As the saying goes, good things come in threes, so here it is; issue 3 of the Wax and Beans newsletter.
It's been a funny 'ol year, but thanks to our amazing customers and staff, we have made sure the wheels have kept turning and the wax has kept spinning.
So a huge thank you to our entire team for their continued commitment to the cause; making sure the welcome is warm and the coffee..... hot! We like to think that our little shop provides not only a fab service but acts as a community hub to the local people of Bury and surrounding areas. Our online presence continues to grow and we love dropping little messages to all the kind folk who order from further afield.
We can't thank you enough for your continued support and custom throughout what has been such a completely bonkers year, but also completely brilliant for music.
Our favourite pre-order this month is The Snuts with W.L .
After a ferocious start to 2020, which saw the band; land a top 15 album chart position with their debut Mix-tape EP and a number one spot on the UK vinyl chart. The Snuts have announced their raucous, hook laden debut album, W.L. – out 19th March on Parlophone Records.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new releases, check out our full list of ever updating pre-orders here. Just a word of warning, they are known to move pretty quick, so don't miss out.
As always, we want to hear from you! If you've got any suggestions for a pre-order, message us here. You can also chat to us about anything else using that same link.
The Snuts - W.L (Brick Red Vinyl) - £22.99
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Wax and Beans win awards!
In what was a totally mind blowing experience, Wax and Beans were awarded not one but TWO awards at the Made in Bury Business awards (MIBBA). We took top prize for Best in Class Retailer, as well as, first place for the Tourism and Leisure award. We were up against some really top competition including the Mill Gate Shopping Centre and The Fusilier Museum, but shockingly beat both. We cannot thank our customers and the people of Bury and beyond for all the support given to us, we literally wouldn't be where we are without you. So although we get to keep the fancy trophies and frames, we wanted to dedicate our awards to you guys, our very valued customers! Thank you!
Ist Ist - Wax and Beans exclusive!
In November we secured our very first exclusive with one of our favourite bands, Ist Ist. We worked alongside the band to choose a limited coloured vinyl variant which will be released in February with just 150 copies pressed. We decided on the very stunning white and black splatter as we thought it represents a link between the original black and vinyl artwork of the bands magnificent debut LP Architecture, and our very own Wax and Beans logo. Our variant is sold out, but the band are also producing a limited run (500 copies) on red and black splatter and these are available to order here: https://www.musicglue.com/ististmusic
Wax and Beans Top 10 albums of 2020
2020 has been an absolute belter for new music. Below are our favourite albums - it's a really eclectic mix. Bob Vylan takes our top spot; powerful, poetic, grime rock with messages that make you sit up and not just listen, but think as well. In no particular order, the other nine albums that also shaped our year:
Bruce Springsteen - Letter To You
Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways
Cornershop - England is a Garden
Badly Drawn Boy - Banana Skin Shoes
The Strokes - The New Abnormal
Competition Winners
Last month we announced our competition in partnership with AV Online to win a beautiful wooden headphone stand (worth £49.95).
To enter, all you had to do was to make an online purchase at Wax and Beans between Nov 5th - Dec 2nd (lockdown MKII) and we automatically entered you into the competition.
We can now announce the lucky winner is Phil Salter from Manchester.
Congratulations Phil, we hope that you enjoy your prize!
Do make sure you check out AV Online's website and socials to continue to help all us indie businesses grow. You won't be disappointed, they pride themselves on exceptional customer service, just like us lot!
Congratulations also to Sal and Bev who won the test pressings that we drew for all orders placed online in October and November. We'll hand those over to you when we next see you.
Here at Wax and Beans we believe that sharing is caring. So every month we'll be picking one album to share with you awesome people. Right now, the album is. . . .
The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You
Building on the sample-based approach of their classic albums Since I Left You and Wildflower, but stepping boldly into new terrain, We Will Always Love You is the new full length masterpiece from The Avalanches. Set for release around the galaxy on December 11. Features Ann Druyan (Director of the Voyager Golden Record Project) on the album cover, her cosmic love story with Carl Sagan inspiring this body of work.
The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You - £28.99
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Here, we invite one of our incredibly loyal band of customers to nominate a record that has really made their year. This month, our own Jon Matthews shares his favourite album of 2020. Jon works for us on a remote basis from down in sunny Lyme Regis. Jon provides us with this very newsletter as well as helping out in the shop on special occasions.
His selection:
This year we have been treated to a lot of great music and although I have to pick one, I want to give a shout out to the brilliant Serpentine Prison by Matt Berninger (The National front man), Reunions from Jason Isbell and the 400 unit and Italian Ice by Nicole Atkins. However, my favourite album of 2020 is Letter to you by the incredible, age defying Bruce Springsteen.
He has taken his honest writing of his last album Western Stars and injected it with the power of the E-Street band. Back are those very recognisable vocal harmonies with Stevie and the unmistakable drumming style of Max Weinberg.
This really is a masterstroke from The Boss, and I have no doubt whatsoever that it will be greeted as such from all fans and music writers alike. This album manages to lift my spirits and break my heart all at once. I don't think any artist bar Bruce can pull that off.
Bruce Springsteen - Letter To You (Gray And Black Vinyl Versions) - £31.99
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Our mate @Vinyllovinglefty, avid writer, a man with a passion for music, more beautiful than a peacock's tail, and all round absolutely top bloke... well, he wrote a blog and we uploaded it to the blog page on our website. Big love dood.
Before we sign off for 2020, we wanted to say a huge thank you to the thousands of folk that have supported Wax and Beans this year, we consider you all to be our friends. Keep enjoying the music, keep sharing your passion with others, music is so vital in bringing people together, it's a foundation that builds friendships, discoveries and for those that work within the scene, a career.
Merry Christmas x x x
Ben, Lou and all the team.
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