click here for The Thirtythree/45 website

How did Thirtythree/45 begin?
We opened our doors on February 2nd 2026 at 10am ! However, we’d been working away on fitting it out with a very limited budget for the three months prior to that date. 

Who's in charge?
Thirty Three 45 is owned and run by Steve Manley and myself - with a lot of support from Lisa Jones who is our social media guru ! 

How did you get involved in the first place?
Steve and I were invited to an Anthony Bunko play in Merthyr Tydfil. Steve had recently taken early retirement and didn’t know what to do next - I said, ‘why don’t you open a record shop in Neath ?’ I was, then, co-owner of a very small record shop in Llanelli and offered to help him.

What do you specialise in?
We’re very lucky as it’s a huge shop. Possibly the largest in Wales set over two floors and five rooms and, as such, space isn’t an issue so although we have our personal favourite genres and formats we can offer a very wide range to suit all tastes.
Steve loves his Punk and I love Prog though.

Do you offer an online service?
We do indeed. Direct from our website plus we have an eBay shop

How has your shop changed since vinyl made a comeback?
Ah, we weren’t open in the ‘bad old days’. We’re not a year old yet. Did vinyl ever really go away ?

Can you describe your typical customer?
Ha ! I don’t think there’s any such thing as a typical customer. We get all ages in and they buy all sorts of different music on every format you can think of.

Which two or three artists are you currently seeing most demand for?
The Beatles are always top of the list followed by Pink Floyd and Elvis but we also sell lots of Metallica and Ghost. We also sell a lot of Steve’s bespoke design tees on our Black Salad Threads range.

How to you see the next two or three years for the shop?
We’re constantly moving things around and creating extra space - putting in extra shelves and seeing if we can squeeze more stock out but we’re in the process of becoming OCC registered and looking to host bigger events on the first floor - we have George Borowski (Teenage Fanclub) with us in February.

How do you feel about Record Store Day?
We’re actually applying for it. So we could very well be involved in 2027. I think you have to be selective when ordering and buying but if it’s a record you love why not ?

Any funny/crazy requests/moments you've had in the shop you'd like to share?
Steve and I always laugh about the guys who come in asking for the most obscure stuff and then look at us with disdain when we’ve never heard of them ! And then there’s the customers who ‘have everything’ and it’s all in ‘mint’ condition. Really…….?

Do you run any in-shop signings/live sessions?
We have live sessions every Saturday from 1pm and we’re to go-to shop for album launches and signings in the South Wales area - we’ve had metalheads VERLETZEN and MOULD in to launch their albums, Prog Rock genius Dave Jones and for next year we’re chatting with Trampolene and some others we’re not allowed to mention…..yet !

if you could sum up the shop...?
We’re the place that brings music lovers together and we love being able to support up and coming bands and labels - plus the more established artists.

You can find Mike and Steve at Thirtythree/45, 22 Queen Street, Neath, SA11 1DL
and check out their website Thirtythree/45

Mike (left) and Steve (right) with Verden Allen from Mott The Hoople