ARTS + CULTURE
Vinyl Destination
A New Music Community Emerges in Eastern Kentucky By Felicia Carter
D
ylan Freely can vividly remember when he received his first record player. He was 14-years-old, laying in his bedroom floor in Floyd County, Ky. reading “The Outsiders,” by S.E. Hinton, for his English class. His dad entered his room, presenting the turntable to him as if he was holding a birthday cake, and there were three records lying on top of it. Dylan recognized the record player — he had been admiring it since he was six-years-old. The needle malfunctioned if there was not a nickel placed on top to act as extra weight and the speakers were blown, but it was his. He listened to it until the speakers completely gave out. Four friends in Whitesburg, Ky., who share a similar story to Dylan, were growing tired of traveling over 50 miles to purchase vinyl records. Though they ordered vinyl off of the Internet, it was not the same experience as picking it up from the store. They teamed up, found a location in downtown Whitesburg, and opened up a record store called “Roundabout Music Company” for those in the community to enjoy.
“There isn’t a place within 50 miles to buy guitar strings and picks, let alone a place with a variety of instruments. We wanted to provide music supplies and instruments for music lovers in our area.”
“We know so many people who buy records, and like us, they were driving to Johnson City, Tn., Lexington, Ky., even Asheville, Nc. to go shopping for records.” Says Jonathon Hootman, co-founder of Roundabout 28
THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | FALL/WINTER 2015
Music Company. They have a selection of record players that are quality and affordable, and since their opening, they have made it possible for people in the community to come purchase their first (or fifth) record player.
“That’s what is kind of neat about the resurgence of vinyl; we have guys in their 50s and 60s who never broke from the format of the 1970s who say nothing ever sounds as good as vinyl. Then you’ve got people who are more on the new upswing of vinyl, so they’re into it that way. It is really cool to get to see that dynamic.” In conjunction with records both new and used, Roundabout Music Company also has a selection of instruments for customers to buy and trade. “There isn’t a place within 50 miles to buy guitar strings
