Record Store Day will be celebrated the world over this Saturday, and Nay McArdle has put together a comprehensive roundup of this year’s events here in Ireland.
Ireland is doing Record Store Day proud in 2011 with a rake of special releases and instore shows set to mark the fourth anniversary of music stores’ celebrations. Although things are tough all over as consumers adapt to digital music and many stores struggle to keep up with the changes, love for local independent retailers remains strong.
Metallica kicked off the inaugural Record Store Day in 2008 but in the time since, musicians all over the world have embraced the occasion by way of limited edition CDs, vinyl and merchandise along with special performances. This year, Radiohead fans will be queuing outside Dublin’s Tower Records from the early hours of the morning to get their hands on a once-off release of The Butcher and Supercollider but the full range of special RSD records is huge and includes previously unreleased material from Bad Brains, the much-hyped Tron soundtrack by Daft Punk, cover versions by the Foo Fighters and Superchunk/Coliseum along with almost 100 more.
A full list of special releases can be found at http://recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases or scroll down to check out the video.
Support for Record Store Day has grown in recent years and in Ireland, where music fans have seen their favourite outlets struggle, it’s now stronger than ever. One particular oddity borne of this isle is the 7″ single that hears Charlotte Gainsbourg sing the words of ‘Memoir’, written especially for her by Conor O’Brien of Villagers. And although Road Records are no longer with us to offer their brilliant, limited edition compilation albums, there’s a whole load of cool stuff going on around the country on 16th April.
‘Coco Et Moi/Robert Reid‘ is the new single from The Richter Collective‘s instrumental posse Enemies, released on 7″ especially for the day that’s in it. Full-bodied and fresh as their 2010 debut album ‘We’ve Been Talking‘, they play Tower Records on Saturday afternoon before the official single launch at Whelan’s later that night with support from Alarmist and Croupier.
http://www.richtercollective.com/?p=1074
Tower Records on Wicklow Street have gone all-out for this year’s Record Store Day with a breathtaking line-up of instore shows that guarantee something exciting for everyone. Kicking off with Hawk & A Hacksaw at midday, Steve Mason, Lykke Li, Enemies, The Kanyu Tree, Squarehead and Ham Sandwich will all be playing intimate sets on the shop floor until The Answer arrive at 6pm to finish off the working day in style. But there’s more! Along with the coveted Radiohead single there’ll be a super-limited set from Dublin’s Delphi label in the form of just five, lovingly hand-packaged bundles of the label’s first four releases from Sacred Animals and Deaf Joe. Tower Records are determined to keep the party going and have procured the Workman’s Club for a free gig featuring Ollie Cole, Cloud Castle Lake, Sacred Animals, We Cut Corners and Jessica Smith. With just a couple of hours’ break for the staff, doors open at 8pm and the Tower DJs get to flaunt their expertise long into the night.
http://www.towerrecords.ie
Down the Road at The R.A.G.E. an equally impressive shindig has been lined up. From 4:15pm there’ll be sets each hour from We Arrive Alive, We Are Losers, Sweet Jane, Squarehead and Twinkranes all showing their support for Dublin’s newest record shop. Since opening late last year on the Fade St premises that were once home to Road Records, there have already been some great parties in the intimate basement space downstairs. While it’s all totally free, entry is limited to 40 people per show so get there on time. Booze is welcome after 6pm and there’ll be a raffle for great prizes including a vinyl player and R.A.G.E. merch at 9pm.
http://www.facebook.com/TheRageDublin
Plugd Records celebrate their independence on 16 April with the opening of a brand-new premises in Tobin Street, bringing together Cork’s best-loved record store with the newly refurbished Triskel Arts Centre and the addition of Gulpd Cafe which along with caffeine, will also offer refreshments of the vegan confectionary kind. Local electronic wunderkid Toby Kaar will launch the new shop on its way and there will be special DJs sets throughout the day.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/plugd/163945017374
Only open a short time, Galway’s Wingnut Records have a special treat in store for RSD with a performance from the rocker duo known as Lamp. It’s set to be a stormer of a show that others around the country are missing out on. You can stream their fantastic debut album ‘Sagittarius’ from http://lamp1.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/wingnutrecords
Voted Northern Ireland’s best independent music store, Head Records has a plan for Belfast on par with everything else on the island. The Answer, Sea Pinks, Third Man Theme, Tom McShane, Morning Claws and Charles Hurts will all perform at the Victoria Square store. Crucially, there’ll be vinyl-only DJ sets throughout the day from the North’s finest, Space Dimension Controller, Jonny Tiernan of AU Magazine, Joe Lindsay, Lyndon Stephens and Kenny Murdoch.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Head-Belfast/165614523454749
Along with these great celebrations in record stores, some of Dublin’s staunchest supporters of physical music will be giving it socks and stacking the decks later that night. One notable event takes place at the Twisted Pepper where POGO have teamed up with the labels Earwiggle, Quarter Inch Collective and All City Records along with dance promoters Discotekken. This alone is a hefty night that sees, amongst others, a vinyl swapshop, the launch of Anodyne‘s new 12″ ‘Destruction 808’ and a set from Lawva (Fran Hartnett and Sunil Sharpe) in the basement while the main stage venue hosts live music from Ginola, We Are Losers and sadly, one of the final shows by the brilliant young C!ties. Up in the Mezz Discotekken ratch it up and The R.A.G.E. lads will be rounding off their night with DJ duties at the Cafe. Doors are 10pm, admission is €10 and as you’ll have guessed, the venue will be thundering with good vibes.
http://m.bodytonicmusic.com/events/pogo/2011/mar/22/pogo-record-store-day-w-earwiggle-discotekken-quarter-inch-collective-more/
These are just a selection of the events commemorating Record Store Day with many more taking place all over the world. There’s really no excuse not to get involved and be happy when it’s this easy to love music.
UPDATE: Freebird Records down at The Secret Book & Record Store have been in touch to they they’ll have limited quantities of some of the exclusive vinyl Record Store Day releases available, including The Ramones, Black Angels, Radiohead, Gorillaz, Sonic Youth, Nick Cave / Grinderman etc., plus there’ll be an instore performance by Gypsy Rebel Rabble.
