UNCOVERING RARE VINYL AND VINTAGE GEAR AT BACK ALLEY MUSIC
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
By Clara Deacon Photos Sara Bakker
offering a large selection of new and used vinyl, alongside stereo systems and old gear from the 50s to the 90s. They also fix and refurbish classic gear, keeping the equipment at a reasonable price for customers. “I’ve come across some really interesting finds throughout the years, like vintage gear and signed posters and records. Part of the thrill of being a collector is in the hunt. It’s a lot of fun “Local musicians and music lovers like to come in to Back Alley, not only to check out the latest vinyl, but also to connect. What’s unique about this store is that it brings people together. For me, by talking to people in the shop, I find I learn something new every day.”
From metal and soul, to blues and jazz vinyl, you name it, Back Alley Music has probably got it.
riginally opened in 1992, Back Alley buys and sells new and
used vinyl, record players, amplifiers, speakers, posters, rock memorabilia and everything else music related. Not surprisingly, current owner and musician Pat Deighan was a returning customer of the former Back Alley Disks. “I remember Back Alley Disks as the ‘cool record store.’ It had underground music and new artists that people were drawn to. And, it was a place to hang out and talk about music,” he says. Pat went on to work and manage the store, eventually purchasing the business in 2010 with his wife Meghann from Michelle Morrison and Ian Forgeron. As a vinyl collector himself, he emphasized the importance of keeping the store as a community hub. “Local musicians and music lovers like to come in to Back Alley, not only to check out the latest vinyl, but also to connect. What’s unique about this store is that it brings people together. For me, by talking to people in the shop, I find I learn something new every day,” he says. Back Alley has evolved over the years and continues to adjust to its customers and the industry. What used to be a small bin of vinyl with lots of CDs, has completely flipped, now
they began posting new vinyl on their Facebook page for sale.
“Before I knew it, we were delivering vinyl all over PEI. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches, and I’m grateful that we were able to continue engaging with our community,” he says. Looking forward, Back Alley plans to continue growing their stock – maintaining a good variety and keeping their selection fresh. As always, customers with merchandise to sell are welcome to drop into the shop during business hours or call the store to talk about their record collections, big or small.
- Pat Deighan
uncovering new and uniue finds. I love the history of it all,” he says.
When Back Alley moved to Queen Street in 2018, the shop expanded and now includes more stock and selection. They also offer occasional Saturday afternoon shows and open mics, and also host Cured Creations as a food vendor. While the pandemic has presented challenging times for many small businesses on the Island, Back Alley explored new ways of connecting with their customers. Starting in April 2020,
Back Alley Music 257 Queen Street, Charlottetown www.backalleymusicpei.com
SUMMER 2020 www.pei-living.ca
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