THE MAP
Every vinyl destination inside the greater Atlanta footprint. Zoom in to see individual venues.
Atlanta hides one of America's deepest hip-hop crates.
Atlanta's record scene is bigger than most out-of-towners assume. Wax'n'Facts in Little Five Points has been running since 1976. Criminal Records covers the wider new-releases beat. Wuxtry, Ella Guru, Fantasyland and East Atlanta's cluster of shops fill in around.
The dig is heavy on Southern soul, gospel, funk, hip-hop, and a genuine local rap catalogue — Atlanta pressed more of its own regional hip-hop than most Americans realise, and second-hand stock reflects it. The Earl and 529 handle East Atlanta nights.
THE FIVE ROOMS
Since 1976. Deep second-hand — soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, rock. Atlanta's essential first stop.
The wider new-releases anchor — indie, hip-hop, in-store events, curated wall.
Long-running second-hand — deep crate on rock, soul, jazz. R.E.M.'s Peter Buck famously worked at the Athens sister shop.
Small, sharp, curated — punk, indie, garage, soul. The current selector's counter.
Long-running collector shop — first pressings, rarities, memorabilia. The Atlanta grail hunt.