Vinyl Lovers Unite at the Fargo Record Fair

The annual Fargo Record Fair has been bringing vintage music lovers together for the past seven years.

The event was hosted at the Fargo Air Museum this year.

Do you hear the scratches and the pops?

To vinyl lovers like me and the rest of the crowd here, that’s what it’s all about.

Something about the old–school technology gives these classic tunes a real authentic feel that some would argue is lost when they’re played from an iPod or a CD.

“Just the aura of them when you’re listening to them. You know you can find something from 1969 and it just kind of takes you back you know,” said vinyl lover Derek Vander Vorste.

“It’s kind of fun. It’s like a CD you just put it on and you can walk away where a record you want to stick around and listen to it,” says fair-goer Tom Weber.

On top of that these relics of the recent past can offer more than just the tracks etched into their grooves.

“My favorite vinyls are the ones that are like vandalized or written on, like to someone’s name because it has a history and their story. It’s kind of fun to find meaning in something,” said enthusiast Taylor Bengtson.

Whether you come here looking for something specific or you’re just here to browse, there’s really something here for everybody.

I even found one of my favorite albums.

There’s a wide selection here.

Jazz, Rock, Metal, Country; from Wes Montgomery to Bon Jovi, it’s hard to leave empty handed.

Although Bob Dylan once said, “The Times They are a Changing,” I don’t think he took into account the timelessness of vinyl.

“It never went away completely. Now it’s kind of spread. There’s some younger kids that are getting into it. I’ve had lots of moms come up to me at events for my kids that are like hey I’ve got this old turntable I want to get it working, I want records again,” said fair organizer Dean Sime.

People young and old break generational barriers through their shared love of music.

For some here, the conversations sparked by old records are what make it all worthwhile.

“I think the best part of the sale is really talking to people which I miss from my store,” said record vendor Barry  Branvold.

“Being able to hang out with the music people all in one place, that’s one of my favorite parts,” said Sime.

Each year this event gets bigger and bigger.

Just how big will it get?

The answer is blowing in the wind.

If you missed the Record Fair this afternoon be sure to check it out next year.