Sound Records in Stroud has started the new year on a high note by winning a top national award.
The record store in George Street, run by Tom Berry, was named Record Shop of the Year in the Songs Behind the Music (SBTM) Awards 2024.
Other nominees included notable vinyl specialists such as Rough Trade, Banquet, and Piccadilly Records, but Sound Records triumphed in the public vote.
Tom told Stroud Times: “Myself, David Brown and Louisa Fairclough are delighted with this recognition – particularly because it’s voted for by the public.
“We were up against some really big shops in major cities, so it was a real surprise to win. We pledge to keep providing the best records we can for the people of Stroud and beyond.”
On their Instagram account, SBTM posted: ‘This year’s awards were by far our biggest and most competitive to date, with over 18,000 votes being submitted across the categories.
‘Every category was extremely close, with in some as little as one vote separating first and second place. A huge congratulations is in order for all winners, as well as every single nominee. They are all absolute superstars, as are so many others who could have easily been nominated too.’
Sound Records was established in 2018 by Tom and Sean Row, who now runs Klang Tone Records in Lansdown, and has attracted a nationwide following from music aficionados. The premises in George Street opened in 2022 having previously been in Stroud High Street.
The shop has its own eponymous record label, the first release being 2021’s Patched In: Sounds of the Stroud Underground, followed by the Albers EP by Sheffield-based artist Yarni in 2023.
This year the label released Lara Jones’ Divided EP and Unicorn Ship Explosion’s There’s a Rhinoceros in the Mega Church.
“We’re currently looking for more artists to put out, and we’re interested in innovative electronic music, and we encourage acts to bring their demos, and if it’s something we like we’ll put it out,” said Tom.
