Indianapolis, IN | In shop’s 30th anniversary year, Luna Music gears up for Record Store Day: Luna Music owner Todd Robinson said a human connection accompanies the 21st-century vinyl revival, a trend that gained steam because collectors appreciated the large format and robust sound quality of records when compared to compact discs. Robinson’s shop at 5202 N. College Ave. was closed to the public for 525 days during the pandemic. When Luna reopened, Robinson noticed generations of music fans sharing experiences in the store’s aisles. “I ran into it yesterday,” he said. “A father was pulling out a record and showing it to his daughters, saying, ‘I listened to this when I was your age.’ We didn’t get a lot of that with CD, which was fine. I don’t think I counted on that shared connection when vinyl came back.” Record Store Day, the cultural/consumer holiday at the heart of vinyl’s resurgence, is scheduled for April 20. As always, Luna will celebrate Record Store Day by selling limited-edition titles indoors and by presenting an afternoon of live music outdoors.
Los Angeles, CA | Live DJ sets! Freebies! Exclusive drops! 12 L.A. shops going big for Record Store Day: 420 isn’t just for stoners. This year, Record Store Day — the worldwide celebration for independent record shops that typically happens every third Saturday of April — falls on the storied day. Across Los Angeles County, audiophiles and vinyl collectors will converge at participating stores to search for one-of-a-kind wax and CD releases by artists new and old, along with other one-of-a-kind items. Even in the age of Spotify, vinyl records have stayed in demand — more than 43 million people bought vinyl records last year, according to the Recording Industry Assn. of America (RIAA). …For people like Young and Mathieu Schreyer, a music supervisor and former KCRW DJ, every day is Record Store Day. But Schreyer, who’s been DJing for two decades, says he understands the value in having an intentional day to patronize local vinyl shops. “We can’t just diss Spotify and then not participate and support when it’s needed,” he says. “I think it’s important to support the record stores and the culture.”
Dallas, TX | What is your favorite local record store in Dallas? Record Store Day is approaching. Music Lovers around the nation rejoice as Record Store Day is right around the corner. On April 20, music lovers and collectors will celebrate the culture of independently owned record stores. Usually, stores will host events that are used to showcase the different types of artists, local talent, music and record stores in the area. Stores will release titles from the RSD 2024 Official List as part of their celebration. These are usually special edition records that will be released and available on RSD. You can find the full list of artists here. If you’re looking forward to celebrating here in Dallas, you’re in for a treat. Dead Wax Dallas has released their list of records that will be updated regularly leading up to RSD. These records include Alex Chilton’s “Cliches,” which will be the first time ever that the album is available on vinyl. Spinster Records in Oak Cliff has also started posting about their releases for Record Store Day. On April 20 there will be limited edition sales as well as local live music and a Go Easy Pop-up Shop starting at 8 p.m. It’s a lo-fi kinda night.
Detroit, MI | Music fans tune in to Record Store Day: The spirit of independent record stores will make music on Record Store Day, set for April 20 this year. Record Store Day, held internationally, was launched in 2007 to give employees and customers the chance to gather and celebrate the culture of the indie record store, including those that sell used and new titles. The event can trigger feelings of nostalgia for anyone who grew up listening to vinyl on their parents’ turntables or met up with friends at the neighborhood shop in their youth. It’s also a day on which artists release new music or re-release albums and CDs that have been out of print or previously weren’t available. That could include music from current bands and also from groups no longer together. Some titles are limited releases. From the mainstream to the obscure, Record Store Day will have artists from all genres: classic rock, rap, blues, jazz, punk and country. Each individual record store owner decides what titles to order.
Ludlow, MA | Raspberries Records brings vinyl-buying experience to town: Ask someone in their 40s or older what buying music was like when they were teenagers, and they will likely describe going to a record store to comb through bins of vinyl records, CDs or cassette tapes. The advent of MP3s and streaming music services made this experience far from the norm in today’s market, but in the past decade, vinyl has made a comeback, and with it, record stores. Record stores are doing so well, in fact, that Ludlow-based Raspberries Records is expanding to a second location at 48 Shaker Rd., East Longmeadow. “The vinyl industry has had a huge resurgence,” said Raspberries Records owner Rob Roccanti. Roccanti sells new and vintage vinyl, along with CDs, tapes, 8-tracks and DVDs. “We have the largest collection of 45s in the area. People come in with lists” of titles they are looking for on 45 rpm records, he added. “I think vinyl is cool. I think people kind of got tired of listening to music streaming from their phones. With vinyl, there’s art.”
Reinbeck, IA | The Dig Inn to celebrate annual Record Store Day April 20: Live music, food, brews and vinyl on tap. Record collectors, vinyl lovers, music enthusiasts and beer drinkers are invited to come out to The Dig Inn on Saturday, April 20, starting at noon for the annual Record Store Day. Record Store Day – which first took hold in 2008 — is an annual event meant to celebrate and spread the word surrounding the unique culture inherent to independently owned record stores both in the United States and internationally. In honor of the celebration, Reinbeck’s The Dig Inn will have a bunch of dedicated Record Store Day releases, as well as a nice batch of both new and used to dig through. Check out this year’s Record Store Day list and let Ben Robertson know what you’re searching for so he can deliver! As in Record Store Days of old at The Dig Inn, the usual 80+ craft and domestic beers will be available to choose from plus several food trucks will be pulling up out front.
Hudson Valley, NY | Popular Hudson Valley record store hosting massive 420 event: Rock Fantasy Presents Record Store Day 420 Weekend. Rock Fantasy has been a Hudson Valley, NY mainstay since 1985, catering to the hard rock/heavy metal community. The record store & smoke shop/pinball room is a popular destination in downtown Middletown, they recently added a brand new Elton John pinball machine to their room. Stephen Keeler, owner of Rock Fantasy is always putting on various events in the area. …A massive weekend of fun is planned in conjunction with this year’s April Record Store Day as Rock Fantasy and Quinnz Pinz will be teaming up for what is sure to be an amazing weekend. The Rock Fantasy Record Store Day 420 Weekend kicks off on Friday, April 19 at Quinnz Pinz with Gratefully Yours (Grateful Dead tribute) performing at 8 pm. On Saturday, April 20, the Record Store Day celebration will take place at Rock Fantasy with special deals. Buy RSD titles, and get 10% off all smoke shop items and used vinyl. Then it’s back to Quinnz Saturday night for Psycho Circus NYC (Kiss tribute) at 9 pm.
TX | National Record Store Day offers a chance to find music across North Texas: April 20 is National Record Store Day, an event meant to celebrate independent record stores throughout the country, including several in North Texas. National Record Store Day was first held in 2007 and typically takes place on the third Saturday of the month. Every year, several artists are selected to act as ambassadors for National Record Store Day. This year’s artists are Paramore and Kate Bush. Sam Wieland, manager of Josey Records in Plano, said the first National Record Store Day was a predecessor to the resurgence of popularity vinyl records have recently received. Wieland said the event not only helps independent record stores, but also helps consumers find new music they might not have found otherwise. “There is a lot of power in the tangibility of stuff,” Wieland said.
Walla Walla, WA | Local Record Shop’s Going Out of Business Sale Precedes Grand Opening: Independent record shop Columbia Flophouse somberly announced the business’s going-out-of-business sale nearly two full weeks before the store was scheduled to open, sources who should have seen this coming confirmed. “Well, you know what they say—all beginnings must come to an end. Except in this case I guess, where we didn’t actually begin shit,” pondered shop owner Amy Keyes as she once again reduced the price on a bin used Styx records. “But at least it wasn’t a total loss. We were still able to use the ‘Grand Opening’ banner we preordered by just turning it around and spray painting ‘Everything must go’ on the other side. It’s times like these we need to be thrifty.” Would-be customer Jason Plimpton lamented the loss of the store, despite never setting foot inside of it.
