Melanie Riley
Music enthusiasts and vinyl lovers can get excited for the return of the Mount Gambier Autumn Vinyl and Retro Music Fair.
Organiser of the event and owner of Vintage Vinyl Scott Dickson said he has run multiple successful vinyl fairs since last year, including the last one in Robe in January, with this year’s event seeing even more vinyl traders.
Mr Dickson’s interest in vinyl sales began about six years ago, when he was sorting through his personal record collection and trying to figure out how he was going to minimise it.
He said he saw a gap in the market, and wanted to see something done about it.
After travelling to traders in Port Fairy, Robe, Ballarat, Melbourne and Adelaide, he was still left with a sizeable amount of high quality vinyl.
“The vinyl boom had started at that point in time,” he said.
“That whole experience got me thinking about vinyl and the fact there was nothing in this region for people to be able to source vinyl, there was nothing here at that time.”
He then decided to become a vinyl trader, buying and selling vinyls from all over Australia, as well as importing from overseas.
Mr Dickson said hunting down vinyls for people is exciting for him, whether it’s for a personal collection or special gift.
“I quite enjoy the thrill of a chase,” he said.
Mr Dickson said the idea behind running the vinyl fair is to bring together like minded sellers and buyers and create a space where people can come together and celebrate music.
“The intent is to attract like-minded buyers, so people that are passionate and interested in music are going to be able to find stuff there,” he said.
“They’ve proven to be very successful.”
The fair will feature retro hi-fi equipment for sale such as stereos and record players, a number of vinyl traders from across the state and Victoria and CDs, music books and band t-shirts for sale.
“If we all consolidate and decide to bring like-minded people to a place at the same time, it becomes much more efficient in the way that we operate,” Mr Dickson said.
“Having the fair at a brewery and having food and the opportunity for people to make a bit of a day of it, is what has worked really well.”
Mr Dickson is looking at holding a larger vinyl festival-type event, that will include traders from Adelaide and Melbourne and barbecue, bar facilities and live music, and said he is looking to support local artists in this space.
“I’m hoping there can be a real synergy that’s created in produced music and live music,” he said.
“With the event in July, I think that’s got potential to be big.
“We’re hoping that people are able to experience what a major gig would be like in a capital city.
“On a small scale, to be able to provide these events provides opportunities for people to see what locals are doing in this space, but also see that the quality and prices of what’s being offered locally is exceptional.”
Mr Dickson said rather than exhausting multiple local markets throughout the year, he is hopeful he create vinyl events that will be something that will earn a permanent spot on the local calendar.
“It just works so well, because the only people coming are people that are interested.”
“For this weekend, if people are driving out to Little Rippa to come to this, they’re coming because they like it. They’re coming for us.”
Mount Gambier Autumn Vinyl & Retro Music Fair will be on Sunday, April 14 at 12.00-4.00pm at the Little Rippa Brewing Company, Yahl.
