[category]
[title]
Dust off your turntable and make some space – Record Store Day is back on Saturday, April 18. Since launching in 2008, this global celebration of independent record stores has become a fixture on the music calendar, championing the culture, community and crackle of vinyl.
Held every year on the third Saturday of April, it’s an ode to brick-and-mortar record shops – and the people who keep them spinning. In a market often dominated by digital music, it’s heartening to know that music lovers are returning to formats they can collect and connect with.
Expect indie stores across the state to come alive with a day-long line-up of exclusive releases, live performances and in-store appearances by musos. Names like Empire of the Sun, Holy Holy, Ruel and Spacey Jane sit alongside favourites including Ninajirachi, You Am I, Confidence Man, Peking Duk x Darren Hayes, Ocean Alley and The Wiggles – proving there’s something here for every kind of listener.
Across Victoria, there will be free, all-ages gigs popping up throughout the day. Queenie will bring her country music to Desert Highways; Nat Pavlovic and Merpire are set to soundtrack the day at Rocksteady Records; at Soundmerch, it’s a live music marathon with a great line-up of musos; Sensible J and Immy Owusu take over Bar Open from mid-afternoon.
Northside Records is once again a major drawcard, hosting performances from Kee’ahn, Mokomokai and Steppers, plus a signing from Baker Boy. Geelong’s Popcultcha Records is lining up sets from The Vasco Era, Saint Ergo and Winksy.
Mark the date, map your record store route and get ready for some crate-digging.
For the full rundown of releases and events, head to Record Store Day Australia.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.