Record Store Day celebrates 10 years

Record CoversCelebrated on the third Saturday in April, Record Store Day Australia is an important day for the music industry as it reiterates the importance of the traditional music outlet as one of the major avenues for the public to discover the many genres of music releases each year.

Produced by the Australian Music Retailers Association (AMRA), Record Store Day is an enormously entertaining day celebrating indie record stores, music and musicians in all their myriad hues. and has the unqualified support of record companies and Australian music icons who know the importance of supporting indie music stores.

This year, Anthony Albanese, A.B.Original, Catherine Britt, Tim Dalton, Robert Forster, Mark Gable, Steve Kouta, join the roster of Australian music identities as Record Store Day ambassadors.

Last year Record Store Day was the biggest ever and the organisers say this year is shaping up to be a big year. Expect limited edition vinyl, CD special deals, live music, treasure hunts, lots of sausages on BBQs, face painting and much, much more.

Record stores in every Capital City of Australia, along with some regional stores will be involved with lots of promotional activity, sales, in-store appearances, signings and limited edition releases planned. Some activities taking place around the country include:

Australian Capital Territory:

Duratone, Canberra: local DJs on the street outside, as well as discounts on all records (there are more than 70,000) as well as on turntables and accessories.

Landspeed Records, Canberra: Lots of second hand vinyl that they’ve been squirrelling away all year for the day. Get there early, the queue is usually phenomenal.

New South Wales:

Abicus, Newcastle: A swag of incredible RSD releases available on the day from the likes of The Cure, Black Angels, The Doors, Grateful Dead, Nico, The War On Drugs, The Smiths, Robert Johnson, Stevie Nicks, David Bowie and loads more, Abicus will also be giving away free posters, plus a limited edition heavy weight canvas Abicus record bag with the first 25 RSD purchases, filled with $60+ worth of goodness.

Beatdisc, Parramatta: loads of special limited editions, thousands of secondhand 45s and LPs from the archive, limited edition coffee (or tea) mug, plus free pizza and giveaways.

Utopia, Sydney: 293 limited edition titles are en route, plus lots more metal, punk and rock brought in specially for the day. Random giveaways, fire breathing and ethical baby elephant rides, and the competition for a Golden Ticket to attend anything and everything at Century Venues.

Queensland:

Jet Black Cat, Brisbane: Cub Sport and Emma Louise providing live music during the day, Client Liaison will entertain their legendary queue, plus the unique t-shirt and the ‘mother lode’ of vinyl including tasty bites they’ve been hoarding all year just for the day.

Sonic Sherpa, Stones Corner: doing a whole weekend, not just a day. Live music from Halfway(Saturday) and The Ocean Party (Sunday), plus Michael Angelheart and Zayd Thring. Lots of vinyl, specials and more.

The Record Exchange, Brisbane: one of the longest, continually operating indie record stores in Australia, with more than 20,000 records in the store. The deal is buy 10 CDs and DVDs, and get 10 more for free.

South Australia:

Clinic 116, Adelaide: Trials, one half of Record Store Day ambassadors A.B.Original, will be signing at Clinic 116.

The Muses: live music from 11am to  2pm in the back yard, sausage sizzle, turntable and accessories on special, new and secondhand records, exclusive releases, door prizes, giveaways and lucky dip.  For the kids: face painting, rock’n’roll colouring in sheets, treasure hunt and a cubby house.

Rerun Records: Adelaide: massive raffle for a handpicked crate of secondhand LPs from the 60s-90s, special limited editions, plus vintage cameras and photos of historical Adelaide.

Victoria:

Basement Discs, Melbourne: is hosting the amazing Billy Bragg along with Joe Henry, plus the Teskey Brothers, Fiona Ross, Sarah Carroll, The Thin White Ukes, Kylie Auldist, Charles Jenkins, and Yolanda Ingley II and Band. Prizes, goodie bags, light refreshments.

Goldmine Records, Carlton  North and Fitzroy: Ben has thrown down a challenge. He’s raising money for a Melbourne-based cats home. If they collect more than $500 on the day he will cut off his dreads, which are 20 years old. That’s a challenge not to be ignored! Plus lots of exclusive releases, stocks of used vinyl hitting the racks on the day and a free Goldmine tote bag with every purchase over $100.

Greville Records, Prahran: once again a full day of limited edition vinyl plus live music from Cash Savage, Thin White Ukes, LA Bastard, Wrong Turn and Baby Blue. Signed LPs from acts as diverse as Spiderbait, Midnight Oil and Cash Savage. Mountains for reduced price new and used records.

Multisonics, Thornbury: The amazing David Chesworth will recreate material from his 1979 album 50 Synthesiser Greats, which has just been re-pressed on vinyl by Chapter Music. He will be using the same equipment that he used on his dining table all those years ago: an Akai reel to reel tape records and an early Kong synth – the K700 miniKorg.

Western Australia:

Dada Records, Perth: one of the oldest established record stores in Australia is doing what they always do. Lots of fresh stock, special editions and live music. Special discounts in the CD section.

Junction Records, Fremantle: lots and lots of records, discounts and a draw.  10% off all new and second hand vinyl (except Record Store Day specials), plus 2 Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntables have 30% off, and every sale goes into the draw for a $50 Junction Records gift vouchers.

Soundwaves Music and More, Margaret River: Soundwaves has a huge range of vinyl, arguably the biggest in WA, plus they’re spinning records, there are balloons and streamers, and special edition vinyl.

Record Store Day is held today (Saturday 22 April 2017). For more information and a comprehensive list of events, visit: www.recordstoreday.com.au for details.