New West, put your records on

Sit back, relax, have a drink, a bite to eat—and then take a look at dozens upon dozens of records.

Or vice versa. 

Steel & Oak's Analog Vinyl Fair returns to the city, pressing play on an event that was first established in 2016.

The event will also serve as launch day for this year's version of the First Press Cold Brew Coffee Stout.

"It's just a fun event where, whether you collect vinyl or not, it's something to do," says Melinda Michael with Steel & Oak. "It's just a place to hang out and do something cool in the city and activate a different space."

Typically, the event takes place when River Market is closed—but Michael says the team will start the party a little earlier. That means record collectors will be able to spend a bit more time looking for some new records to play. For Michael, it's a marrying of something fun to do while spending time with others in the community. She adds that those in-person connections are important, especially as people have missed out on them during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"It's a bit nostalgic, right? Where part of it is the hunt. You don't know what you're going to find. It's like thrifting, almost, on some level ... it's different from going online and selecting what you want versus digging through and bumping shoulders with people—now that we can kind of do it again."

There's a bit of a common thread to the record theme, too: if you've ever found yourself at Steel & Oak, you'll notice that there are multiple shelves of records in their tasting room. Michael says it's common for them to take a vinyl-first approach to their music. 

"I think it's just because there's always that decision of, 'Oh, should we throw on a Spotify playlist and make it happen?' Which is obviously a lot easier, but it's also less personable. It's more again of that ... experience," Michael says, adding that it's all about making everyone as comfortable as possible at the brewery. "It's an extension of your living room, on some level."

Michael says she's excited to see people come to not only support Steel & Oak, along with the various vendors that will be at River Market—she's just happy there's an opportunity for people to get together. Steel & Oak has hosted a number of other events this year, including its SO8 anniversary event. 

"We're fortunate that the city, the community in New West, they've just got a thirst and hunger for activities and events. If you build it, they will come. It's such a supportive community," says Michael. "Before the pandemic, it was great where there were multiple options on one night to do something in New West. I think we're getting back to that, and I think people are excited and willing to get out in the city and do things."

The event goes from 5 to 9pm on Saturday, Nov. 19. And if you don't want the fun to stop after that, there'll be an afterparty at Moodswing along Front St.