Characters of the Cut
Alice Griffin finds out why vinyl is still number one on board narrowboat Tansy, home of The Record Deck.
FOR 20 years Luke Guilford has been living on the water, and since 2014 he has been melding his two passions – boating and music.
Aboard 2007 60ft cruiser stern narrowboat Tansy with tug deck, he conducts his own musical tour – continuously cruising the canals, sharing vinyl with customers along the way.
“I first saw other trading boats at the Cropredy Festival on the Oxford Canal and that’s when I started thinking about what I could trade myself,” Luke told me. “Records were the obvious answer as I was an avid collector and knew I would never get bored discovering new music.”
The Record Deck began life on Luke’s previous 40ft narrowboat, which initially traded along the River Lea in London, with the intention of travelling to markets and festivals in the summer.
These yearly ‘tours’ listed on Luke’s website give a glimpse into the true life of a roving trader and 2020 was going to be even bigger. “I did have plans for a huge tour of markets and festivals, but with most of these cancelled or postponed this year, I’ll probably concentrate on trying the tour again in 2021,” he said.
I think it’s a way of life engrained in all boaters; that sense of setting your own schedule. “I never got on with the 9-to-5-type lifestyle so I love the freedom and a big thing is also getting to spend so much of the year outdoors and travelling. I love the life, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of heading off on a long cruise, never knowing exactly what it’ll be like: the wildlife, towns and countryside to be discovered, the people you’ll meet... and of course, the records I might come across, too!”
Luke discovered music when at 13 he started collecting records. “I’ve been a huge music fan and collector since then and I’ve always loved the treasure hunt aspect.”
It appears that lots of others do too because far from vinyl dying out, it’s still very much alive, as Luke highlights while explaining his varied customer base: “They range from young folk who are new to the format and enjoy discovering, to people who never stopped collecting, or those who had a collection years ago – which has been lost or sold along the way – and are enjoying rebuying some old favourites.”
Luke for one certainly thinks vinyl is here to stay. “For me it feels the best format for sound and the visual and tactile aspects are the same reason lots of people prefer real books to Kindle.”
As someone myself who has struggled in recent months due to not having my ‘real’ books with me because of the unexpected lockdown in an unplanned location, I can completely relate to this and, as I too am the owner of a 25-yearold record collection that I have moved from storage unit to storage unit as I wander – never parting with it because it just feels too precious – I completely understand this viewpoint!
Unlike me though, Luke is not quite so sentimental. “I’ve sold much of my old collection in the shop because obviously space is limited on a narrowboat and anyway, I like the idea of discovering new music and then sharing it about the waterways.”
Despite online selling being a great help, particularly during these times, Luke prefers the physical shop experience and in particular, attending roving trader events. “I enjoy the markets and festivals as it’s way more fun to be part of a group of boats and activities, rather than solo trading.”
The seasonal aspect of canal trading can be a challenge, but between events, online selling and his wealth of fans up and down the towpath, Luke seems to do just fine. “I do have regulars who visit in each town, even if that’s only once a year. I’ve also spent many winters in London, so the boat is very well known there.”
Luke also has a passion for promoting live music, particularly from bands with a new record to promote: “‘On-stores’ I call them and I’ve had various folks playing on the front deck; it works really well.”
With a wide variety of music genres to browse – from 50p singles to collectable rare albums – and even a 12v record-player listening booth on the roof, I think Luke is certainly succeeding in sharing his passion for music along the length and breadth of the inland waterways. Let’s just all cross fingers there will still be a chance to catch some festivals and more live performances this year!
Instagram: @therecorddeckuk Facebook: therecorddeckuk
Alice Griffin is a freelance writer, intermittent boat dweller and long-time wanderer… currently planning her next adventure. www.alicegriffin.co.uk Instagram: alice_is_in_wanderland