While it wasn’t quite what she had in mind when setting the goal to be her own boss after graduating from the Haliburton School of Art + Design (HSAD) several years ago, Kelsey Redman said the chance to become sole owner at Russell Red Records was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
The lifelong musician completed a deal to take over the Highland Street business in Haliburton on Feb. 1.
She’s taken a month to decorate the space, which is undergoing a slight rebranding. Moving forward, the downtown storefront will be known as Redmans Records.
After serving as manager since April, Redman said it was a feeling of “right place, right time” when former owners Dan Manley and Collin Burke decided they wanted out.
“I always thought I’d be an artist selling my work, or a musician doing live performances as my income source – getting into retail has been interesting, but I like it. It’s been a really fun job working with music every day,” Redman told The Highlander.
She’s been a full-time County resident for 14 years, first moving to the area in 2011 to enrol at HSAD. By 2018, she had run the gamut at the arts-based college, completing all 12 courses – including artist blacksmithing, glassblowing, ceramics, jewellery making, and photography.
Redman has 10 certificates and two diplomas from her time at HSAD, where she was also a technician and faculty member.
She credits the institution with facilitating connections and friendships with people who are helping her through this new chapter in life.
Enter Wendy Lingard, who spent several semesters at the school throughout the pandemic – some under Redman’s tutelage. The pair have been reunited at the record store, with Lingard working part-time and assisting with decorating – painting the interior to the same colour scheme as HSAD – and helping with stock and customers.
A member of the Highlands Chamber Orchestra, the Haliburton Highlands Wind Symphony, and Highlands Swing Band, Redman said she hopes to inspire people to pursue their passion for music. She plans to start selling cut-price instruments to help those who otherwise may not be able to afford to play, particularly youth.
“When I was 10, I could never afford a double bass – I had mine gifted by my math tutor in high school. That’s the instrument I still play today. Things such as tubas, I only recently bought my first one at an auction,” Redman said. “I think it would be so cool to find used instruments and get as many of them into kids’ hands as possible.”
She’s also planning to purchase an espresso machine, wanting to turn the record store into a hangout spot for locals. There will be other refreshments, including baked goods, available come spring.
Redman also has a growing collection of vintage vinyls with roots in the County she’s hoping to build on – tracks from the 1967 Hal High Glee Club, live recordings from The Rockcliffe, North to Carnarvon from The Jeff Barry Band, and pieces by Johnny Burke, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer who was a staple of the Highlands community from 2007 until his passing in 2017.
“These records are like little pieces of history, I love collecting them. I’m always finding new stuff whether out in the community, or online. It’s a pretty niche thing, but it’s fun seeing how much I can collect,” she said.
While remaining open during renovations, Redman is planning a full launch March 1. The storefront is open Wednesday through Sunday.
“I’d love for this to be the spot where musicians come just to hang out, to keep up with what’s happening… I’d like to have a database here of people in the County that can help with teaching instruments, repairs. Almost like a one-stop shop connecting all the dots of the different people on the music scene,” she added.
