Long Beach’s vinyl community is thriving. We have a vinyl listening club. We have vinyl-centric events. And, thanks to Lauren Snook’s pop-up, Collectng Dust—yes, without the “i”—we have a vinyl swap at Alex’s Bar that returns on Saturday, May 16, from 1PM to 6PM.
Held at the iconic red-and-black venue at 2913 E. Anaheim St. (and its parking lot), the swap is shaping up to be one of those distinctly Long Beach afternoons—equal parts music, makers, pizza, and community energy. Even better? The first 25 shoppers to support a vendor get a first-edition Alex’s Bar Record Swap tote bag.
“One of my favorite things about this event is that every swap feels a little different,” Lauren said, who has hosted multiple record swap events. “We always have a strong core of vendors. But there’s constantly fresh inventory, new sellers, different genres, and all kinds of music-related finds beyond just vinyl. We’ve also got cassettes. CDs. Band tees. Posters… It’s a place for seasoned collectors, casual diggers, DJs, local businesses, and curious newcomers to all connect.”
Wait—what can we expect from this record swap in Long Beach?
The event will feature over 20 local vendors, live vinyl DJs spinning sets all afternoon, pizza from Pizza Fik, and on-site ultrasonic record cleaning by Vinyl Laundry. Particularly cool? Record Box will be hosting famed artist and photographer Hugh Brown, whose work spans well over half a century. His work includes hundreds of album art tied to everyone from The Clash to Talking Heads.
“They’re bringing rare records pulled from his personal archive along with photo prints from throughout his career,” Lauren said. “It’s nothing short of super cool.”
It’s free, 21+, and built to keep Long Beach’s vinyl scene accessible, vibrant, and thriving. For Lauren, taking over the curation of the Alex’s Bar swap was about sustaining more than just an event—it was about protecting a culture.
“I recently took over organizing this record fair to keep our local vinyl scene alive and sustainable for the vendors, the DJs, and everyone who keeps this culture beating,” she says. “Times are tough, and I just want to see our people thrive.”
The roots of Collectng Dust in Long Beach
That sense of care didn’t come out of nowhere. Collectng Dust—yes, spelled intentionally without the “i”—is the result of a deeply personal evolution.
Lauren has been vending nearly every weekend for the last two years, clocking in 71 pop-ups in just 18 months, after fully diving into her side business in early 2024. But the roots stretch far deeper.
“Before all this, I was a dancer. For 27 years, it was my entire identity,” she says. “When I got sick for the better part of a decade, I lost all of it… Even listening to music hurt.” It was vinyl—quietly traded, sorted, and rediscovered at home—that brought her back. “Selling records helped bring it all back. Pop-ups helped me find my people. Music feels safe again. I found community, purpose, friendship—and pieces of myself I thought were gone.”
Continuing the Long Beach record swap…
That rebirth is what powers Collectng Dust today.
Lauren’s booth has become a fixture at fairs across the city, from Good Luck Vinyl Club events to independent markets, and now she’s channeling that experience into curating something bigger than herself: a vinyl event built for and by Long Beach.
“At the end of the day, it’s really about creating an accessible, low-pressure space where people can get out, discover music, support small vendors, and spend a day connecting over something they love,” Lauren said. “Whether you’re hunting for rare records, grabbing your first crate, meeting fellow music nerds, or just hanging out with friends over drinks and good music, that’s what makes it special. Long Beach has such an incredible independent music culture, and I feel really honored to help continue building something that supports that.”
