Next week's Live Spotlight: JP SIMÕES - August 30th - Museu do Chiado

Since the start of his career on the fertile '90s alternative scene, JP Simões has been working to be one of the best Portuguese singer-songwriters. Bands like Belle Chase Hotel or Quinteto Tati had already showcased his knack for songcraft, mixing Leonard Cohen-classicism, jazz elegance and alt.rock energy, but the release of his first solo album, 1970 (the year of his birth), exposed his greatest passion: bossa-nova, as professed by the late great Tom Jobim. With a new album in the stores called Roma, where he expands on his previous musical palette, JP Simões will no doubt conquer the hearts of those who haven't yet been converted.

JP SIMÕES
MNAC - Museu do Chiado -> location of the venue
August 30th (friday), 19:30
Free entrance

MATÉRIA PRIMA

In the middle of Bairro Alto, privileged site for nocturnal bohemia, stands one of the best places to find both danceable and difficult sounds in Lisbon. MATÉRIA PRIMA is a Lisbon offshoot of the main shop in Porto with the same name, but it serves exactly the same kind of food for thought as its counterpart.

Electronica, both dancefloor-oriented and abstract, alternative rock, including the drone and noise-based kind, as well as other leftfield genres, like kosmiche or even electroacoustic music, are part of the usual menu.
The shop stores both CD and vinyl formats, mostly new, though you can also find some used vinyl. A fine selection of art, culture, design and music magazines is also available.

The staff is affable and knowledgeable, so if you're looking for something, do ask.
Even if you're not a noisenik, a lover of soundscapes or a DJ looking for the trendiest grooves, make sure you visit MATÉRIA PRIMA and get ready to explore a new soundworld.

MATÉRIA PRIMA

Rua da Rosa, 197 (Bairro Alto)

1200-383 LISBOA

Opening hours:

Mon. to Sat. - 14:00 to 20:00

Closed on Sundays

-> visit the shop's website

-> send a message to the shop

-> look it up on the map

Next week's Live Spotlight: AFONSO PAIS - August 22nd - Jardim Botânico da Ajuda

Afonso Pais is a jazz guitarist who has been recently gaining some notoriety, though he's been releasing records since 2004. His record with bossa nova-influenced singer JP Simões, brought critical acclaim to both artists, and he's now experimenting further: his latest offering, "Terra Concreta" has been recorded in the middle of nature, letting the surrounding elements be a part of the music. The album sessions took place in seven different nature parks in Portugal and one in Indonesia. Trying to bring this nature feeling to his live presentations, Afonso Pais will certainly make use of the beautiful surroundings of the Ajuda Botanical Garden on next week's concert, in trio format.

AFONSO PAIS
Jardim Botânico da Ajuda -> location of the venue
August 22nd (thursday), 18:00
Entrance: € 4,00

The Map = The Secret

Have you tried the Lisbon Record Shops map? Well, it guarantees that you, fellow record-scavenging fiend, will find your way to all the sweet spots you won't want to miss in this lovely city.
It's on the sidebar. Try it out!

Next week's Live Spotlight: TÓ TRIPS - August 16th - Museu do Chiado

Half of the Portuguese mystery-blues duo Dead Combo, TÓ TRIPS is an extraordinary guitarist. Cutting his teeth with 90's alt-rock band Lulu Blind, his musical vision only came to fruition on Dead Combo, where influences like Marc Ribot and Tom Waits are mixed with the feeling of Fado and African tinges.
After the release of Guitarra 66 (his first solo album) where he swaps electric for classical guitar, Trips has been dividing his time between Dead Combo and solo gigs. Next Friday, you'll have a shot at experiencing Tó Trips live at Museu do Chiado, Lisbon's contemporary art museum, for free.

TÓ TRIPS
MNAC - Museu do Chiado -> location of the venue
August 16th (friday), 19:30
Free entrance

Lisbon, capital city of Portugal

Just to make things clear: Lisbon.

VINIL EXPERIENCE

One of the veterans of Lisbon independent vinyl shops, VINIL EXPERIENCE is located at Rua do Loreto, right on the bottom of Bairro Alto. Once you get to number 61, go up half flight of stairs, turn left and you're there: a hidden shrine to psychedelia.

Managed by über-60s-connoiseur J. Cunha, it's the right spot if you're looking for psych, prog, kraut or garage rock, even though the selection is wider than that. Used and new vinyl share the place with a selection of CDs as well as assorted merchandise, all on a newly refurbished shop, as appealing as its predecessor.
Don't forget to pay a visit to VINIL EXPERIENCE during your Lisbon record shopping expeditions and FREAK OUT!

VINIL EXPERIENCE

Rua do Loreto, 61 - 1º Esq. A

1200-241 Lisboa

Opening hours:

Mon. and Fri. - 13:30 to 20:00
Thu. - 13:30 to 20:30
Sat. - 11:30 to 19:00
Closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays

-> send a message to the shop

-> look it up on the map

TWICE

Another small shop in a hidden corner of Lisbon, this time on Principe Real, one of the prettiest parishes in Lisbon. Coming down from the Principe Real garden plaza on Cecílio de Sousa Street, you'll find TWICE on nº 76, with a hanging record giving you a warm welcome.



Inside you'll find a variety of used records from all genres, rarities and bargains, and a record player to to sample or test your findings. The shop has also an assortment of books and magazines, as well as some selected CDs.
TWICE is yet another unmissable cosy spot for the record collecting tourist.

Check out our interview with Twice's manager Gonçalo Troçolo here.

TWICE

Rua Cecílio de Sousa, 76 - R/C

1200-099 Lisboa

Opening hours:

Mon. to Thu. - 17:00 to 20:30
Fri. and Sat. - 17:00 to 21:00
Closed on Sundays

-> visit the shop's Facebook page

-> look it up on the map

LOUIE LOUIE

Originally a shop on Porto (the capital city of the North of Portugal), LOUIE LOUIE opened a branch in Lisbon (managed by Jorge Dias, one of the pioneers of the used records business in Lisbon), which is nowadays one of the most popular record stores in the city.

Right in the middle of downtown Lisbon, LOUIE LOUIE has a bit of everything for all tastes: CD and vinyl (and also DVDs), used and new, all genres. The new premises (open since June 2013) include a small coffee shop, which only enhances the welcoming feel and the friendly atmosphere of a great place to listen to and buy your favourite music.

Check out our interview with Louie Louie's manager Jorge Dias here.

LOUIE LOUIE

Escadinhas do Sto. Espírito da Pedreira, 3

1200-290 LISBOA

Opening hours:

Mon. to Sat. - 11:00 to 19:30

Sun. and holidays - 15:00 to 19:30

-> visit the shop's website

-> send a message to the shop

-> look it up on the map

DISCOLECÇÃO

Probably the best known used record shop in Lisbon internationally, DISCOLECÇÃO is a obligatory stop for any serious vinyl scavenger. Located at the top of the Calçada do Duque, you should better come from Largo Trindade Coelho rather than from Rossio, or you'll have to climb a bit!

Vitor Nunes is the caretaker of this incredible vault, where you can find anything from SST hardcore original pressings to freejazz classics, Beatles rarities to asian prog-rock curiosities, you name it! And the stock is constantly being renewed! Prices are absolutely fair, and there are pretty good odds that you'll find a bargain.
Though it only stocks used vinyl, DISCOLECÇÃO is the kind of store where the real vinyl collector will always want to come back to.

Discolecção

Calçada do Duque, 53-A

1200-156 Lisboa

Opening hours:

Mon. to Fri. - 13:00 to 20:00

Sat. - 11:00 to 19:00

Closed on Sundays

-> look it up on the map