On the corner of Southgate Place in Launceston, Keep Audio Co gathers vinyl, coffee, cake and conversation into one easygoing town-centre stop. You can browse the racks, talk gear, or simply sit with a drink while the records keep turning.
Background / History
Keep Audio Co Ltd was incorporated in September 2022 and is directed by Dale Walters and Veronica Walters. Walters, a Launceston local and long-standing music enthusiast, has spoken about wanting to open a record shop for many years. The name comes from the castle keep that stood opposite the first shop. The business later moved into a larger home at 2 Southgate Place, beside the historic town gatehouse, with the original town wall running through the building itself. Keep Audio Co is part of Launceston’s independent retail revival and sits comfortably alongside Crates Is High: complementary tastes in the same small town, with rock and guitar-based browsing a clear strength here. The shop takes part in Record Store Day, and has marked the day with banners and events.
What You’ll Find
The racks centre on vinyl, with new releases, reissues and second-hand finds sitting together rather than in a narrow specialist silo. Rock is a strong thread, while the wider selection also takes in pop, indie, alternative and other approachable listening. CDs, tapes, guitars and selected instruments, hi-fi equipment and merchandise sit alongside the records, and the shop can help with music and audio repairs or point you towards the next step if a turntable, amp or instrument needs attention. The café side is part of the point of visiting: drinks and homemade cakes give you a reason to stay once you have found something to listen to.
Experience / Atmosphere
Keep Audio Co feels like a music hub as much as a shop floor. The tone is friendly and informal, with room for chat, recommendations and browsing that does not rush you out the door. Live sessions, listening nights and folk gatherings have been part of the calendar, with upcoming dates shared on the shop’s Facebook Events page. Coffee, cake, helpful service and space to linger with the music are consistent reasons people return. The Southgate Place corner sits in the historic heart of Launceston, close to the gatehouse, and makes a natural pause on a walk around town.
Why Visit
- Vinyl browsing with a rock and guitar-based strength, plus CDs, tapes and selected instruments
- Coffee, homemade cakes and space to sit while you dig through the racks
- Hi-fi, audio gear and repair advice for the wider listening set-up
- A community-minded stop beside Launceston’s town gatehouse
- Record Store Day involvement and regular in-shop music events
Summary
Keep Audio Co is a characterful Launceston record shop and music café for people who like their music spaces relaxed, sociable and rooted in the local scene. With vinyl, coffee, cake, instruments, hi-fi and occasional live music under one roof at 2 Southgate Place, it offers more than a quick browse. Collectors, casual listeners and visitors to Cornwall can all find a reason to linger.
