This Saturday we celebrate that shiny, black round thing we call a vinyl. It’s so sleek in aesthetic and just gets better with age, so it’s only fitting we pay homage to it.
2017 marks 10 years of the annual Record Store Day, and if you’re a newcomer to it all, there’s a whole heap of things you can get up to in your hometown.
Below is but a mere snippet of what’s going down, but to find your local record store and see what’s going on, head on over to the official Record Store Day Website.
This is a day for music lovers: a time to find new music, get great advice and recommendations, hear musicians live, find out what’s happening in the local music scene, and generally hang out with people who love music as much as you do. Definitely my kinda day out!
MELBOURNE
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.
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.
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.
Northside Records, Fitzroy: Briggs will be in store on the day for a signing. Briggs is one half of Record Store Day ambassadors A.B.Original (Trials, the other half of the duo, will be signing in Adelaide). Plus Cooking on 3 Burners launching their 7”, Allysha Joy (another 7” release), Jazz Party (yep, another 7” release) plus DJs, as well as Lance Ferguson, Prequel, Miss Goldie, Emma Peel, Peril, Ms Rizk, Sensible J, Remi and an amazing reissue of Hiroshi & Claudia’s 1979 Australian disco/jazz will be available (private press). Plus of course all the usual and more on vinyl.
Skydiver Records, Collingwood: opening at 10am for 12 hours straight! Plenty of second-hand, new and reissued stock, plus lots of local releases. DJ’s playing from their own bags and from the store’s racks: Leo James, Sanpo Disco, Jennifer Loveless, Phillips Head, Ricci, Darcy Justive and Peppermint Darling. You’re welcome to BYO.
SYDNEY
Beatdisc, Parramatta: loads of special limited editions, thousands of second hand 45s and LPs from the archive, limited edition coffee (or tea) mug, plus free pizza and giveaways.
Sauce Records, Jannali: hosting a get together to celebrate all things music, with a local DJ digging through the 200-plus vinyl titles for sale on the day, records to be won in raffles, 33% off framed prints and limited edition vinyl.
Sydney Hi-Fi, Mona Vale: live music from local artists including TK Nightingale and Jessica Stillone, plus hidden treasure vinyl, limited releases, in store deals and industry experts on hand to talk turntable tips.
Utopia, Sydney: once again opening at midnight for the dedicated metal head, closing two hours later and reopening (after a nap) at 7am. 25 gift bags up for grabs in the midnight opening and another 25 for those who turn up when the store re-opens. 293 limited edition titles are en route, plus lots more metal, punk and rock brought in especially 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.
BRISBANE
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.
Rockaway Records, Westfield Carindale: big day of deals with free raffle entry with every purchase to win prizes including $100 and $50 voucher, and 20 CDs in a Sony gift pack, discounts on vintage vinyl (the more you buy the bigger the discount), ‘come back in May’ discount vouchers, and buy one get one free deals on t-shirts.
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.
Tym Guitars, Fortitude Valley: an amazing day is all set for this amazing store. Heaps of live music from Kim Salmon (Beasts of Bourbon, Scientists, Surrealists), Peter Black (The Hard Ons, Nunchukka, Superfly), FOREVR, Leavings, Brief Habits and Andrew Tuttle. Two exclusive Tym Records releases, DJ spinning vinyl all day, and lots of ginger beer.
ADELAIDE
Clarity Records, Adelaide: vegan cupcakes and 24-hour trading are on offer at Clarity Records. They open at midnight and keep going all day. Limited edition t-shirts, limited edition releases and more.
Clinic 116, Adelaide: Trials, one half of Record Store Day ambassadors A.B.Original, will be signing at Clinic 116.
Dillons Music, Norwood: 10% off on all full priced vinyl.
The Beatbox, Christie’s Beach: Huge sale on vinyl and turntables. 20% off everything.
The Muses: live music from 11am to 2pm in the back yard, sausage sizzle, turntable and accessories on special, new and second hand 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 second-hand LPs from the 60s-90s, special limited editions, plus vintage cameras and photos of historical Adelaide.
PERTH
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.
Discography Vinyl, Beaconsfield: recently reorganised so there’s now more space for vinyl, sound system is now kicking some decibels and live music.
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: 300 kms south of Perth, 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.
Urban Records: 10% off all CDs and LPs, headphones, stylus and selected record players. Lots of specials including albums, singles 12” and boxed sets. Giveway of an Audio Technica LP60 turntable – free raffle ticket for every purchase. Opening 9am to 9pm.
CANBERRA
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.
Songland Records, Weston Creek: once again collecting your unwanted CDs, records, cassettes and VHS tapes and selling them on the day to raise money for treats for the local RSPCA animal shelter. All the money goes directly to the animals. There is also their biggest ever CD sale with hundreds of titles at just $5 each. Plus limited editions, of course. Being the ‘home of the hard to find’ it’s worth checking out the ‘hard to find’ tab on their website for some absolute rarities.
Landspeed Records, Canberra: kicking off at 10am, lots of second hand vinyl that they’ve been squirrelling away all year for the day. Get there early, the queue is usually phenomenal.
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author: Kara Bertoncini