Record store plans to launch vinyl revolution

A RECORD store in Wokingham is looking forward to a bright future thanks to two exciting new projects.

Beyond the Download, which operates out of Holme Grange Craft Village, has recently signed up to sponsor the Bracknell Bees ice hockey team’s Audio-Visual Room at their rink in John Nike Way, as well as setting up a live music night at The Queen’s Oak in Finchampstead.

Ian Biles (pictured), who runs Beyond the Download with Dom Hurrell, said: “The Bees partnership came about because Holme Grange encouraged us to look at sponsorship, so we went along to a Bees game and got hooked and it became obvious that the part to sponsor is the A/V room, so we have our banner right across where the DJ sits.

“From our point of view, it is reinforcement: the people who like ice hockey are probably a good fit for a target audience that we have.

“It’s very rock’n’roll as a sport, it’s a bit different!

“Obviously, for them they get a bit more sponsorship, but it’s also the introduction of potential new supporters through our customers, and vice versa.”

The live music night in Finchampstead started up on October 21 with a performance by singer-songwriter Vicki Sayers and is set to become a regular event.

Ian said: “We are a record shop, but we very much want this shop to be the centre of a local music scene.

“There are other acts that Dom knows from the Reading scene who we would like to see getting involved in this, as well as some more bands from Wokingham.

“The Vicki Sayers night was very well received, she’s a local girl from Bracknell, and Zach Johnson, who is performing on December 9, has a similar style to her and he will go down well there.

“Wokingham is a great area for musicians, it always has been. There’s tremendous potential for music in this area, and I am staggered by the amount of amazing musicians I am being introduced to all within a stone’s throw of here.”

www.beyondthedownload.uk