Vinyl records have seen a resurgence over the past several years as many fans opt for physical media over digital.
Baltimore is no stranger to the trend, with vinyl records stores dotting the city.
Now, for the first time, VinylCon! will make its Baltimore debut on Oct. 25 and 26 at UNION Craft Brewing, located at 1700 W. 41st St. #420 in Baltimore’s Medfield neighborhood.
The general public can attend from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 25, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 26. But eager vinyl enthusiasts who want to get a head start can purchase a VIP ticket to gain entry at 10 a.m. Saturday.
General admission tickets cost $11.33 for Saturday and $6.45 for Sunday. VIP Early Entry tickets for Saturday cost $27.49 and give ticketholders a 2-hour head start.
With recent events in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Denver, VinylCon expects its Baltimore event to be Maryland’s largest record fair this year.
Kobi Waldforgel founded VinylCon! after seeing a void for events showcasing vinyl culture.
“As a collector and enthusiast myself, I felt like the record fair I wanted to attend simply didn’t exist,” said Waldfogel, who also founded Denver’s Rocky Mountain Record Show, in a statement. “VinylCon! is meant to be both accessible to vinyl-curious newcomers and respected by veteran collectors. Baltimore has an incredible and loyal music culture, and we can’t wait to offer our event to the community.”
The celebration will feature more than 50 record vendors, including local shops like Sound Garden and REB Records, as well as sellers spanning the East Coast and beyond.
DJ and collector Skeme Richards is curating a lineup of vinyl DJs. There will also be giveaways, good eats from Carroll & Sons Fine Foods, and drinks from UNION Craft Brewing.
“Baltimore’s always had great taste in both music and beer. Both have a way of bringing folks together, and VinylCon at UNION is the perfect excuse to do just that,” UNION Craft Brewing CEO Adam Benesch said in a statement.
Waldfogel added, “We are very lucky to have found the perfect host in Baltimore with UNION, their team shares our passion for music and the space is exactly what we look for in a venue”
Parking is free at the UNION Collective parking lots. Visit thevinylcon.com to purchase tickets and learn more about the event.
For an idea of the event’s scope and atmosphere, here are videos showcasing VinylCon’s recent events in Los Angeles and Philadelphia:
