Record Store Day
Tomorrow is the one day of the year when we are all beyond reproach for going back for ‘just one more piece of vinyl.’ Let’s make the most of it…
In an era of mass file-sharing, and ‘the next big thing’ on music blogs quickly disappearing without so much as a debut album, it’s harder than ever to overstate the importance of a good record shop. Despite the small (though not insignificant) resurgence in vinyl sales, the fact remains that over the last five years, an independent record shop has closed in the UK every three days. A terrifying statistic for the aficionado and a reality for all too many of those worst hit: the owners.
It’s not all doom and gloom though. As many of you will no doubt know, tomorrow is Record Store Day; part celebration of the existence of these treasure troves of musical insight and booty, part profile-raising exercise, it’s our chance to make the most of what’s on offer.
Beginning in the US in 2007, RSD was quickly adopted internationally, and Liverpool, we’re pleased but not surprised to say, is going large on the festivities this year with a number of events and happenings across the city to mark the date.
Between 2pm and 5pm FACT are giving over the bar to a band fair, with the likes of Vasco Da Gama, Mashemon and Wet Mouth, amongst others, on hand and ready to distribute some tunes to unsuspecting bar flies. All this, accompanied by acoustic sets by Dead Cities and Neil Campbell, will be rounded off with a screening of the adaptation of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity.
Meanwhile, over at Mello Mello, the gang from Bido Lito! and Payper Tiger Records have put their heads together to come up with Game Theory: “A Liverpool compilation for Record Store Day”. Costing £7, the compilation (on a bido-hued pink cassette-tape) comes with a £5 voucher which can be put toward any purchase made at either Probe, The Music Consortium or 3Beat (Liverpool’s three remaining indie record stores). Alongside the comp is a free gig, featuring performances from Owls*, Death at Sea, The Wild Eyes and Beach Skulls. It all kicks off at 7pm.
For our money, the event offering most in keeping with the spirit of the day is provided by the folks at Wolstenholme Creative Space, who play host to a record and zine fair. They seem to have struck the balance between grass roots and international just right, ensuring local labels and artists are represented alongside big hitters on the indie-scene like ATP and Warp, who have in store some special new releases.
Getting started at 10am, as well as those lovely records and zines to throw your pay-cheque at, you’ll be able to get comfy in the ‘Listening Room’, playing music picked by the punters. If you’d rather have the tunes chosen for you, DJs from Hive Collective and UpItUp are on hand to entertain. What more could you want? A cuppa or a pint you say? Just as well then that the folks from Bold Street Coffee and an all day bar will be on site too, making it all too easy to stick around.
Following the record and zine fair at 6pm is a special screening of 2011 documentary Sound It Out. Described as High Fidelity with a Northern accent, the film is a portrait of the last surviving vinyl record shop in Teeside, which “documents a place that is thriving against the odds and the local community that keeps it alive”.
We’ll leave you with that sentiment fresh in your minds, safe in the knowledge that those avid record collectors amongst you have the excuse, if you needed one, to make a day of it tomorrow. And if you get your timings right, you’ll be able to experience a bit of everything that’s on offer across town.
The Double Negative will be at Wolstenholme Creative Space all day, come and say hi!
