Newtown record store trail for vinyl lovers

Over recent years, vinyl record sales have reached new heights with music lovers continuing to embrace the nostalgic and traditional medium of music listening. In the process, the re-emergence of record stores has continued to rise and whether on purpose or not, Newtown has become a gold mine for crate diggers.

To celebrate the Sydney music communities strong support for vinyl records, we have compiled a fun record store trail, to help you find those musical gems of all genres.

Halcyon Daze Records – 498a King St, Newtown NSW 2042

We recommend starting your walk on South King Street, away from the hustle and bustle of the “main” part of King streets thoroughfare. Locals will proudly proclaim this section of King St as still the truly local side of Newtown with a mix of coffee shops, antique stores, pubs and well establish local eats. Tucked in the middle of it all is Halycon Records who proclaim to ‘love the lost, the weird and the simply wonderful’. This is a record store you go to, to find something you’ll never hear on Spotify or Apple music and expand your ears through something old, that’ll be your personal something new.

Something Else Records – 488 King St, Newtown NSW 2042

A short walk from Halycon Daze Records is Something Else Records. These music promoters turned record store owners will transport you from Sydney to Berlin with their deep knowledge of European centric dance and electronic music. You can flick through and discover new music in the world of Minimal / House / Techno / Dub Techno / Electro / Ambient & Electronica for all your Untz Untz needs. The store also stocks plenty of gear to ensure you have the best equipment to play and listen to your musical gems.

Repressed Records – 413 King Street Newtown, NSW, Australia 2042

Establish in 2002, Repressed Records is arguably one of Newtown’s most recognised long-standing vinyl stores. Not only do they have a huge selection of both mainstream, punk and classical records, they also cater for people still embracing CDs and cassettes. So best be blowing the dust off that walkman!

Egg Records – 3 Wilson St Newtown, NSW, Australia 2042

Best recognised by their giant Homer Simpson wearing an ‘Inner Westie’ t-shirt at the storefront, the family-owned Egg Records is another long-standing institution in Newtown. A place that prides itself on its buying, selling and trading of records, Egg largely sell rock, classic pop (think David Bowie) and old school metal (e.g. Black Sabbath). With large vinyl stock, Egg is a great place to try and find something rare.

Hum On King – 271 King St Newtown, NSW, Australia 2042

Heard something popping off on the radio waves? Hum is the place you go to get the latest. Like visiting an HMV back in the day, they are usually displaying a new album from a major / or major indie label in their window front. Established in 2000, they have been doing so well that in fact, this is one of two Sydney stores. In a similar vein to Egg, they sell CDs, however, they go a step further into the realm of movies and also sell DVDs and Blu-ray for those contemporary movie traditionalists.

Cottonmouth Records – 182 Enmore Rd Enmore, NSW, Australia 2042

What better way to end your vinyl trail with a record store that’s also a bar! Peruse their worldly collection of vinyl while sipping on one of many locally produced craft beers on tap or a small-batch whiskey. If you are lucky enough to be there on a Friday or Saturday night, it’s not uncommon for there to be a live DJ spinning vinyl. Cottonmouth is the perfect feat up relaxed record store to listen to eclectic tunes and take stock of what records you’ve scored on the Newtown trail.

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Written by Stoney Roads