August 10, 2022
Aug 10, 2022
Our founder and CEO, Gar Ragland, spoke candidly about his vision for Citizen Vinyl and introducing the art of record manufacturing to the cultural hub of Asheville in this feature for American Songwriter. You can read the full article here, or check out highlights down below.
“Hidden in the hills of North Carolina lies the city of Asheville – a cultural hub of bountiful delights. Thriving from a recent uptick in tourism, the town is bustling with independent artists and venues. A rich history seeps through the music scene, closely tied to the Appalachian traditions on which the city was raised.
In the heart of the downtown district is a grand, three-story art moderne building that previously served both the Asheville Citizen and Asheville Times newspapers and WWNC. The radio station, ‘Wonderful Western North Carolina,’ began in 1927, welcoming the ‘Father of Country Music,’ Jimmie Rodgers, on stage that same year. Over the next decade, regional music traditions spread down with their purveyors as they fled Appalachia in masses, seeking work in larger cities. Bill Monroe made his debut on the third floor of the building in 1939, introducing the world to a new sound he popularized as ‘Bluegrass.’
CEO and music industry veteran, Gar Ragland, announced the revitalization of this iconic space this month, unveiling its new identity: Citizen Vinyl. The historic site will serve as a boutique vinyl pressing plant, record store, and locally-focused bar and cafe.”
Over the past year, Wyatt Grant’s paintbrush has grazed the surfaces of brick, plaster, and concrete walls, across town and beyond. His latest mural, at Citizen Vinyl, is a soft and playful display of abstract shapes and bodies. Wyatt says he wants the artwork to… View Article
A film processing lab that opened during the pandemic is just one indication of a revived interest in analog photography, seemingly in spite of these digital, smartphone times. In February 2021, roommates Alex Cox and Bryce Alberghini started AVL Film Lab out of their basement,… View Article
Sooner or later, what’s old is new again. So goes the sentiment when it comes to trends in fashion (thanks for the cardigan, Nanny ♥), and as it turns out, in audio equipment. That’s what led me to Audio Service Co., a repair shop located… View Article