Guide to Belgrade Record Shops

Christine C.

July 7, 2016

CITY GUIDE, LIVING, MUSIC GUIDE

Lookin’ for records in Belgrade? We‘ve done a bit of research and we have discovered some quite handy  places where you can find both vinyl-old and new releases. In Belgrade you can buy records in antique shops, street vendors, markets and flea markets and records stores. We have chosen some good ones worth your while.

Let’s start with a famous Yugovinyl.  This store is a genuine treasure house for lovers of ex-Yugoslav music. All the records are second hand, bought from street vendors, collections, antique shops and from the internet.  Here you can find the most rare and obscure ex Yugoslav releases from pop, rock new wave to jazz but also the ones which were banned by the Communists back in the day.  Interesting one is a compilation Ex Yu Electronica. Go there and dig deep and you will find very interesting tracks for DJ sets and mixes.

“My favorite record shop in Belgrade is Yugovinyl.  I think I know the stock there better than the owner. Yugovinyl is more than just a record shop; it’s a cultural institution, a museum. It’s famous among the vinyl diggers all over the world. If you ever wanted any old Yugoslav record, the chances are you’ll find it there. It’s also a place where you can socialize and learn a lot about the alternative history of Belgrade, Serbia, former Yugoslavia. I only have words of praise for it” says DJ Brka for Still in Belgrade.

Address: 35 Toplicka St. 11000 Belgrade 

Another one is Metropolis music bar and store located in Makedonska. This window like space is great to go and have coffee, attending live gigs at the weekend and searching for CDs and carefully selected new and old releases.  It’s definitely a place worth checking out.

Address: 21 Makedonska St. 11000 Belgrade 

Pinball Wizard  is online shop that sells only selected music classics and new releases.  Owners created their offer according to demand and personal preferences, because they noticed that people tend to buy selectively, picking their favorite albums to add to their collection. Besides the old classics you are bound to find new releases, and there is a special section for jazz aficionados. All records are purchased from a distributor, among the most expensive one is a deluxe reissue of debut album of the famous  Led Zeppelin.

The last but not least is Leila a record shop and a bar situated in Kralja Petra St. in the borough of Upper Dorcol. Here you can buy records, drink coffee during the day and enjoy DJ and live gigs during the night. Leila store has more than  10,000 titles, amongst which one can find rare items like the ex Yu jazz album. The number of customers has increased significantly in recent years, and the reason lies not only in sound quality, but also in nostalgia value and the cardboard boxes they are stored in  that seem to have been fallen into oblivion and as if long forgotten. But then again there is  the fact that the value of the record increases with age. The most expensive record in their collection  is the first release of the album Miles Davis from 1967, which costs 200 euros.

Address: 41 Kralja Petra St. 11000 Belgrade

The 12 Best Things In Belgrade, Serbia Every Music Fan Should Do

28 Mar 2014 / Corey Tonkin

Serbia’s most recent difficult history dates back to the 90s where  the country suffered through the initial ramifications of the breakup of Yugoslavia, civil war, high inflation and high unemployment rates.
For some reason the Western world’s idea of Serbia hasn’t fully moved on from that turbulent period.
Despite this Serbia’s local music and arts scene has flourished in the years since.

Why its nightlife still remains largely uncelebrated in comparison to Paris or London is baffling when you consider that even during the 90s Belgrade managed to not just to maintain is fervour for nightclubbing but actively improve it.
When the 1999 NATO bombs dropped down on Yugoslavia Belgrade still managed to have its own huge outdoor concerts in city squares and on bridges, just as the city’s nightclubs started operating during the daytime.
With that period behind them, Belgrade may not be as architecturally as splendid as its European counterparts, but its nightlife rivals all.
There are countless nightclubs citywide and on the metropolis famous splavs, that is music venues on barges for the uninitiated.
Nightclubs reverberate everything form house music to progressive, tech house and Serbia’s own turbo-folk, which incorporates folk music with electronic and pop elements.
While a wide variety of other genres are represented across the board, there’s an underground scene that has emerged from the scars of the past.
Canadian bred, but Serbian born producer Ensh takes The 405 through his birth place’s music scene, detailing a “myriad of small clubs, cultural centres and re-appropriated spaces. Like Fest, KC Grad and Inex Film”.
Primarily though he introduces outsiders to an establishment called BIGZ, which is an multilevel abandoned publishing house that has been transformed into a creative centre for artists.
The building is home to underground venues, practice spaces and recording studios.
Ensh’s most interesting statement though, is where he describes the artists that make up the creative scenes in Belgrade.
“No one involved in the Belgrade alternative scene plays music because they have any pretense of “making it”, they just want to play music. It is that very same passion that has drawn in DIY tours from all over Europe to Belgrade. It just feels like the right place to be. There is a combination of naiveté, devotion and wonder that would give any musical cynic a glimpse of hope.”
As both Ensh and the city’s large number of thriving nightclub’s demonstrate Belgrade’s music scene is thriving on a number of fronts.
Whether you’re interested in dancing the night away or immersing yourself into avant-garde culture the Serbian capital is one of Europe’s must-visit music destinations.
Read on for the 12 things every music fan must do in the Serbian capital. 

