Ronan McGrath and Jessie Kobylanski are the owners of Kamloops' newest record store.

(GLYNN BROTHEN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - It might feel a bit like a blast from the past, but the vinyl market is growing with the city’s first record store in years opening this week.

Before they ever thought of opening their own shop, Ronan McGrath and Jessie Kobylanski started holding pop-up record stores during events, or on their porch, often coupling it with an art sale or live music.

“We’ve talked to a lot of small business owners who said ‘there wasn’t this store that I could go to, so I just made it happen.’” Kobylanski says. “We always do a record store pilgrimage when we go to other cities so it’s about time Kamloops had a place like that."

Up until now, music aficionados would thumb the record collection at the Funny Pages comic shop or hotly anticipate the CFBX radio station's annual record sale. McGrath says he and Kobylanski also browsed the latest stock at London Drugs — the go-to record store up until now.

“(London Drugs) was all based on a system where you couldn’t have anyone to talk to about music,” he says. “If that can work, we figured that a concept of a record store where people are friendly and passionate about music is a whole other ball game. That’s taking it a lot more seriously."

To help customers explore different genres or discover a new artist, the pair plans to bring in a variety of records — everything from blues and jazz to metal, punk or the latest pop artist. If Barnacle Records doesn’t have what someone’s looking for, Kobylanski says they’ll do their best to bring it in.

When asked if the new demand for vinyl could taper off, the pair says it will always be a medium that has a niche for music lovers.

“There are very particular qualities about vinyl that some people want (like) artwork or a direct engaged approach. You’re not just filtering through a million songs on your hard drive. Records can decorate your house,” McGrath says. "It’s collectible too. There’s nothing collectible about digital."

Located at 290 Third Ave., the soft opening of Barnacle Records took place today, Friday, Aug. 14. with the store’s grand opening event taking place Saturday. The event will feature live bands, free appetizers and discounted products. To learn more about the store and to see the schedule for Saturday, visit Barnacle Records’ Facebook event page.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Glynn Brothen at gbrothen@infonews.ca, or call 250-319-7494. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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