4th February 2011: Organisers have confirmed that Record Store
Day, the annual celebration of independent record stores, will take
place this year on Saturday April 16.
More than 150 shops are expected to participate in the event
which highlights the continuing contribution of indie stores to UK
music.
The announcement of this year's date coincides with the launch
of a new UK-focused website www.recordstoreday.co.uk which will detail all of the
activities taking place in the UK.
Organiser Spencer Hickman of London's Rough Trade East said,
"Record Store Day is the perfect antidote to all the doom and gloom
we hear about the music business. It's a day of celebration fuelled
by the enthusiasm of artists and fans for record stores."
Last year's Record Store Day reached new heights with queues
hundreds-strong forming outside some shops.
Key to the event are exclusive products available for one day
only in participating stores.
Highlights last year included:
• Blur's first new recording in seven years, the 7" single
Fool's Day
• The Rolling Stones Plundered My Soul - 1000 copies on 7"
vinyl of a previously unreleased track from the legendary Exile on
Main Street sessions;
• Tinie Tempah Pass Out - an exclusive 500 copy 7" edition of
the Number One hit single;
• Gorillaz feat Bashy,Kano & National Orchestra For
Arabic Music White Flag - just 100 copies of a 10" vinyl
edition;
• Goldfrapp Head First- just 500 copies of the album on
cassette.
Alongside the exclusives were a range of special events, including
PA's and performances from the likes of The Paddingtons (Crash
Records, Leeds), Ash and Laurie Anderson (Rough Trade East), and
Magic Numbers (Rough Trade West). Elsewhere music fans enjoyed Rock
'n Roll Face-Painting, Indie cake stalls and RSD after-parties.
Spencer Hickman said, "Last set a very high standard for what
Record Store Day can achieve. We'll be releasing full details of
RSD 2011 closer to April 16, but already we have been knocked out
by the great ideas coming from artists and labels. We're all going
to make sure it's a day to remember."
Record Store Day is supported by the Entertainment Retailers
Association (ERA) whose members include all sectors of the
entertainment retail business from internet (Amazon, Play) to
specialists (HMV, Game) to supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda)
to digital (7digital, eMusic, We7, Tunetribe) as well as
independents.
ERA Director General Kim Bayley said, "Independents are a rich
source of diversity in music retailing and we are delighted once
again to support Record Store Day."