On Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th of April the 51st Mega Record & CD Fair will take place at the Jaarbeurs Utrecht, the Netherlands. This biannual show - as always held in conjunction with the International Collectors Fair - is renowned as the greatest record fair in the world by DJs, experts, collectors and fans of pop music. Over 500 exhibitors from all over the globe will display the collected history of pop music from the past sixty years in the shape of singles, albums, 12-inches, CDs and DVDs. As usual the programme includes live performances, signing sessions and guest deejays.
We will also be featuring album art. 50 vinyl records with extraordinary covers will be on view during this exhibition which has been curated by American pop culture expert and writer Johan Kugelberg (USA). Some covers were made by musicians themselves or by famous artists such as Andy Warhol or Karel Appel. Other record covers have been deemed ‘controversial‘ and subsequently withdrawn themselves and never released. The first records of Afrika Bambaataa and other DJs from the early days of HipHop which are recognized as being very special and rare. Both Jon Savage and Johan Kugelberg will be in conversation with their views and opinions on the covers shown.
Latest news: Due to sad family circumstances Jon Savage will not be able to visit this edition but we found a fantastic replacement: Niki Buzz the legendary guitar player from bands like Vendetta and M-80 will record live during the fair at the stand of Record Industry Haarlem. In 1975 Niki was very much on the scene in New York City when the legendary CBGB‘s was at the forefront of the punk music scene. Performing with artists as the Ramones, Patti Smith, the Talking Heads, The Shirts and Mink Deville, he is one of the few artists that can boast that he was on the first ”Live at CBGB‘S” album as the lead singer for the group Sun featuring Bill Laswell on bass.
Jon Savage and Johan Kugelberg are happy to present an exhibition of 50 rare, curious and strange records to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Utrecht Mega Record Fair! Savage and Kugelberg have selected 50 vinyl records that illustrate the dreamlike journey of the vinyl fanatic.
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At another exhibition a large part of the personal archive of Peter Hook can be seen. Bassist Hook played together with Ian Curtis in Joy Division and New Order. Omega Auctions (UK) shows the best pieces from Hook‘s private collection throughout the weekend. Peter Hook will attend the fair and his exhibition only on Saturday with a meet & greet.
A Joy Division & Factory Records Exhibition & auction from Peter Hook’s private collection
The Peter Hook Signature Collection, Historic Equipment, Guitars, Instruments, Rare Vinyl, Unique Artwork & more from Hooky’s Archive
Omega Auctions will show this unique Peter Hook private collection at the fair and auction the memorabilia on March the 2nd next year. The first time that the catalogues will be available to purchase/view will be at the 50th Mega Record & CD Fair. The catalogues can be pre-ordered online now, but will not ship until after Utrecht, so it is an exclusive preview. Here is a link to the press release
In the Netherlands, one vinyl factory survived the CD and download period. Record Industry Haarlem presses vinyl for the whole of Europe and will demonstrate how this process works on the exhibition floor. As a festive 50th edition present Record Industry has pressed a vinyl record with the collaboration of Tim Knol and his American musical friend Kevn Kinney (frontman of Drivin‘ N‘ Cryin‘). Both have recorded a song by each other and a limited number of this unique single will be launched for the first time and handed out to visitors free of charge.
Niki Buzz the legendary guitar player from bands like Vendetta and M-80 will record live during the fair at the stand of Record Industry Haarlem. In 1975 Niki was very much on the scene in New York City when the legendary CBGB‘s was at the forefront of the punk music scene. Performing with artists as the Ramones, Patti Smith, the Talking Heads, The Shirts and Mink Deville, he is one of the few artists that can boast that he was on the first ”Live at CBGB‘S” album as the lead singer for the group Sun featuring Bill Laswell on bass.
Famous blues guitarist Niki Buzz, Dutch bands Gruppo Sportivo and Bert Heerink will record some life songs at the fair and Record Industry Haarlem will cut an acetate of his performance live at their stand. Visitors can enjoy the experience of how vinyl records are produced. RIH sound technician Rinus Honing will explain the process by showing a cutting machine pressing the songs on a wax lacquer.
Record Industry is saying: ’the technique we will show at the fair is called ’direct-to-disc’. In our studio we are using highly qualified equipment but the machinery we are using at the fair is named the Rek-O-Cut, a portable cutting machine from the fifties. It’s mainly a charming machine showing the way audio is cut on a lacquer although you cannot compare it with the quality we offer musicians in our brand new Artone Studio in Haarlem. Here is a video to show you the way the Rek-O-Cut works. The band has to stand around one microphone and the song is recorded live in one take. Then the recordings are being cut on a 78 rotations record.’
Pink Floyd, Jimmy Hendrix and the Beatles among many others performed in the famous UFO club in London in the mid-sixties. The posters for this club were designed by Nigel Waymouth and are very sought after. A large number of original copies can be admired at the fair and Waymouth is personally present.
Pink Floyd UFO club 1967
My White Bicycle 1967
Kledingzaak Hung On You 1967
During this festive 50th edition, there are promotional gigs with Meet and Greets by Gruppo Sportivo and Bert Heerink (Vandenberg) the latter presents and also signs his new double album, recently published by the Strengholt label. In addition, there are several DJs and the Utrecht formation Grey Nomad.
Saturday November 17
Sunday 18 november
Saturday and/or Sunday - Meet & Greet with presentations on or nearby the stage::
Amazing Album Art | Johan Kugelberg (USA)
Amazing Album Art | Johan Kugelberg (USA)
Jon Savage | England‘ s Dreaming
Jon Savage & Johan Kugelberg
Record Industry
Zappa | by Peter Sijnke
Bert Heerink
Bert Heerink & friends
chocolates by Cleo Hoenraet, available at the fair
