Phonopolis is an independent record store based in Montreal, Canada. It is situated in the Mile End. Through instores, window displays and a strong local section, it strives to service the vibrant musical scene that is a part of this neighbourhood. It carries a wide range of music but specializes in music that lies outside of the mainstream. This includes indie and experimental rock, jazz, avant-garde, folk, blues and music from around the world.more...See more text
Visiting a record shop is as positive an experience as visiting a restaurant or bookshop, and it is an increasingly popular one. On rue Bernard O in the Mile End, a well-renowned purveyor of vinyl has been slinging discs since 2002, always specializing in the more underground, alternative records that are the personal choice of owner Nathan Gage. “When we started, I worked alone for the first couple of years,” Nathan explains. “I was working as a musician, living in Montreal and touring, not knowing what to do in the months I was based here. I got to know the area and decided it needed a record store.” Mile End was an even more artistic neighbourhood at that time. Lots of musicians and artists were based in the area and the vinyl boom was just beginning. “The music selection of Phonopolis was more alternative then, more underground, informed by my personal tastes,” Nathan says. “We were originally at a different location, on St. Viateur and Parc, right beside Mile End Kicks. We were using about half their store. When we expanded we moved. That was 2010.”
Phonopolis is an independent record store that has its roots in the Mile-End. You'll find a good selection of indie, experimental rock, jazz, folk and blues records here. However, this place has more than just records; this is a space where Mile-End artists and musicians gain exposure, both to each other and to the public. You can find their records here, but on rare occasions, you can also enjoy the treat of seeing them play live.