{"id":156581,"date":"2026-04-03T19:52:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T19:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/156581\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T19:52:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T19:52:17","slug":"hellbender-vinyl-expands-east-with-new-pressing-plant-in-philadelphia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/156581\/","title":{"rendered":"Hellbender Vinyl Expands East with New Pressing Plant in Philadelphia"},"content":{"rendered":"

originally published: 04\/03\/2026<\/p>\n

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Photo by\u00a0Tory Silver<\/p>\n

Hellbender Vinyl<\/a>, the beloved independent pressing plant expands to Philadelphia via acquisition of Softwax Record Pressing and welcomes industry veteran Travis Whitlock to the team.<\/p>\n

Since shipping its first finished order in January 2023, Hellbender Vinyl, based in the\u00a0Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh,\u00a0has built something rare in the music world: a vinyl pressing plant that artists and labels genuinely love working with. Not just for the quality of the records – though that speaks for itself – but for the experience of getting there.<\/p>\n

Hellbender was built from the ground up by\u00a0musicians, label veterans, and DIY lifers\u00a0who understand what a record means to the person making it. That understanding shapes everything – from the quality of each pressing to the way the team shows up for clients every single step of the way. At Hellbender, no one is left wondering where their order stands. The team checks in proactively, keeps clients updated throughout the process, and treats every project with the same level of care and attention, whether it\u2019s a debut EP or a major label reissue.<\/p>\n

The result is a client list that reads like a testament to trust:\u00a0Guster, Dizzy Reed of Guns N\u2019 Roses, The Ataris, Wiz Khalifa, Victoria Mon\u00e9t, Castle Rat, Apes of the State,\u00a0and hundreds more have all pressed with Hellbender – and keep coming back.<\/p>\n

Now, Hellbender is growing.<\/p>\n

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Its new\u00a0Philadelphia facility\u00a0is open and accepting orders today. Last year Hellbender acquired Softwax Record Pressing, an up-and-coming indie plant which was founded in 2018 by\u00a0Kiko Casanova in Northeast Philadelphia.\u00a0Kiko joined Hellbender in early 2025 to spearhead client development: \u201cI met Matt (Dowling) through some mutual friends in late 2024 and I thought our vision for serving indie artists was crazy aligned. The joining of forces has been super fun and at times wild, but such is the world of vinyl pressing.\u201d East Coast artists and labels can now benefit from fast turnaround times and the option of local pickup – a convenience that reflects Hellbender\u2019s core commitment to being genuinely accessible. The expansion marks a significant milestone in the company\u2019s growth as a proudly American-made alternative in an industry that has long leaned on overseas manufacturing.<\/p>\n

In tandem with the additional footprint, Hellbender is thrilled to welcome\u00a0Travis Whitlock to the team as their Head of Business Development.\u00a0Whitlock\u2019s career spans decades and disciplines: musician, tour manager, record label owner, fine art framer and conservator, venue manager, and founder of Actually Pressing – a manufacturing company celebrated for pushing vinyl\u2019s creative limits with liquid-filled and object-filled records. His deep industry relationships and hands-on expertise make him a natural fit for a company that has always believed the best work comes from people who are truly invested in the craft.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know what it means to hold your own record in your hands for the first time. That feeling is why we do this\u201d said Whitlock. \u201cI joined Hellbender largely because I was struck with how genuinely they care about their customers. It\u2019s more rare than you might imagine. Matt and Jeff (Betten) put together a really great crew spread between the Pittsburgh and Philly plants. I\u2019m thrilled to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Hellbender offers flexible service to fit every kind of client: order entirely online at your own pace, or work hand-in-hand with the team from concept to delivery. Either way, you\u2019ll never be left in the dark. That\u2019s not just a promise – it\u2019s the Hellbender standard.<\/p>\n

Info on upcoming events including a Record Store Day party on April 18 at 5:00pm EST can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hellbender Vinyl<\/a> is a proudly American-made, independently operated vinyl pressing plant built on the belief that artists deserve a pressing partner that actually gives a damn. Since shipping its first order in January 2023, Hellbender has pressed records for artists across genres, offering flexible service – from fully self-directed online ordering to full-service collaboration – with proactive communication, attentive customer service, payment plan options, and the quality and care that only comes from a team that lives and breathes music.<\/p>\n

Co-Owner Matt Dowling\u00a0is a musician, PhD scientist, and serial entrepreneur with deep roots in the DC\/Baltimore music scene. Known primarily as a bass player, Matt has toured with notable bands such as\u00a0Deleted Scenes (Park the Van Records), The Effects (Dischord Records), and\u00a0Paperhaus (Misra Records). Through Paperhaus\u2019s 2017 release on\u00a0Misra, Matt met Jeff Betten. \u00a0Currently, Matt plays as the frontman of\u00a0SWOLL, bassist of Burial Waves,\u00a0and\u00a0multi-instrumentalist in How???.<\/p>\n

Outside of music, Matt is a PhD Chemical and Biomedical Engineer, the founder of multiple tech and life sciences companies, and the inventor of\u00a0Rapid Seal Wound Gel,\u00a0available in CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. His scientific work has been featured on\u00a0Brave New World with Stephen Hawking.\u00a0After reconnecting with Jeff during the COVID pandemic, Matt found his passion for vinyl manufacturing\u2014a unique combination of chemical engineering, music, and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n

