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Record Store Day is upon us again – vinyl fans across the country will queue in long snake shapes to get their hands on limited edition records, watch in store performances and in Leeds… even drink official Record Store Day beer.
Independent music store Jumbo Records reached their 40th birthday last year, and Crash records stacked up 25 years in the business and will both be gearing up for Record Store Day.
Crash will be releasing hundreds of diverse records and are “expecting people to visit us from all points of the compass”.
Crash Records owner Ian De-Whytell believes the day speaks for itself: “It helps to remind people of the importance of independent record stores breaking new music.
“Also with the resurgence of vinyl, it lets customers know that we have continued to support that format over the years.”
Crash Records hopes the day will attract new customers to become regulars. They are warning people that it’s a first come first serve policy, so fans will have to queue up early to ensure they bag their record lists.
Jumbo records will be entertaining punters with in store performances from local band Just Handshakes (We’re British), Various Cruelties, Staves, To Kill a King, Still Corners and Brit Poppers Dodgy. Just Handshakes (We’re British) are releasing a limited edition cassette tape for the day that they recorded in their basement.
Clara from the band thinks music lovers and bands from Leeds should be proud: “We’re really lucky in Leeds to have two independent record shops.
“They play such a big part in the local music scene and the staff at Jumbo and Crash have always been really supportive to bands.”
As well as providing customers with the food of love, the Jumbo team have teamed up with Laynes Espresso to a create a Record Store Day blend of coffee which will be served throughout the day.
Matt Bradshaw from Jumbo promises that all tastes will be catered for and the event will open people’s eyes: “In this world of evil tax dodging business practices and people losing sight about what makes a ‘healthy’ music scene, Record Store Day is a great example of what the whole musical Eco-system should be (and could be) about.”
It’s not just the stores that want people to really think about the independent music shops, but the artists as well, Leeds singer-songwriter Daniel Pearson is a keen supporter of the businesses, he said: “It reminds us all that independent record stores are central to many artistic committees and provide a hub for music lovers everywhere.”
With more emphasis put on digital sales and downloads, and event that celebrates vinyl is sure to stand out, but the future of it may be questioned, Ian De-Whytell thinks there’s no danger of it dying down: “It seems to be getting bigger every year, as long as there are people interested in music and collecting, there is no reason why it can’t have longevity”.
With so much happening on Record Store Day in Leeds, fans would be encouraged to set the alarm clock to extra early to join the rest of the vinyl lovers getting their must-have records, because you’re not going to want to miss out.