It’s no secret to anyone who knows him that Matt Porter loves vinyl records – a lot.
And the Westobou executive director has found the perfect way to combine his love of LPs with Westobou’s mission as well as collaborate with neighbor Grantski Records in one event Saturday.
“As a longtime record collector, DJ and music obsessive, one of the things I’ve commiserated with other like-minded record people in our community is we don’t have a place to sell, trade and share our love of vinyl records,” he said.
The Augusta Record Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Westobou Gallery, 1129 Broad St.
The first two hours will be a VIP event for hardcore vinyl enthusiasts, Porter said.
“We’ve hand-selected the people that would be selling the records. There are some longtime Augusta collectors and some from Charleston and Greenville that own record stores similar to Grantski’s and do weekend trips where they will go to other places to sell records,” he said.
Admission to the 10 a.m. to noon early bird event is $10.
From noon to 5 p.m., the doors will open for free general admission.
The record vendors will remain, but there will be some other activities. Ever wanted to DJ or wondered what it’s like?
“We’re going to have an open turntable from 12 to 5,” he said.
With an assist from some seasoned DJs, people will have the chance to learn what it takes.
“People who are curious about playing records for the first time in public will get a chance to play on some real DJ equipment and will have the support and encouragement of someone who knows what they are doing,” he said.
Also, artist Aort Reed will be in the micro gallery, creating some artwork related to the day’s theme.
“I’m a record obsessive James Brown collector type. I have these booklet of these collage stamp page. They were essentially coupons in the 70s in California for a grocery chain. They were called Black and Brown stamps. You’d get these James Brown stamps, and you would fill up these coupon books with these James Brown stamp heads and once a whole book was completed, you’d be entered in a sweepstakes for things,” he said.
Porter has given some of those pages to Reed to paint on during the event.
Porter said he hopes this will be the first of many of these types of events. If the community comes together, the idea has potential for growth.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
