Picture this: there’s a winding line of people huddled together outside a store in the brisk morning air, eagerly waiting to have their chance to shop. Exclusive deals are waiting for them inside, deals that only come once a year.
I bet you were thinking of Black Friday, weren’t you? But what I was describing above is not Black Friday, but instead, Record Store Day.
Record Store Day happens on a Saturday in April every year. This year, it’s happening on April 21st, so be sure to mark your calendars. Independent record stores all over the country sell exclusive vinyls that artists and bands release just for Record Store Day. Some cities even hold parades, cook-outs, and mini concerts. The first Record Store Day happened 10 years ago in 2008 after independent record store owners gathered together to come up with a way to celebrate physical music. Since then, the celebration has spread across the country and the world, with more artists and consumers participating each year. It’s not only a one day thing either, Record Store Day holds contests and promotions throughout the year. Cities like Los Angeles, New York City, Boise, Charleston, and Las Vegas have even declared Record Store Day a national holiday. It’s simply a day when music lovers of all ages and backgrounds can come together to pay homage to the vast range of music genres.
I’ve participated in the last few, and it has been one of the most interesting and wonderful experiences I’ve had. Last year I waited in line for a solid hour, chatting with people and bonding over our shared love for music. I’ve been collecting records since I was 16, and many of my vinyls have come from this one special day. I’m also a big fan of this day because it helps promote local and small businesses, which I think is always a good and necessary thing.
Here are of the few exclusive releases that I’m hoping to get my hands on:
1. The Allman Brothers Band, Live At The Atlanta Pop Festival, July 3 & 5, 1970
2. Arcade Fire, EP
3. Bleachers, MTV Unplugged
4. Mac DeMarco, Old Dog Demos
5. Fleet Foxes, Crack Up (Choral Version)”/”In The Morning (Live in Switzerland)
6. The National, Boxer Live In Brussels
7. Phoenix, Monologue
8. Snarky Puppy, Sharktank
You can find the full list of releases here.
So, are you intrigued? You can join in on the fun by checking the Record Store Day website for record stores near you that are participating. The record stores participating in Salt Lake City are Albatross Recordings & Ephemera, Graywhale, Sound and Vision Vinyl LLC, Randy’s Record Shop, Diabolical Records, and The Heavy Metal Shop.
Whether you’re a seasoned participant and collector or a first timer, go out and get your hands on some exclusive deals!
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