Thirteen Records: Continuing Dundee's music legacy

New Dundee record shop Thirteen Records on life after the iconic Groucho’s Records, opening a cultural venue in a pandemic, and the future direction of music and culture in their hometown

When Groucho’s Records closed its doors for good last year, many music lovers mourned the loss of the Dundee cultural institution. The memories of generations of Dundonians (including myself) were fostered there over the years and the store was even a firm favourite of The Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr.

The late owner of Groucho’s, Alastair ‘Breeks’ Brodie, fully embodied the ethos of the store, his passion for music and the local community shining brighter than most. With his passing, the inevitability of closure loomed ever closer. But his loyal staff did much more than just accept this fate.

Instead, they opened Thirteen Records. And with a renewed cultural focus on Dundee and vast record store experience on their side, Thirteen Records may just become a new musical mecca in the City of Discovery.

What’s the ethos behind Thirteen Records?

All we want to do is provide people with the absolute best record store experience we possibly can – that’s what we have always done and what we will always strive for. We do our best to be fair when it comes to buying and selling, and just want to see our customers happy. We want people to feel comfortable and unintimidated here.

What were the emotions like on opening day last year? It must have been a strange feeling having worked at Groucho’s for so many years.

When we first opened there was an overwhelming sense of excitement, a real feeling of the community coming together and getting behind us to support the opening of the shop. We really couldn’t have asked for more. After working in Groucho’s for so long (between us we were in there for over 70 years combined!), it was really strange being somewhere else, but we settled in quickly.

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