinyl showcases in our showroom. Our initial focus is on perfecting the Huntsville trail and ironing out any kinks. Once we've got that down, we aim to expand, involving all of North Alabama and surrounding cities in this vinyl adventure!”
VH: What value will the Vinyl Trail bring to Huntsville?
Brad: “It's going to be a great tourism draw for the city. Plus, it helps celebrate music in what's already becoming known as a music city. We're adding another layer to Huntsville's cultural scene.”
VH: You mentioned that the Records and Retro event served as a launching point for the Vinyl Trail. Can you tell us more about that and plug the event that is coming up?
Chip: "Records and Retro is where we recognized the demand for this! Two years ago, when we had good weather for the event, 5,000 people showed up! We realized there’s a market for this. You never know who you'll see - I ran into my banker and had no idea he was a vinyl junkie. He was wearing an AC/DC shirt, which is not how I usually see him at the bank!
We decided to figure out something we could do to build a hub around vinyl in Huntsville. Downtown Huntsville and the CVB said, 'Hey, we're behind you!' They sat in on our meetings, and now we're ready to spread the word about the trail through flyers, a booth, and word of mouth at Records and Retro. We have something to hand out, make the announcement, and get this thing kicked off!
Also, if you’re anywhere near Huntsville and even slightly interested in vinyl, come on out to Records and Records: A Market to Celebrate All Things Groovy at the Orion Amphitheater Sunday, October 6, from 11 am - 5 pm with other 100 booths!”
Now, Let’s go walk the trail or scroll the trail (wink)
Stop 1: AVIQ: Audio Visual, Hi-Fi, Home Theatre and Intelligent Home Automation
(1833 University Drive, Huntsville, AL)
AVIQ is the Southeast's new destination for all things home audio. The showroom setup makes it unique, featuring various listening rooms that allow you to audition sound quality before bringing a system home. The space also serves as a museum of sorts, with historical musical pieces adorning the walls. When you visit, make sure to chat with Chip - you're missing out if you don't! He's the ultimate storyteller, brimming with legendary music stories you won't easily forget. The best part? They all relate to Huntsville!
The showroom boasts an eclectic collection of the highest quality systems for digital music, theatre, and turntables. Brad, who runs marketing for AVIQ, explains their business approach; “We typically cater to three audiences: 1. home networking/home automation enthusiasts. 2. home theatre and video aficionados 3. Two-channel audio lovers. Sometimes, we have someone walk in who's bucket-listing and is finally ready to create that home theater in their basement. The younger generation is usually curious about how music sounded before all the compression. Our listening rooms allow us to demonstrate how audio files have gotten smaller over time, turning our showroom into an educational space on the evolution of music!” At AVIQ, we're all about celebrating music and helping our customers experience it as it was meant to be heard, crystal clear and full of soul.”
Stop 2: Vertical House Records
(Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr SW, Huntsville, AL 35805)
The first big used record shop in town, and now the “Big Box” store of the three. They have the most extensive inventory and have become a tourist draw. We were able to catch up with Andy and get a word from him; “Vertical House Records has been slingin' wax in Huntsville since 2007 at Lowe Mill! What started from humble beginnings in a small 100-square-foot space has now expanded to 4,000 square feet with over 30,000 records in stock! We have a bit of something for everyone and love supporting local and regional musicians. We’re excited to support and be part of the growing vinyl scene in Huntsville!”
Stop 3: Black Rose Records
(7914 Memorial Pkwy SW Suite E-9B, Huntsville, AL)
They have a reputation for having a great selection of punk/new wave records, but they have a wider variety than just that. They only sell records in top-notch condition, CDs, and some VHS. A word from the owner, Sean: “I search high and low for record gems. In fact, we’re about to make another overseas trip to England, and we plan to bring back a lot of new vinyl for the store. We’re excited to help support the other record stores and expect the cross-promoting will help us all!”
Stop 4: Maxwell's Music
(A&M Collective, booth 305, Railroad Station Antiques, 315 Jefferson St N, Huntsville, AL)
Maxwell’s music was a staple on Clinton Ave downtown but had to move due to some changes in building ownership. While a new location is being established, the records can be found temporarily at Railroad Station Antiques downtown. Maxwell’s has long been known to have a great selection of jazz records and a good overall variety, including CDs. Details regarding Maxwell’s new location will be released soon. In the meantime, connect with them at Records and Retro this Saturday!
and counting…
Huntsville's new Vinyl Trail is set to amplify the city's music scene, offering a niche tribe for vinyl enthusiasts. From AVIQ's high-tech listening rooms to the eclectic collections at Vertical House, Black Rose, and Maxwell's, there's something for every record lover. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just getting into vinyl, the Vinyl Trail promises to be a harmonious addition to Huntsville's vibrant cultural scene, spinning up new experiences for locals and visitors alike!
