OXFORD’S music-lovers are being invited to stock up on tunes at a new independent record store – for one weekend only.

The venture will see an empty shop at 101 Cowley Road, East Oxford – the former home of the Videosyncratic video store – converted into a band-lovers’ paradise – with vinyl, CDs, DVDs, T-shirts and posters.

The shop is being staffed by the team from Rapture, in Witney – the county’s only remaining independent record store.

It will open with a party tomorrow and wind-up on Sunday with a closing down sale – making it possibly the shortest-lived shop in the city’s history, The exercise is part of the city’s second annual OX4 Festival – which will see international and local acts playing at 10 venues in Cowley Road tomorrow.

And there are hopes it may lead to a more permanent solution for the lack of independent record stores in the city.

OX4 spokesman Drew Brammer said: “Oxford used to have a really good supply of independent record shops, but now there are none. Cities like Cambridge still have lots, so I don’t know why we don’t.

“We want to prove that Oxford really needs it.”

Over the past few years, pressure from bigger shops, internet downloads and high rents and rates have led to the closure of other stores like Polar Bear in Cowley Road and Massive and Avid Records in the city centre.

Mr Brammer added: “The idea here is to live the life of a record store in one weekend, from opening party on Friday night to closing down sale on Sunday.

“We’ll have a huge selection of everything people have come to expect from a record shop. We are also inviting local bands and musicians to drop their CDs in and we’ll sell those too.”

Mr Brammer said the ‘guerrilla’ record store would only be in place for three days, but that he hoped it could lead to something bigger.

He said: “I grew up in Manchester and spent a lot of time in the record stores there.

“Every city I go to, I have a root around their record shops, and I love them – it’s about the whole atmosphere and the people who run them.

“You can find rare treats, or albums you once owned and forgot about.”

“I think it is sad that people in Oxford have no choice, with only HMV left, or instead download songs from their homes.

“We want to prove that people want, and can support, a record shop in Cowley Road.

“We need to get people out, supporting their local businesses. Maybe Rapture might even consider staying here a bit longer.”

Gary Smith, owner of Rapture Entertainment, said: “What would normally take us about three months to set up for a normal store, we are attempting in about half a day.

“It is a bit of a mad thing, but we are really looking forward to it.”

And when asked about whether Oxford could make another permanent home for the company, Mr Smith said he wasn’t ruling out the possibility.

He said: “We’ll never say never to opening a store in Oxford. We’ll see how this experiment goes and see if there is any demand here.”

For more on OX4, go to thisistruck.com