Record Store Day has rare gems on offer
TOMORROW vinyl junkies will be scouring shops all over the country for the tenth annual Record Store Day. The worldwide event sees some spectacular, special and previously unavailable treasures released into Irish shops, much to the delight of the sounds scavengers who will be queueing from first thing.
Set up in 2007, the aim of Record Store Day is to celebrate the independents still out there, and their employees.
And all round Ireland stores will be playing hosts to bands and DJs, while acts releasing on their own and independent labels will use it as a platform to peddle their new records.
Of course, huge names are also getting into the spirit of things as U2 will be putting out a special 2017 mix of Red Hill Mining Town on limited edition 12 inch picture disc, featuring the classic photography of Anton Corbijn in colour. The previously unreleased mix is by Steve Lillywhite, who produced the band’s critically acclaimed debut Boy.
Red Hill Mining Town is famously known as ‘the single that never was’, put to one side at the last minute in favour of I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.
Some of the most sought-after buys will be from David Bowie’s catalogue - Cracked Actor and BowPromo. Cracked Actor is a live album, recorded during the late singer’s Philly Dogs Tour show in Los Angeles in 1974 and will be done up as a triple-vinyl five-sided album with the sixth side featuring only a classic Bowie logo.
Other goods on offer include a seven inch of The Beatles classic hit Strawberry Fields Forever and a bubblegum pink picture disc of Aqua’s, er, classic hit Barbie Girl.
So there’s definitely something for everyone.
EVENTS DUBLIN
Golden Discs Dundrum are kicking things off at 12pm with singersongwriter Neev Kennedy followed by Tadgh and indie rockers Future Stops.
The Revellions release new single False Hope on Mersol Music in The Grand Social with support from the excellent Crushed Out from Brooklyn N.Y. and Gav and Thee Icons.
Formed from the ashes of Disco Punks, King Bones are releasing their debut EP with a live gig at Whelans. It’s their first live show as a six piece.
Tower Records, Dawson Street will kick off the musical fun at 12pm with Kila and Interskalactic.The fun will move to the Liquor Rooms from 5pm.
This Other Kingdom launch their second album Reveur at the Workman’s Club with support from A Ritual Sea
Freebird Records will have live performances from Aoife Nessa Frances and Ships.
ATHLONE
Golden Discs in Athlone Town Centre will start the festivities with indie rockers Cronin on stage at 12.30pm followed by Play DJs on the decks to close out the evening.
CLONMEL
Golden Discs at The Showgrounds Clonmel will be kicking off its celebrations with DJ Smitty from 12pm.
NEWBRIDGE
Golden Discs in The Whitewater Newbridge will be rocking with Appo & The Disappointments from 12pm. Followed by the acoustic duo Wayfarer.
CORK
Golden Discs Cork will celebrate with the launch of the Vinyl Lounge on Patrick’s Street with a full day of performances starting off at 12.20pm with Americana, soul songstress Anna Mitchell, multi-instrumentalist Clare Sands, The Grunts, Jack O’Rourke and Marlene Enright.
WATERFORD
Golden Discs Waterford will feature a special DJ set from Darragh Dwyer at 11.30am of psychedelic funk rockers. Blackroad Smokers Club will kick off their own unique performance in-store from 1.30pm.
KILKENNY
Rollercoster Records has Geraldine Fahey and a host of other DJs spinning vinyl all day long in-store for happy shopping.
DERRY
Live music begins at 2.30pm in Cool Discs with Ports, Paddy Nash, John Deery, Emma Lusby and ROE bringing the sounds. This is followed by Andy Smith performing a special DJ set in Sandinos.
BELFAST
Time To Be Proud records will launch three EPS by The Sabrejets, Lost Reyes and The Dirt Byrds at the Black Box from 9pm.
Sick Records will play host to Hatchet Field, Pixie Saytar, Robyn G Shiels and Autumns from 2pm.