Southwest Michigan Record Show returns to Benton Harbor
The Southwest Michigan Record Show, a vinyl record fair in its third season, will hold its Spring event on Saturday, March 29, at Grand Upton Hall, Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, 1100 Yore Ave., Benton Harbor.
Music vendors from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and more will fill over 50 tables with thousands of music items, including pre-loved LPs, new vinyl releases, 45s, CDs, cassettes, record supplies, and more.
"This is a fairly new show to a region filled with great record shows, but we continue to build awareness about this event and hope to build on the momentum of our first two years," event organizer Jeremy D. Bonfiglio said. "Whether you are new to vinyl or have been collecting for decades, you will feel right at home at this event. We are all music fans. Our vendors get as excited as the customers when they find a record they've been searching for or discover music they didn't even know they needed. For us, that's the best feeling."
Bonfiglio also runs the popular South Bend Record Show, one of the Midwest's largest record fairs, and the Bloomington Music Expo in Indiana, and the Glass City Record Show in Toledo. He says the popularity of such events has grown along with the vinyl record resurgence.
"The format has seen an incredible resurgence over the past decade," Bonfiglio said. "Popular artists such as Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan are releasing their music on vinyl as a preferred format, so we have seen a lot more interest from high school and college students and those of us who grew up with the medium. It's great to see. "
Bonfiglio added that crate diggers at the Southwest Michigan Record Show can buy new vinyl and find plenty of pre-loved vinyl, including classic rock, pop, metal, punk, prog rock, and '80s. Select vendors will also carry blues, jazz, R&B, soul, country, soundtracks and more.
Jalapeño Grill food truck from Berrien Springs will be set up outside Grand Upton Hall to feed vendors, customers, and community members craving authentic Mexican food.
Admission to the show is free starting at 10 a.m. Customers can pay a $5 early entry fee beginning at 8:30 a.m. to shop as vendors set up.
Door prize drawings are held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Customers can win shopping certificates and record products from BCW Supplies, the show's sponsor.
Cash is the preferred form of payment, but select vendors may also accept PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, credit, and debit cards.
The Southwest Michigan Record Show is held twice a year. The Fall show is slated for Saturday, Sept. 20.
For more information, visit https://ftrvinyl.com/southwest-michigan/, facebook.com/southwestmichiganrecordshow, or contact Bonfiglio at 574-261-3650 or jeremybonfiglio@att.net.
