BELFAST
TALKINGSHOP STRAN G EVICTORY R ECORDS
It’s hard to keep them on track, Darren Smyth and Jeff Doherty. We are in Strange Victory Records, their recently unveiled, independent, much needed record shop, run with business partner and fellow music nerd, Sinead Green. The pair are planning a forthcoming Edwyn Collins in-store, and opening bundles of posters for upcoming shows that need promoting – Lankum, She Drew The Gun, Jon Spencer & The Hitmakers… As we talk, a potted history of Belfast’s record shops becomes a thread running through the conversation. “Was it Sun Records & Tapes that replaced Smyths For Records? Was Dr Robert better than Backbeat?”