When vinyl enthusiast Ryan Wugalter moved here from Vancouver, he probably wasn’t thinking he’d become the first person to put on a record fair in Victoria since 1988. But he was, and Vinyl Supernova, Vancouver Island’s largest record fair, is now in its fifth year.
In a world where anybody with an internet connection can type a song title into YouTube’s search field and listen to it then and there, it may seem surprising that vinyl demand is increasing. But Wugalter says that vinyl’s sound is a thing of beauty.
“It’s becoming really hard to find that stuff out there,” he says, “which is why events like Vinyl Supernova are really good, because there are less records and more people looking for them.”
Gary Anderson, owner of the Turntable record store, sells records at Vinyl Supernova. He says vinyl sales have gone up 15 to 25 percent in recent years.
“A lot of people come into the store and go, ‘Wow! What’s that?’” he says. “And I go, ‘That’s the sound of vinyl.’”
Anderson says that one of the best things about Vinyl Supernova is the sense of camaraderie it brings. Wugalter says he didn’t realize how big the local subculture was when he first put on the event.
“There hadn’t been a record show in Victoria since the ’80s,” says Wugalter, “but I feel very fortunate that it fell through the cracks, because it gave me a chance to connect to the community.”
Anderson says that even though times can get tough for retail (he says the ’90s were a rough time), vinyl is still around because of its inherent characteristics and quirks.
“I think records survived in a lot of places because people like myself and Ryan like the sound of analog, imperfect as some of them can be. There is a more human sound to it. The spirit of some of these old records just adds to it.”
Anderson will be at Vinyl Supernova to sell records, but also to hunt down some gems and meet new people.
“I hope to help people understand music more and to be part of the hunt,” says Anderson. “I think this stuff is fantastic. I still remember what it was like to be a lot younger and exploring music, and going into all the different record shows. It’s fun to see what you can dig through, or what you can get your hands on.”
For vinyl fans like Wugalter, Vinyl Supernova is about much more than just buying and selling records.
“If you’re a music fan, come on out,” says Wugalter, “because music has always been a great friend.”
Vinyl Supernova
10 am to 4 pm, Saturday October 24
$2, Fernwood Community Centre
vinylsupernova@gmail.com