It is the most wonderful time of the year for audiophiles at the “One Stop Record Fair 2023” held at the Activity Area of the Ayala Malls The 30th in Pasig City recently.
After finally having the vinyl and audio equipment they’ve wanted for so long at a discounted price, there were vinyl records from the 60s to 2020s music, which are discounted up to 50 percent and as low as 200 pesos as well as cassettes and compact discs (CDs) sold by over 30 merchants.
Among the record sellers were Sounds Inc., Plakatons, Vinylhead Records, Manila Vinyl, Mamsy Records, Musique Vibe Records, Vinyl and Disc Philippines, and so much more. Event sponsors audio-technica, Gadhouse, and Silent Noise also had booths selling audio gear such as turntables and speakers.
Notable titles which are sold in the fair are Bong Panera’s “Samba Song” from MikePlaka, “Alkaline Trio” (Record Store Day Exclusive) from Kapitan Plaka, Swing Out Sister’s “Kaleidoscope World” from RJLS, “Sayonara Ponytail” from Bunnygod Records, The Beatles’ Butcher Cover from HitsbackRecords, The Essence’s “The Cat” 12-inch/45 rpm from Lahn’s Vinyl, and an original press of Wally Gonzales’s “Tunog Pinoy” from Lennox Records.
Collectors were also in for a treat as various collectibles such as Funko Pops!, diecast cars, antique coins and banknotes, and more were sold at the event. “I’m happy that collectors flocked to our event despite the holiday rush. They are happy and you can really see the excitement as they dig through the records to find what they like,” expressed Sari Osorio, the organizer of the event.
“I can say na, ‘Wow! Kilala na talaga ang One Stop Record Fair because wherever we go, they follow,” she added. Spotlighting indie artists The One Stop Record Fair has always featured performers but this time around, the event put a spotlight on independent artists and gave them a different stage to share their music.
DB Brothers with singer-songwriter from Isabela City Liza Uraning, teen busker and vocalist of indie rock band Mayumi Dana de los Reyes, British-born Filipina singer-songwriter Chlara, multi-instrumentalist and Chapman Stick player Abby Clutario, and indie singer-songwriter Keiko Necesario all performed covers and their original songs at the record fair.
“Through the years, we’ve been inviting performers from different genres like classic punk, alternative rock, rockabilly, metal, and the like. This time, I thought of highlighting indie artists and buskers to perform and share their music,” Osorio shared.
Chlara, who recently released her album of original compositions, has a vinyl format of her “Love Ya” album. “The vinyl just brings me back home because my dad used to collect vinyl a lot as a child,” Chlara said.
What sets the record fair’s last event for 2024 among the previous ones, Osorio said she cannot compare it because “like I said, we make sure that we bring a different experience to every event we mount. I think that’s what we gave them and I’m truly grateful for the response they’ve been giving us since day one.”
The next leg of the “One Stop Record Fair” will be on March 2024.
