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20th December 2016
12:10am GMT
Vinyl has seen a massive rise to popularity in the last few years despite everyone claiming the digital music is the way forward.
Due to this there has been an increasing number of quality spots in Dublin to pick up vinyl operating over the past while. With this in mind, we thought we'd take the time to provide our list of the best places in the city to have a nice oul dig through the crates..
A tucked away shop in one of the busiest areas for pedestrian traffic in the city - Merchant's Arch. This is a nice, intimate place to browse away, with a great selection of classic Irish rock and folk records in particular.
HMV's new Grafton Street location represents a smaller scale operation than the original store but still their vinyl stock remains solid. Though keep in mind that this place is more use for picking up a major release or a classic album, rather than anything underground.
With an even more secluded entrance than Mojo's, this place is easy to miss but thoroughly rewarding to enter. Situated beside Subway on Nassau Street, this is a very convenient location. In terms of vinyl the stock is mostly rock and metal; the range between undisputed classic albums and rare works is impressive.
A new presence on the scene, this shop began its existence on Cavendish Row but has recently found a nice home operating out of The Grand Social from 12pm - 6pm, Tuesday - Saturday. Little Gem is also a record label and has a growing list of Irish acts on its roster. Definitely worth popping in if you're in town!
This spot is a little out of the way but if electronic music is your thing, you will certainly not be disappointed. Between the existing stock and the shop's continental network of vinyl suppliers, there's probably no old school electronic record that can't be got. Pat Carey's knowledge of Dublin's early rave scene is enthralling and makes any visit here extremely worthwhile. Ringing ahead using the number on the Yelp page is advisable, as this isn't a full-time operation.
Located within the cosy confines of The Secret Book and Record Store, Freebird is a very pleasant place to pick up a record. With a nice supply of both new and second-hand records, you're sure to find something that piques your interest if you pop in here.
All City has an impressive, loyal customer base for a very good reason: It offers a brilliant range of obscure vinyl (including its own plentiful roster of artists) and combines this with a street art supplies store to create an appealing, coherent identity. Contemporary underground dance music, funk and hip-hop are some of the big hitters here. All City covers several musical areas that other stores don't seem to put much stock in.
The Big Daddy on the scene in terms of sheer volume of choice. Upstairs in Tower Records on Dawson Street has a great supply of albums in every genre. Second-hand isn't a thing here unfortunately however, so you may have to go elsewhere if you're looking for a cheaper option.
Probably the best range of vinyl in the city and a thoroughly knowledgeable staff to go with it. If you're on the hunt for that hard to find album this is probably your best bet in town. The only downside here is the price of records, which can get steep enough for critically-acclaimed albums.
For managing the magical ratio of broad selection, plenty of rarities and decent value, Spindizzy in George's Arcade comes out on top of this list. This place has an ample supply of most in-demand records as well as a very well regarded reggae section.
