Last Updated on January 8, 2020
Do you routinely lament the poor sound quality of MP3s and other digital music formats, as your spouse or friends groan at your predictable rant? Do you pine after the smell, touch, and almost magical tones offered by vinyl? Or ponder new ways to make space in your house for your expanding collection, refusing to “Kondo-ize” your living room? If so, beeline to Paris Loves Vinyl .
The biannual event, which will celebrate its 8th edition on Sunday January 12th, 2020, brings together more than 70 specialized record dealers and vendors from around the world to the Espace Reuilly in Paris’ 12th arrondissement.
If you’re a music lover or collector who happens to be in town, make sure to eke out some space in your schedule for this new but already-coveted happening.
Read related: 4 Paris Jazz Festivals to Mark in Your Calendar Now
Browse among some 100,000 records, both new and used. Nearly all genres are on offer, from jazz to hip-hop, rock to country and classical.
There are even– somewhat inexplicably for a daytime event– eight DJS slated to spin onsite. This is likely to inspire either delight or mild irritation, depending on your tastes and possibly your introversion levels.
Who’s There?
Vinyl sellers from some of Europe’s most iconic record shops will be onsite for the upcoming January 2020 event. On the Parisian side, Betino Errera from the city’s much-beloved Betino’s Record Shop will offer a huge and eclectic selection.
Expect a joyfully chaotic mix of everything from French hip-hop to Brazilian music, experimental techno and modern jazz.
Blazing Music, Finders Keepers Records, Beers & Records from neighboring Montreuil, Beaumonde Records, Records Calling and Big Smile Bazaar are a few other prized local and international vendors to potentially pay a visit to.
Several independent sellers and shops from the Netherlands, the UK, Brazil, Japan and other countries will also be present with collections of rare and excellent vinyls.
You can see the list of this year’s participating vendors here (in English).
What to do Nearby?
February in Paris can be a bit on the cold and gloomy side, but this event gives you an excuse to get outside and do something a bit off the beaten tourist track.
To make a complete day of it, I recommend starting out with a morning at the fantastic Marché d’Aligre, an open-air food market near metro Reuilly-Diderot that’s a feast for the palate and the senses.
Pick up some breakfast on the go from bakeries and fruit sellers, then head out for a walk along the Promenade Plantée, a one-mile path built above ground on what was once a railway.
From the sprawling green lawns of the Pelouse de Reuilly, you can then either walk 20 minutes to the Paris Loves Vinyl Event at the Espace Reuilly (use Google maps to show you the easy route), or take Metro line 8 from Porte Dorée to the Montgallet station, then walk three minutes to the venue.
Practical Information & Getting There
The next edition of Paris Loves Vinyl takes place on Sunday November 10th, 2019.
- Location: Espace Reuilly, 21 rue Antoine-Julien Hénard, 75012 Paris
- Metro stop: Montgallet (Line 8)
- Entry fee: 3 Euros
- Hours: From 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Visit the official website for more information and details.
Courtney Traub is the Founder and Editor of Paris Unlocked. She’s a longtime Paris resident who now divides her time (as well as she can manage) between the French capital and Norwich, UK. Co-author of the 2012 Michelin Green Guide to Northern France & the Paris Region, she has written and reported stories for media outlets including Radio France Internationale, Reed Business Information, WWD, and The Associated Press. She has also been interviewed as an expert on Paris and France by the BBC, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Le Figaro, Matador Network and other publications. In addition to pursuing an insatiable interest in French culture, history, food and art, Courtney is a scholar of literature and cultural history whose essays and reviews have appeared in various forums.
