Where: Brabanthallen’s Den Bosch, The Netherlands
When: Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th April 2025
Cost Per Day: - €12,50 online, or €15,00 on the door
Cost For Weekend Tickets: €22,50 online, or €25,00 on the door
Online presale (excluding 1 euro service cost)
This April the Worlds BIGGEST record fair will be celebrating its 60th addition in Den Bosch.
This Mega record fair started at the Utrecht Jaarbeurs back in 1993 and the event is now home to over 500 dealers from across the globe.
You can expect to meet passionate collectors and dealers coming here to trade music, share their knowledge and build connections with fellow music lovers.
I remember speaking with Tony from ‘The Record Store’ in Kings Lynn about the fair and how I used to purchase 45’s from a stall that sold everything for €2, with boxes of King, Stax, Federal, Curtom, Atlantic, Motown etc. Tony had been partaking in the fair since day 1. A true collector and a serious shop, sadly closed in January 2025 after almost 30 years. The store will be missed along with my occasional trips to Kings Lynn for the catch up chats and surprise digs.
With such an extensive list of dealers, we can assure you that there are serious specialists who are known within the community and have been regular participants of this fair over the years.
To give you a very small idea of what to expect, and to name just a few of the dealers and Record Labels who will be attending this year, you can look out for:
- Siegfried Kalus from Germany selling his Private collection of very rare punk records and 60's mod / garage / freakbeat and soul
- klang recordstore-Mödüng from Austria selling New and Original Pressings - Funk - Soul - Jazz - HipHop - Electronic - House - Techno - Drum n Bass - Global - Rock - Pop
- Everland from Austria selling Funk, Afro, Jazz, Psych, YU, Exotica, Electronic, Experimental
- Vam Records and Reverb Records from Mexico selling Mexican Psych, Garage, Folk, Funk, Soul, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Latin, Ambient & Avant-Garde music. Mexican & Latin American releases, classic Rock bands & Pop artists on LP and 7”
- Vinilos Alvaro Chile from Chile selling Rare Southamerican pressings & Pop, Rock, Wholesale
- Yugovinyl Record Store Belgrade of Serbia selling Jazz, 60s - 70s, Psych-, Prog-, Folk- Rock and rare Yugoslavian records
- Atlantis Muzik from Greece - Turkey selling Rock - Metal - Prog - Jazz - Pop - LP's / Turkish first pressing LP's
- BEATBALL RECORDS & PINKPANS from South Korea selling New releases from South Korea & Collectable Korean pressings
- Crazy Times Records from France selling Rockabilly, Rock & Roll, Country, Blues, Rhythm & Blues (Collectors LPs, EPs, Singles, 78 Rpm)
- Discoleccao from Portugal selling Portuguese pressings and international rarities
- Heynineteen from Croatia selling Jazz, Funk, Hip-Hop ,Rock, BLUE-NOTE, PRESTIGE Originals and Audiophile Records
- Only Roots Reggae Records from France selling JAMAICAN MUSIC, ROOTS, REGGAE, DUB, SKA, ROCKSTEADY. RETAIL & WHOLESALE. NEW releases & ORIGINAL PRESS
- Repsychled from Peru selling Garage, Psych rock from South America / cumbia & tropical sounds, DJ 7’s / South American Rarities from Beatles, Elvis, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, 60s, 70s, classic rock & heavy metal. Original vinyl LP’s & singles
- The Record Loft from The United States selling American pressings of: Rock, Jazz, Blues, Funk, R&B, Soul, Reggae, Pop, Jazzrock, Acoustic, Folk, Country Bluegrass, Southern Gospel, Private Label Pressings, Rap, Hip Hop, House, Techno, Electronica, World Music, Boxes and Boxes of 12inch Singles
Whether it's Bastian‘s Hip Hop Corner from Germany specialising in used and new Hip-Hop Records, with rare first pressings of US, French and German Hip-Hop, or collectable memorabilia from the likes of Vinyl Experience from the UK selling cool stuff since 1982 including rare Lps, 45s, unreleased Bowie, Stones, Hendrix or Beatles photos, signed albums, rare music books, posters & signed guitars, you will find it all at this fair.