Experience Exit Festival

Having just won the ‘Best Major European Festival’ award at the 2014 EU Festival Awards, Serbia’s biggest music event is continually recognised as one of the greatest music festivals in the continent. Despite it being held outside of Belgrade in Novi Sad the event is too integral to the country’s music scene not to be included here. Its foundations are important to note as well. Founded in 2000 as a student movement fighting for democracy, it still to this day is an important promoter of social equality. Held over four days Exit books big name acts such as Arcade Fire, Portishead, Guns N’ Roses, Bloc Party, Faith No More, Lily Allen, The Prodigy, Arctic Monkeys, Sex Pistols and Pulp to name just a few.

Visit A Splav

Splav literally translates to raft in English, although it’s known more for being a barge restaurant than a floating device. These restaurants are typically located along the Sava and Danube rivers, which define the city. Most turn into nightclubs by night with no cover charge on entry. The music at the splav’s range from folk, pop and rock acts to dance inspired DJs. You can’t visit Belgrade without hopping aboard at least one of these floating restaurants or nightclubs.

Pick up a record at Yugovinyl

Toplička 35 Zvezdara
A favourite amongst locals this record store is true to its name. Selling a variety of vinyl from ex Yugoslavia with titles from major and minor labels Yugovinyl provides a fascinating insight into the music of Yugoslavia. There’s even Yu editions of international legends such as The Beatles, Queen, The Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley.

Witness Svi Na Pod! Live

At the forefront of the ‘New Serbian Scene’ – a collective of pop/rock artists formed after the year 2000 – this seven-piece outfit has a large following in the ex-Yu region. With their name translating to ‘Everyone One The Floor!’ it’s not hard to distinguish just what the band’s dancefloor aims are. The pop ensemble were voted best band in their local music scene in 2009 and were awarded best local concert in 2011 by Serbian website Popboks

Have a late night at 20/44

Toplička 35 Zvezdara Sava River dock
If there’s any splav nightclub you should visit first it’s this one. Situated on the banks of the Sava River 20/44 is open all year round. The sound system echoes a broad range of sounds from Detroit techno to soul, disco, funk, house and dubstep. The venue is most famous for its ‘Disco Not Disco’ nights which allows the city’s best DJs to experiment and surprise their audience. Its cheap entry and you can also get a pretty great view of old Belgrade from the splav in summer.

Take A Walk Down Skadarska Street

Tourists venture down this street because it is filled with quality restaurants and cafes in the heart of old Belgrade. Paved with cobblestones and characterised by buildings with impressive murals you won’t remember a more lively daytime Belgrave than when you’re down Skadarska. You’ll also experience plenty of live bands and string orchestras along your walk. Just remember to stop off for some Serbian cuisine while your walking down this pedestrian street.

Buy vinyl from The Wall

The Wall, Balkanska 29
Toplička 35 Zvezdara
While this record house has no online presence to speak of it’s more than worth checking out in person. Centred towards metal, punk and rock it sells vinyls from these genres at pretty competitive prices. Band merchandise such as hoodies and t-shirts are also for sale here, along with badges and other forms of memorabilia. The Wall is open Monday to Friday from 12pm to 6pm and is located on the first floor of a mini shopping mall.

Catch Gramophonedzie At One Of His Local Shows

Known internationally as the maker behind ‘Why Don’t You’ which reached the #12 spot in the UK charts, Marko Milićević is one of Serbia’s most famous DJs. The producer has released a wide array of DJs and a string of singles to follow up the success of ‘Why Don’t You’, won a European MTV award and played festivals across the continent.

STOCK vinyl in Novi Sad, Saturday, July 14

Coffee Sonja, Vladimir Peric Walter 3.Subota 14.july.
Hundreds of collectors from Serbia and abroad have visited the Stock Exchange of gramophone records in Novi Sad. Market takes place every first Saturday, but this time he moved for a week and visitors to EXIT was able to visit.
We invite collectors playing records, CD singles and the original editions, fans of forgotten vinyl , to come and see what it is that attracts collectors from all over Serbia to come to Novi Sad.

Free admission!

YUGOVINYL RECORD SHOP BELGRADE

Yugovinyl record shop sale all of the kinds of records from ex Yugoslavia.Abaut a dozen record companies(the major ones being Jugoton from Zagreb and Belgrade's RTB plus many smaller (RTVLJ,Suzy,Diskos,Diskoton,He­lidon,Jugodisk,Beograd disk,Sarajevo disk)published tens of thousands of record during 50's-mid 90'.
It is our aim to make all these titles available to all the fans of Yu music and collectors of Yu editions of foreign performers(Beatles,Queen,Rolli­ngstones,Elvis Presley...)