For the record, yes it was worth queueing!
MUSIC lovers queued in Newcastle city centre from as early as 3.30am yesterday to get their hands on an exclusive vinyl on Record Store Day. And by the time stores opened from 8am, hundreds of people had joined them.
At JG Windows music shop people lined the entire length of Central Arcade, with the queue spilling out on to the street. At Reflex record store on Nun Street, queues snaked around the outside of Grainger Market.
The stores joined over 260 independent record shops across the UK in taking part in the annual Record Store Day.
The event has been running since 2008 and was drawn up during a meeting of independent record store owners in the US in the hope of celebrating and spreading the word about independently owned record shops around the world. Every year, vinyl releases are made exclusively for the day and many shops host artist performances and events to mark the occasion.
From 12pm live music was performed in the basement of JG Windows, kicking off with a set from local alternative funk rock band, Downtown Lester Brown. Local metal rock band Midnight Jazz Club and Indie soul and RNB singer-songwriter, Beth Macari, also performed.
Among those queuing from the early hours were Conor Rodger, 26, and Luke Maines, 21, who headed to Reflex after finishing work at a bar.
Conor said: “I came down last year but I didn’t make it in time, I was a bit too late. So I thought this year I finish work pretty early in the morning and if I get down early enough I can get in the queue and we did and I got everything I wanted so I’m a happy man.”
Luke said: “I thought I’d join Conor and I’ve managed to bag some of my favourite albums. I couldn’t believe I did .... I’d recommend [queuing the event] to anyone.”
Among those queuing at JG Windows in Central Arcade was Ben Cunningham, 33, who had joined the queue from 7am for the second year running. He said: “I’ve been a lover of vinyl for many years –since I was a kid and my grandad kept his collection. It’s a special day for music lovers like myself but it’s also great to see so many people out supporting the independent record stores.”
Alan Eagan, who has queued to bag a vinyl every year since Record Store Day began, was also in the queue.
He said: “I’m in Windows in Central Arcade in Newcastle for Record Store Day and just like everybody else here, who has this mad obsession of collecting vinyl music, this is why I’m here. I’ve come every year and every year I keep saying I’m not going to be doing this. And every year I turn up and do this.”
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