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Vinyl is alive and well online and in Cleveland

DJ’s are reaching their fans and new audiences worldwide as they spin vinyl records online and at social-distancing events during the pandemic.

The Vinyl Factory, a London-based “vinyl enterprise,” posts live DJ sets. Watch DJ’s spin records from their home, studio or record store. Vinyl Factory Live DJ sets are truly diverse and exciting to experience. You might hear reggae, jazz, techno, funk, African, gospel, downtempo chill, samba, Northern Soul, salsa, Motown, electronic and more. DJ Sarah Evans’ premier video was the first VFL DJ set that I watched. I began my career as a college radio DJ, and I appreciate DJ’s like Sarah Evans who introduce me to music I’ve never heard before. Sarah Evans’ set included funk, soul and world music. Being a world music fan, the Afrogroove song “Mammamelie” fascinated me! It’s by Ajate, a Japanese band performing African music. Her VFL DJ video sets were so well-received that as of publishing this article, Sarah has posted 16 amazing DJ sets.

I am a member of the Northeast Ohio Vinyl Club, and I spin vinyl records every chance I get. I served as the first ongoing host for Turntable Tuesday – an open turntable night, like open mic night. The event was sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Vinyl Club and Gotta Groove Records, a pressing plant located in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to the pandemic, people could catch me spinning vinyl at World Music Night held at Erie Island Coffee Company where I spin African, Latin, Caribbean and other world music records mainly from the 60s-80s. I have been hired to play salsa, mambo and merengue records for a Hispanic Heritage month celebration. A corporate client hired me to spin classic rock records to create a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame themed social event to open their conference.

Would you like Kris Koch Music to spin vinyl records at your next event? Feel free to email me at kris@kriskochmusic.com to brainstorm options and to reserve your date.