Bethel, Area DJs Join Forces to Fight Hunger at Vinyl Record Event

BETHEL, CT — Area DJs converged upon Molten Java coffee shop in Bethel on Sunday to raise funds and collect food for those in need in the community. Organized by Don Olson, the "Bring Your Own Vinyl" (BYOV) event brought together DJs of all different ages, genres and skill levels.

Olson, a Bethel resident and area music promoter, said he wanted to create the event in order to restock the Bethel Food Pantry and Brotherhood in Action, a nonprofit volunteer-run organization that helps those in need through delivering of Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets and more. "When I was thinking of where to have it Molten Java was a natural fit because Wendy does so much to help promote the arts in the area. It's a good way to bring people together for a great cause," Olson said.

Bring Your Own Vinyl Night at Molten Java also included a buy, sell, trade component in which Trash American Style owner Malcolm Tent brought his pop-up record store. Trash American Style was the go-to place in the Greater Danbury area for vinyl records, cassettes, 8-tracks, fanzies, vintage clothing and more. Since closing in 2007, Tent works out of his home and attends area flea markets and events to bring vintage, rare and hard to find collector's items to the public.

Although there is no longer a "brick and mortar" storefront, Tent maintains an active schedule vending at local events, including the Danbury Record And CD Expo, which is 20 years old next year. "As always, I'm into community outreach and turning the kids on to the wonders of vinyl," Tent said. "I love buying record collections. During the off season I tour the country playing solo acoustic punk rock and, of course, buying records to resell here in Connecticut. Vinyl is the best format ever. As far as I'm concerned, it's not coming back. It never went away."

The next BYOV event will be held at O'Connor's in Brookfield on Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 7:30-11:30 p.m. Olson provides the equipment and guest DJs bring their own records. Guests are asked to bring a non perishable food donation in its original, unopened packaging to help area food pantries. Check out the Facebook event for details.

For more info about BYOV events in your area, click here.

For more info about Malcolm Tent and Trash American Style, click here.

Photo: Trash American Style owner Malcolm Tent (right) and Guest DJ Otis Boyd

Credit: Wendy Ann Mitchell