A new independent record store focused on dance music has opened in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
3 Phase Records launched on July 4 inside a Grade II-listed building in the city’s Gun Quarter. The two-floor shop stocks thousands of house, techno, trance, drum ‘n’ bass, disco and electronic records, along with specialist merchandise and listening stations.
Store plans and opening event#
In the coming months, 3 Phase Records will host label takeovers and open deck events for emerging DJs. On July 18, the store held a Trance Sessions event with sets from Russel Priest, Kyle Fletcher, Paaarty Pigeon and others.
Founder’s background#
Founder Tom Berry, who previously ran an online vinyl retail business, said he decided to open the store after finding the space at 45-46 Loveday Street vacant earlier this year. Berry said he and his wife built the store by hand, spending recent months clearing, painting, building record bins, wiring speakers, moving stock and turning the idea into reality.
“Over the years I’ve visited record shops across Birmingham looking for dance music and often heard, ‘Sorry, we don’t stock any’,” Berry said. “After 20 years in the same job, I decided to back myself and create Birmingham’s only independent dance record specialist.”
“Birmingham has such a rich dance music history, and I want 3 Phase Records to become a place where people can find great music, meet like-minded people and support the local scene,” he added. “If people think of Birmingham when they think of dance music, I’d love 3 Phase Records to become part of that conversation.”
