Musically adventurous people come to Whanganui Record Fair for pick of 10,000 records

Mike Fenerty rifles through the vinyl at the Whanganui Record Fair. Photo / Lewis Gardner

They were "sonic explorers", looking for something new to please their ears.

At least 200 people went to the Whanganui Record Fair at Lucky Bar + Kitchen on June 2. There were at least 10,000 records there for them to look through, organiser Brian Wafer said.

The eight vendors were from Tauranga, Auckland and Palmerston North.

The music on offer ranged from classical to punk rock. Many buyers were searching for music from the 1970s to 2000s that they had previously owned but had since sold or dumped.

Maggie O'Rourke, 9, goes bargain hunting

"There were also young people who are discovering, who think this is the best format," Wafer said.

The fair had a relaxed atmosphere, with food to buy, and all the vendors bought records themselves.

"It was like a swap meet."

Wafer lives in New Plymouth and has been in love with records since he first heard The Beatles at the age of 10. Records have always been his favourite format for listening to music and he said he still had new sounds he wanted to explore on vinyl.

At the fair he bought a couple of records from a British progressive rock band called Jonesy.

Robin Potts at the record fair at the Lucky Bar

He's organised record fairs in Whanganui before, and said the events were part of his social life.

"I have a good time. If it pays its way, I'm quite happy," he said.

He likes a big record cover, with details to read on the back, and said records last well and are better to hand down than other music formats.

"You try to give your kid your Spotify collection ..."

His next record fair in Whanganui will be in early December.

Vinyl junkies searching for that collector's item.