Get your vinyl on at Greater Columbia Record Fair

Popular since the 1950s, vinyl records have been enjoyed for generations of music lovers across the globe.

But from the advent of the 8-track to the cassette player to CDs to digital music, vinyl sales have been on the decline for years ... until now.

According to RIAA, sales of vinyl records were up 32 percent to $416 million in 2015, their highest level since 1988.

This news comes as the ninth annual Greater Columbia Record Fair comes to town Sunday, April 24, housed at the Columbia Museum of Art. Created by Matt Bradley, a former record buyer for Papa Jazz, the event draws thousands of record enthusiasts looking to find diamond 45’s and LP’s in the rough.

“It’s very possible if you come here you’ll find that one record that you’ve been looking for forever,” said Bradley. “And it’s pretty amazing how diverse it is. You’ll have 18 year olds that have turntables and then there will be guys closing in on 60 years old that never left vinyl. And it’s male and female. There’s a lot of interest from females.”

With more than 30 vendors and 40 tables packed with crates of albums old and new, the atrium – and all other free space – at the museum will be re-purposed as a pop-up shop for vinyl.

“This is the kind of program we love partnering on,” said Glenna Barlow, adult programs manager for the museum. “Matt does a great job of organizing and getting people from all corners of South Carolina and even farther to participate.”

This year, vendors will come from as far as northern Virginia, Atlanta and Greensboro to sell you music to your ears.

“I try to pick out vendors depending on what records they bring,” Bradley said. “I have one guy who I know is going to bring ‘80s music. And then I have guys that bring 45’s but they’re all ‘60s soul and funk. I have rock guys. So I pick them out like that. And if you’re looking for a particular record feel free to ask. Everyone I have here really loves music, so if you ask them about an album they’ll try to find it for you.”

“The diehard people are here at noon trying to get the best selection, but then people roll in later in the afternoon for the live music, the beer and the food,” Barlow added. “It’s an all-day, all-afternoon event.”

The Greater Columbia Society for the Preservation of Soul will spin records inside, while Preach Jacobs will play DJ outside. Performances by Boo Hag and ET Anderson are set for later in the afternoon, while Cayce Hotdogs, Würst Wagon and Brain Freeze, Italian ices, have been recruited to serve refreshments. And to top it off, The Whig will serve beer from Palmetto Brewing and River Rat to help wash it all down.

“This should be the biggest and best year,” Bradley said. “Last year was the first time I included bands, which I wanted to do since inception. I’ve been trying to bridge the gap, to get people who are into music but don’t necessarily care about records interested, and I think bringing in the bands helps with that. I feel like last year I hit my stride and I’m going with it.”

Sounds good.

Dwaun Sellers, dsellers@thestate.com

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 8:01 PM with the headline "Get your vinyl on at Greater Columbia Record Fair."