The Saratogian (Saratoga, NY)

RECORD RIOT RETURNS

Annual event offers music memorabili­a for shoppers to explore

- By Lauren Halligan lhalligan@digitalfir­stmedia.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Record Riot returns to the Spa City this weekend with thousands of LPs, CDs, 45s and other music memorabili­a for shoppers to explore.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Saratoga Springs City Center, located at 522 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.

Early admission begins at 8 a.m., for those who want to be the first to browse. This option costs $10.

Admission during regular show hours is $3 per person. Skidmore students get in for free.

Some lucky eventgoers will win surprise door prizes.

Sunday’s event will feature about 25 vendors, who plan to bring a total of 40 tables filled with merchandis­e.

Record Riot organizer Stephen Gritzan, who owns a small record shop in New Jersey, began presenting events like this about 15 years ago.

Today, he organizes Record Riots throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvan­ia and Connecticu­t, in “places that meet certain demographi­cs of arts and culture,” he said.

“Saratoga is a highly cultured place, and people care about music and art,” Gritzan continued. “So, it’s a very good place for us to have a show. It fits perfectly.”

Record Riot first made its debut in Saratoga Springs in 2018, and it quickly became a hit with

locals. “It’s a very popular event,” Gritzan said, noting that there was a need in the marketplac­e. “There’s no proper record store in Saratoga at this point, and records are popular again.”

The Saratoga Springs Record Riot takes place twice a year at the City Center, once in the winter and once in the fall.

The winter shows tend to draw a larger crowd, Gritzan said, because it gives people something to do indoors while the weather is cold.

The events typically attract between 300 and 500 attendees, including collectors, hipsters and families with kids. “It’s a big mish mosh of people,” Gritzan said. “It’s fun.”

The shows’ offerings are just as diverse. “Every type of music is represente­d jazz, rock, punk rock, heavy metal, soul, hip hop,” Gritzan said. “There’s something for everybody at the show, from Frank Sinatra to Radiohead and everything in between.”

For the first time in Saratoga Springs, the upcoming Record Riot will present live DJs playing different styles of music on Sunday. “There will be great music playing all day,” Gritzan said. Though it involves more work in planning, “I think Saratoga deserves it. I think people will like it,” he continued. “People can watch the DJs spin.”

More informatio­n about this weekend’s Record Riot and other future events can be found online at www. recordriot­s.com.

 ?? FILE PHOTO ?? A Record Riot also is held at the Saratoga Springs City Center, giving people a chance to look for their favorite music group’s old vinyl albums. Scott Dillenback, right, and his daughter, Kasey, of Rotterdam look through a selection of Classic Rock albums.
FILE PHOTO A Record Riot also is held at the Saratoga Springs City Center, giving people a chance to look for their favorite music group’s old vinyl albums. Scott Dillenback, right, and his daughter, Kasey, of Rotterdam look through a selection of Classic Rock albums.
 ?? PHOTO PROVIDED ?? A Record Riot event at the Saratoga Springs City Center attracts lots of music-lovers.
PHOTO PROVIDED A Record Riot event at the Saratoga Springs City Center attracts lots of music-lovers.
 ?? PHOTO PROVIDED ?? A young record collector holds a Steve Miller Band album at a past Record Riot in Saratoga Springs.
PHOTO PROVIDED A young record collector holds a Steve Miller Band album at a past Record Riot in Saratoga Springs.
 ?? PHOTO PROVIDED ?? Eventgoers look through records at a previous Record Riot.
PHOTO PROVIDED Eventgoers look through records at a previous Record Riot.
 ?? PHOTO PROVIDED ?? Attendees enjoy a previous Record Riot event in Saratoga Springs.
PHOTO PROVIDED Attendees enjoy a previous Record Riot event in Saratoga Springs.

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