Set among the stalls of Sandbach’s historic Market Hall, BackTrax Music brings a genuine vinyl specialist into the heart of one of Cheshire’s most characterful market towns.
Background / History
BackTrax Music was founded in 2014 by John Beddows, a lifelong music enthusiast originally from Liverpool whose love of records has shaped the shop from the very beginning. What started as a market-based venture has grown into a firm fixture of Sandbach’s cultural life, drawing collectors and curious browsers from across Cheshire East and further afield. Beddows has built the shop around a real sense of community, and that spirit runs through everything from the carefully chosen stock to the shop’s own distinctive branding, developed in collaboration with the artist Jonny Mellor.
What You’ll Find
The racks hold well over 2,000 vinyl albums and singles, covering a broad spread of genres to suit collectors, seasoned listeners and first-time buyers alike. Stock combines brand new pressings and reissues with a deep selection of preloved records, and there is a particular fondness here for rare and hard-to-find titles. BackTrax also buys and trades, taking in records in good condition with their original sleeves, which keeps the shelves turning over and rewards regular visits. Alongside the vinyl sits the shop’s own range of branded merchandise, including turntable slipmats, record cleaning cloths, stickers, t-shirts and tote bags, each carrying Mellor’s artwork, while a presence on Discogs lets collectors track down specific pressings from the wider inventory.
Experience / Atmosphere
Browsing at BackTrax has the unhurried, welcoming feel of a proper independent record shop. Beddows and the team are approachable and always happy to talk music, whether steering a newcomer towards an affordable classic or helping a seasoned collector chase down something elusive. The market setting gives the shop an informal, sociable character, and its role reaches well beyond simple retail. Monthly Sunday gatherings bring the local vinyl community together, and the shop’s playful #showusyourbag campaign has seen its tote bags photographed everywhere from Los Angeles to Singapore, a small measure of the loyalty it inspires.
Why Visit
- Over 2,000 new, reissued and preloved records across a wide range of genres
- A strong focus on rare and collectable vinyl
- Records bought and traded, so the stock is always changing
- Own-brand merchandise featuring artwork by artist Jonny Mellor
- Monthly Sunday community events for local vinyl fans
- A warm, knowledgeable owner at the heart of Sandbach Market Hall
Summary
More than simply a place to buy records, BackTrax Music has become part of the fabric of Sandbach, pairing a well-stocked and ever-changing selection of vinyl with the warmth and knowledge of an owner who clearly loves what he does. Whether you are building a collection, hunting a particular pressing or just enjoying an afternoon flicking through the racks, this Market Hall institution is well worth seeking out.
