Talking to Mark Thorne, owner of Thorne Records – an independent vinyl retailer – in Edinburgh, he tells me “there is never a bad vibe on record store day.” It’s hard to disagree with him: the sun is shining, people are queuing around the block for the once out-of-fashion format, and music is flowing freely through his shop, stuffed wall to wall with records spanning vintage classics to recent releases. “It’s like Mother’s Day for record shops.”
Record Store Day is an annual highlight on all true music fans’ calendars. First taking place in 2008 amidst atrophying vinyl sales and a dwindling numbers of independently-owned, high street record shops, what was once a marketing ploy has turned into an internationally recognised event that has helped bring vinyl back from the dead. Every year since Record Store Day began, vinyl sales have crept upwards.
Now, record stores up and down the country take part, with live music performances and fan meets-and-greets now commonplace to entertain punters as they hunt for a selection of rare reissues and special releases.
Mark, of Thorne Records, has been working in record shops since they were “selling cassettes and Spice Girls were number one. He waxes on the importance of listening to a record as it gives you perspective into a musician’s life. Record shops are “a safe space for people from all walks of life to come in and be united by music”. He also speaks of “the sales boost on the day itself, which helps record shops give back to the music industry, by remaining open, championing grassroots music, and hosting events”. It should not be forgotten that increasing vinyl sales is a massive boost for musicians themselves, who are likely to make far more from that than from the pennies-per-play pay rate of streaming sites. Supporting Record Store Day supports artists.
Heading down to Newcastle, I speak with Jack Holmes of Spinning Superiority Records, who describes the excitement of “walking down queues to speak with collectors about vinyl”. He talks about the significance of the day in the ever-expanding vinyl market with new releases and performances, “helping to keep collecting fresh”. He continues, “The day is a celebration of music as a whole, boosting the love and support for local musicians”.
In the capital, Kieron Lee of Flashback Records – an independent record shop chain with three sites across London – offers me a fresh, poignant perspective that “Record Store Day reminds you that music is not just the backing track to a viral meme. People talk to strangers, swap recommendations and buy things they were not planning to, often coming in for a big release and leaving with something from a local band”.
Over in East London, Rough Trade East has set up a pop-up shop around the corner from the main store, specifically for Record Store Day releases. Outside, in a gargantuan queue, booklets are handed out where hopefuls tick off which of the releases they hope to add to their burgeoning vinyl collections. Rough Trade has streamlined the process of shopping on Record Store Day. One imagines the huge profits they must be making as records fly off the proverbial shelves.
Heading back to the main store, the built-in stage hosts live music all day, with a host of local musicians playing throughout the day. Ashaine White (born down the road in Homerton) plays a wonderful set simmering around alt Rock and pop; she has an effortless stage presence and a sense of humour to match. In East London, like hundreds of communities up and down the country, Record Store Day is empowering people to celebrate and spend money in record shops, and in turn, they support and platform local musicians. If you want to back not only record shops, but also grassroots musicians, and music itself, Record Store Day is your day.