Crackle & Pop Records: 10 Years in the making
Celebrating ten years of pop-ups this weekend at The Wheaty, we chat with Crackle & Pop Records owner Adam about the business and what the future holds.
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Unlike other record stores around Adelaide, Crackle & Pop Records has no shop front. Nor do they have an official website selling their wares. For a decade this innovative pop-up has been setting up shop at a wide range of venues across the state slinging the best vinyl records from all your favourite artists.
The brainchild of music lover Mark Cnotek, Crackle & Pop Records ran under Mark’s leadership for nine years before he handed the reins over to the Buckley family: Adam, Anita and their son Jack.
The trio have taken C&P Records to a new level and are pumped to celebrate the thriving pop-up record store’s tenth birthday with a special event in the front bar of The Wheaty this Saturday, December 21.
Head along from 2pm and mingle with fellow music lovers while knocking back a few cold ones and listening to some fantastic tunes, with Crackle & Pop bringing along a wide selection of crates with vinyl from all your favourite acts.
Ahead of the birthday bash, we had a quick chat with owner Adam about the business and what punters can expect from the event this weekend.
READ MORE: Record Store Day Interview: Crackle & Pop Records
Congratulations on ten years of Crackle & Pop Records. Although you’ve only been involved in the business for the past year and a half, tell us a bit about its origins and how you got involved.
I was a customer who used to follow Mark Cnotek (Crackle & Pop’s original owner) around a bit, especially on the weekends when I had my son. We ‘borrowed’ the shop from Mark on two occasions to put on something at the Woolshed Brewery and the conversation started from there.
Fast forward to now and most pop-ups are myself and my son Jack who lives full time with me. The best part of doing this is doing it with Jack.
What made you want to take over the running of Crackle & Pop Records?
My dad asked me when I was a teenager what I wanted to do and of course, in the ‘90s, Big Star Records were everywhere. So I said I wanted to work in a record store. Probably not the answer a CEO wanted from his son but I guess I kinda did it. Going to the Rundle St. store was just the best in the ‘90s.
What have been some of the highlights this year, both with C&P and bands you have seen?
Beer & BBQ for sure! We did both here (Adelaide) and at Mt. Gambier and will be doing so again [next year]. It’s so much fun. A few trips to the Riverland were rad and we also helped put on Hot Mess Fest at Woolshed Brewery and hope to get more involved in the event for future editions.
Little Creatures in Geelong is fav place to go as well. Twice we’ve been in town with the shop in tow and unbelievably Port have been playing the Cats both times. What a coincidence! (I’m a port tragic). We also went in January earlier this year and will be back there again when we go see Idles in Melbourne.
Nice Day To Go To The Club [was a great day] as well as I’m super obsessed with Stiff Richards now and also saw C.O.F.F.I.N. for the first time. The Mark of Cain and bad//dreems were also amazing on the day.
Have you noticed any trends when it comes to buying records this year? Any albums, artists or genres that people are really digging?
Our current best sellers are My Chemical Romance, Mac Miller, Arctic Monkeys, Deftones and Tyler, the Creator.
We try and occasionally get someone to do an order for us to keep things different. The hip hop heads at Banana Boogie have done a CPL and Troy J Been did one for us that I’ll put out at the Wheaty that was meant for the Gilles market that was unfortunately cancelled due to the heat over the weekend just gone.
Ten years is an impressive milestone to reach. What is it about Crackle & Pop that makes it such a successful endeavour?
Mark’s awesome. He had an idea and made it happen. It's nice to be able to keep it going as he did a wonderful job.
Do you ever have plans to open a brick-and-mortar store in the future or is the current model sustainable?
We are moving into a permanent home in 2025 but will still be out and about.
To celebrate ten years you’re having a special pop-up at the Wheaty on Saturday, December 21. What can punters expect who head along? Any surprise guests?
Mark will stick his head in the door. He’s pretty special. Got some good albums on sale and will probably put some more titles in the sale crates before Saturday.
You’ve also released a t-shirt to commemorate C&P’s tenth anniversary. Tell us about the design and how it came about and where supporters can grab one.
It’s designed by Ryde Clothing who are based in the Riverland in Renmark. They’ve got a great story and I met Nathan (Ryde owner) a few years ago when I lived up there. We live on the river ourselves (Mannum) and we first took C&P out on the river so making it the centre of the design made sense. He really nailed the brief. We’re selling them for $40 at pop-ups.
What does the future hold for Crackle & Pop?
A permanent home and fun pop-ups.
Last but not least, we need to get your top five albums of the year.
1. JPEGMAFIA - I Lay Down My Life For You
2. Father John Misty - Mahashmashana
3. Jack White - No Name
4. Tyler, the creator - Chromakopia
5. Barbarians of California - And Now I’m Just Gnashing My Teeth
So get down to The Wheaty this Saturday, December 21 from 2:00pm to 6:00pm and celebrate ten years of Crackle & Pop Records.
