Diverse Vinyl facts for kids

Diverse Vinyl is a cool music store and independent record label in Newport, Wales. It's actually the biggest place in the UK to buy brand new vinyl records.

A Look Back: How it Started

Diverse Vinyl was first set up in 1995 by Paul Hawkins. It began as a way to order LPs (long-play vinyl records) through the mail. This was a time when vinyl wasn't very popular.

Paul Hawkins said that Diverse Vinyl was one of the only stores in South Wales with many different vinyl records. Only Spillers Records in Cardiff, which is the oldest record store in the world, offered similar choices.

During this time, many record stores, like Rough Trade Records, struggled. CDs and later digital music became very popular. This made vinyl seem expensive and not very efficient.

Modern Times: Vinyl's Comeback

In 2002, Diverse Vinyl started its own record label called Diverse Records. This label has released over 50 records. They even put out the first vinyl record for Alison Krauss.

They have also released music from popular bands like Idlewild. More modern artists, such as Laura Marling, have also had their music released by Diverse Records.

In recent years, vinyl records have become popular again. This is called the vinyl revival. Diverse Vinyl and other record stores have really benefited from this.

A special event called Record Store Day has helped a lot. It brings attention and customers to local record stores all over the UK. Many fun events happen on this day.

In April 2019, Diverse Vinyl launched a new website. It became one of the biggest online places to buy LPs.

On Record Store Day in April 2019, many people visited the store. About 80 people waited in line before it even opened! People traveled from all over the UK to Newport for the event.

Music was played at the store and at other places around the city. These included The Murenger, Tiny Rebel Urban Taphouse, Newport Market's Gallery Space, Le Public Space, McCann's Rock 'n' Ale Bar, and Slipping Jimmy's.

Artists on Diverse Records

Here are some of the artists whose music has been released by Diverse Records:

• Adrian Sherwood
• Alison Krauss
• Amy Duncan
• Carrie Rodriguez
• Chuck Prophet
• Daniel Lanois
• Danny and the Champions of the World
• Dolly Varden
• Eddi Reader
• Eleanor McEvoy
• Fionn Regan
• Georgia Ruth
• Gretchen Peters
• Heartworn Highways
• Idlewild
• Joan Baez
• Kris Drever
• Lau
• Laura Marling
• Loudon Wainwright III
• Mark Olson
• Paper Aeroplanes
• Polly Paulusma
• Richard Thompson
• Richmond Fontaine
• Rickie Lee Jones
• Roddy Woomble
• Ron Sexsmith
• Simone Felice
• The Boo Radleys
• The Webb Sisters
• The Duke & The King
• Dr John & The Lower 911
• Frank Black & The Catholics

See also

• Music of Newport
• Music of Wales
• Newport, Wales
• Welsh music
• Newport city centre
• TJ's
• El Sieco's
• Le Pub
• Weeping Angels