Certain things bring authenticity to a city like locally owned restaurants, vintage shops, clothing boutiques, breweries, juice bars, coffee, as well as art and music.
There’s something about rolling down Riverfront Drive in Old Town or wandering through downtown Mankato that breathes the authentic character of this city — what some people call vibe.
I may be a bit biased being a musician and music fan, but the fact that Mankato has not just a record store but an independently owned record store delivers some major authenticity points. High Fidelity or Empire Records anyone?
Mankato’s Own Independent Record Shop!
Tune Town is Mankato’s independently owned record shop and it’s been here since 1997! Talk about music standing the test of time. Tune Town offers an eclectic mix and variety of records from timeless and old to brand-new for all distinctive tastes.
A friend of mine used to say, “You’re unique and special just like everyone else.” With this store, that quip is actually true! Tune Town literally caters to everyone’s taste, whether it’s quirky and specific or completely normal — if there is such a thing. There is literally a record at this store waiting for you to find it.
A little more bragging on Tune Town. They won WCCO’s Best Record Store in Minnesota Award in 2016! That says a lot! There are some heavy hitter shops in Minnesota when you consider Hymie’s Records or the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis and Duluth.
How inspirational could it be to consider that while searching for the perfect record that speaks to you this Saturday at Tune Town, someone in France is doing exactly the same thing!
International Record Store Day
This edition of The Weekend Spin takes on special significance as it is International Record Store Day this Saturday, April 13th.
This awesome day began back in 2008 with independent record stores all across the globe celebrating and spreading the word about the unique culture around collecting vinyl.
Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. Cook-outs, artist performances, DJ’s spinning records, meet & greets with artists are just a few of the festivities worldwide on Record Store Day.
Many of the special music releases come from independent labels and distributors. Additionally, many cities in the US have labeled the day an official holiday! The organizers have won the Independent Spirit Award from NARM (now the Music Biz Association) and named the Marketplace Ally of the Year by A2IM, an organization of independent music labels.
So, Record Store Day stretches much further than the city limits of Mankato. How inspirational could it be to consider that while searching for the perfect record that speaks to you this Saturday at Tune Town, someone in France is doing exactly the same thing!
Join audiophiles around the world on Saturday, April 13th at Tune Town, our very own locally owned independent record store on Record Store Day!
