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Crate diggers paradise

The Olympia Record Show is back, and as approachable as ever

DJ WILDMAN JAMES: He'll bust out the vinyl jams. Photo by Pappi Swarner

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Walk, bike, drop in by parachute. However you do it, make your way to the Elks Lodge Saturday, June 4, for the third occasional Olympia Record Show.

Naturally, the Olympia Record show will feature live music by DJ Wildman James and Selector Edmund, a full bar for those of drinking age and - of course - tons of everybody's favorite round, vinyl, soul pleasers: records! (Not to mention the peppering of VHS, cassettes and other rarities.) For $2 admission, this event excites dealers, collectors and dabblers alike.

Vinyl records have long been coveted for their superior sound quality, artistic covers and collectability. Many people believe vinyl holds precedence over other musical formats.

Because of this timeless eminence, records seem to be making a steady resurgence in the music scene. Hell, we may even be past the point of calling it a "resurgence" (for Heaven's sake, records are sold at Fred Meyer now). Every day it feels like vinyl demands more recognition and accessibility, making events like the Olympia Record Show possible.

"I think a lot of people are coming back to vinyl because digital downloading has made CDs completely unnecessary, but people still like music in a physical format," says Mike Dixon, the Olympia Record Show's creator.

"You are much more invested in, and conscious of, the music itself if you have to get up and change the record every three to 20 minutes, instead of just letting the iPod play on shuffle for hours on end."

Of course, Olympia, with its saturated music scene, is no stranger to this notion and is a natural choice to hold an event that, normally, would require locals to travel to big-sister cities like Seattle and Portland to participate.

"I love bringing record dealers to Olympia," says Dixon. "Not only do the dealers have access to a completely different customer base, but Olympia collectors don't have to drive to 60-plus miles to find some decent crates to dig through."

Another unique and thoughtful element of the show is that it's in the evening.

"I really enjoy that I don't have to be there at the break of dawn," says John Dahlin, who has a table at the show and ran Golden Oldies in downtown Olympia for 15 years.

"Overall, this show is more approachable, with the bar it's more relaxed, and a lot of the bigger city shows are high pressure, you almost feel like you're getting elbowed out of the way," says Dahlin.

Leave it to Olympia to host a great party.

Olympia Record Show


Saturday, June 4, 5-9 p.m., $2
Olympia Elks Lodge, 1818 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia,
olympiarecordshow.com

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