The creation of Hellbender Vinyl is the result of co-owner Jeff Betten\u2019s long journey through the music industry. Starting as an acoustic singer-songwriter, Jeff later found success on the business side, taking over the indie label\u00a0Wild Kindness Records\u00a0in Youngstown, Ohio. His efforts caught the attention of\u00a0Misra Records\u00a0in Washington, DC, who asked him to become their general manager. In both roles, Jeff witnessed the growing demand for vinyl records and the corresponding increase in production wait times.<\/p>\n

When\u00a0Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto\u00a0challenged him to help his hometown grow, Jeff proposed the idea of bringing a vinyl pressing plant to Pittsburgh. Known for its manufacturing prowess, it\u2019s no surprise that Hellbender Vinyl has thrived in the Steel City.<\/p>\n

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EVENT PREVIEWS <\/p>\n

\"MPAC
MPAC presents Forever K-Pop – A Celebration Concert<\/a>(MORRISTOWN, NJ) — Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) presents Forever K-Pop – A Celebration Concert on Friday, April 3, 2026 at 7:30pm. Inspired by the worldwide K-Pop phenomenon and recent smash-hit film KPop Demon Hunters, this high-octane production brings today’s biggest K-Pop hits to life on stage in a spectacle unlike anything audiences have seen in a tribute concert before.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The
The Folk Project’s Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series presents Mike Block Trio and Lynne Hanson<\/a>(MORRISTOWN, NJ) — The Folk Project’s Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series presents Mike Block Trio and Lynne Hanson on Friday, April 3, 2026 at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship. Showtime is 7:30pm.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Roy\"
Roy’s Hall presents James McMurtry<\/a>(BLAIRSTOWN, NJ) — Roy’s Hall presents singer-songwriter James McMurtry on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 8:00pm. He’s been called “one of this generation’s most unflinchingly potent and powerfully erudite recording artists” by American Songwriter.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"State
State Theatre New Jersey presents Yellow Brick Joel: The Tribute Concert\u2014Elton John & Billy Joel<\/a>(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) — State Theatre New Jersey presents Yellow Brick Joel: The Tribute Concert\u2014Elton John & Billy Joel on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 8:00pm. David Clark performs as Billy Joel along with Bill Connors as Elton John in a tribute show celebrating the two greatest piano men of our generation.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"SOUP
SOUP CAN Magazine to Celebrate Five Years With a Monumental Canniversary Event<\/a>(ASBURY PARK, NJ) — On Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 6:00pm, SOUP CAN Magazine will mark five years of magazine magic byhosting its annual “Canniversary” with a night engineered to feel like a main\u2011stage, stadium\u2011level celebration of the community that built it. Wild Air Beerworks will host the event, but the scale of the evening reaches far beyond the venue \u2014 this is a full\u2011force thank\u2011you to the readers, performers, and neighbors who transformed Soup Can from a DIY idea into one of New Jersey’s most vibrant creative movements. In a show of collective power, the Canniversary aims to break their standing record of food donations by gathering over 1,100 pounds in a single night, all to benefit Mercy Center of Asbury Park.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Avenel
Avenel Performing Arts Center presents singer-songwriter Steve Forbert<\/a>(AVENEL, NJ) — Avenel Performing Arts Center presents singer-songwriter Steve Forbert on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 7:30pm. Limited tickets remain.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Prudential
Prudential Center presents B2K and Bow Wow<\/a>(NEWARK, NJ) — The Black Promoters Collective presents B2K and Bow Wow with The Boys 4 Life at The Prudential Center on Sunday, April 5, 2026. The lineup also includes Amerie, Yung Joc, Crime Mob, Franchize Boyz with special guests Pretty Ricky.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"MPAC
MPAC presents Women of Americana: A Celebration of American Music<\/a>(MORRISTOWN, NJ) — Coinciding with the United States’ upcoming semiquincentennial, Women of Americana: A Celebration of American Music, produced by Eli Wolf, comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:30pm.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Morris
Morris Museum presents Cerus Quartet on April 9th<\/a>(MORRISTOWN, NJ) — The Morris Museum presents Cerus Quartet on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:00pm. Founded in 2022, the Cerus Quartet is dedicated to showcasing the dynamic and versatile sound of the saxophone quartet.<\/a><\/p>\n

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UPCOMING EVENTS <\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"originally published: 04\/03\/2026 Photo by\u00a0Tory Silver Hellbender Vinyl, the beloved independent pressing plant expands to Philadelphia via acquisition…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":156582,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[6889,3869,1338,7862,5646,7860,7865,915,7861,1962,7859,7864,69,71,70,7866,7863],"class_list":{"0":"post-156581","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-philadelphia","8":"tag-art","9":"tag-comedy","10":"tag-dance","11":"tag-entertainment-in-new-jersey","12":"tag-film","13":"tag-jersey-arts","14":"tag-music","15":"tag-new-jersey","16":"tag-new-jersey-arts","17":"tag-nj","18":"tag-nj-arts","19":"tag-nj-events","20":"tag-philadelphia","21":"tag-philadelphia-headlines","22":"tag-philadelphia-news","23":"tag-theatre","24":"tag-things-to-do-in-new-jersey"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}