You will also find stalls run by quality Record Labels who will be selling hot new releases, Ltd. edition pressings, and some of those hard to find back catalogue numbers you may have missed along the way. With the possibility of some special items from either their stores or private collections.
Amongst these we have:
MR Bongo Records from the United Kingdom delivering quality vinyl since 89, who released a 12” of Tito Puente’s classic Oye Como Va back in 92.
I remember when the store first opened, I just turned 16 and due to my new found wealth as a newly employed and hard working man, i was eager to add to the small collection of vinyl i acquired through birthday presents, Christmas presents, and the savings i made from pocket money and my school lunch money (skipping lunch to buy records).
Anyway, I still remember spending most of my weekly payslip in either Mr Bongo and Reckless Records, or a few of the other stores in London that have since passed. The rest was spent in Four Star General, a B-Boy paradise where you could find all your Hip-Hop needs, including Jumbo Laces, 4 finger rings, Fat chains, Jordan T’s and your Gucci and Louis V rip off threads courtesy of Dapper Dan (not sure these were the real deal).
Alas, moving on and getting back to the wax ‘n’ facts, Mr Bongo will be Specialising in Brazilian, African, Latin, Jazz, Soul & Funk reissues and could be bringing some secondhand gems to the table…
Wah-Wah Records from Spain, a Record label specialised in vinyl LP deluxe reissues.
Altercat Records a Record label from Berlin, German started in 2015 focused on Brazilian music, World Jazz and eclectic worldwide sounds selling Quality reissues and original pressings.
Charly records from the UK a well known label founded in 1974, Charly was originally known for providing reissues from the likes of the Yardbirds and the Small Faces, to James Brown and the Funkadelic.
Far Out Recordings a Label from London, United Kingdom which dropped its first 12 back in 1992, specialising in Brazilian music, jazz, dance, soul, and those hard to find rarities.
Rainbow 45 Records from Turkey is a Record Label and store based in Istanbul offering Brand new releases, Reissues & quality Second Hand Turkish Vinyls that delivers that high quality eastern vibe.
Superior Viaduct from the United States is an Archival record label from San Francisco that has an interesting back catalogue from 2011 that delivered some quality reissues, including the likes of Alice Coltrane, Charlie Mingus and Sun Ra.
Souma RecordsS / Radio Martiko Record Label from Belgium - who will be bringing a top selection of rare pre-loved vinyl, specialising in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean music (33rpm, 45rpm, 78rpm)
Whether you’re looking for that holy grail item that’s been on your wants list for however long, or you’re looking to pick up some dollar box gems to fill a gap in the collection, you will find it all here if you keep diggin’. And when you need a 15 minute break from digging through the crates to refuel, you have bars serving ice cold brewski’s either bottled or on tap and food vendors selling burgers, dogs, fries and delicious on the go snacks for the dedicated digger.
On top of all this you can expect Live Music, pop quizzes, book signings and DJ sets throughout the day.
To celebrate this 60th edition, you are in for a glorious surprise and can expect opening and closing DJ sets from Miss Twist, as well as Live performances from the ‘Amsterdam Faya Allstars’ who will be delivering a solid set of Surfs-Up Sax driven Ska, Jazz, Latin and Reggae on Saturday from 15h to 16h.
On Sunday you can find Extince, a Dutch rapper who started droppin’ Hip-Hop bombs on wax back in the 80’s with tracks like ‘Holland is Best’ and ‘The Girlie Girlie Prince’.
Extince will be backed up by DJ DNS, a true B-Boy DJ and DMC Champ from The Netherlands. So if you dig dope beats, fresh breaks and lyrical wisdom, check this out from 12:45 to 13:15.
From 13:45 to 14:15 you will find singer songwriter Yorick van Norden previously from The Hype delivering something special
And from 14:30 to 15:15 you’ll find DJ Aad Brakus droppin’ some Ska Fever. I’m not familiar with Aad, but with the title Ska Fever and playing at this venue, I’m sure we can expect good things…
Finally Miss Twist will be closing the day with a fun fuelled, feel good, party classics set, dropping waxy gems and groovy goodness from her box of R&R, R&B, Twist, Bop, Shimmy and Shake goodies.
So if you’re thinking of coming on your lonesome, with a fellow digger, or with your family, there is something here for everyone and you will all in for a funky good time…