Avalanche – Voxbox – Elvis Shakespeare – Underground Solushn – Vinyl Villains
Saturday 20 April is the sixth annual Record Store Day, a celebration of the UK’s independent record stores. All over the country, artists, musicians and the record-buying public will come together to celebrate this unique scene. Edinburgh’s own record shops, for the most part, are not letting the occasion pass them by. Promotional releases and free (yes, free!) performances by musicians will take place in stores across this city in celebration of all things vinyl. But remember: Records are for life, not just for Record Store Day!
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Avalanche, 5 Grassmarket, Edinburgh
Very much at the forefront of Record Store Day (they organised the poster campaign this year), Avalanche have much planned. With releases available from bands including Biffy Clyro and Frightened Rabbit, and Glasvegas playing in-store at 2.30pm the focus is very much on Scottish music. Open at 9.30am, an early start is recommended.
http://www.avalancherecords.co.uk/
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VoxBox, 21 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh
As the youngest of the city’s independent record shops, VoxBox part-owner Darren Yeats is wise to the benefits of Record Store Day.
“VoxBox has only been open for a little under two years and last year’s RSD really helped us become known to Edinburgh’s record enthusiasts,” he said. RSD has provided an avenue for Yeats and co-owner George Robertson to move from selling only pre-owned vinyl to having accounts with major record distributors, and now stock new releases all year round.
To celebrate RSD, VoxBox has teamed up with The Last Word Saloon, also on St Stephen Street, and local bands will be playing live throughout the day. The line-up includes The Mike Heron Band featuring the 70-year-old founding member of The Incredible String Band. Woodstock veteran and Edinburgh local, Mike Heron and his band will be playing from 3.00 – 3.50pm. Full details of the line-up can be found on the store’s blog.
As Yeats puts it, “We’re having a party. Everyone’s invited!”
http://voxboxmusic.co.uk/blog/
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Elvis Shakespeare, 347 Leith Walk, Edinburgh
Rare vinyl and quality literature specialists Elvis Shakespeare will be open for business, offering 25% off all in-store vinyl purchases. At 2.30pm Dumfries-and-Galloway’s finest Saint Max and The Fanatics will be playing in-store. The band formed in 2012 and have already had their self-released, self-titled debut championed by Steve Lamacq. This is a show not to be missed.
Looking beyond Saturday’s Record Store Day, owner David Griffin has high hopes to organise a local Record Store Day next year, featuring special releases from local artists. If that’s too long to wait, Edinburgh-based anarchopunks Oi Polloi are playing in-store from 2.30pm on April 27.
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Underground Solushn, 9 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh
Old Town record store Underground Solution have been trading since 1995 and are no strangers to the wonders of vinyl. This is reflected in their wax-packed programme running in-store from 9am until 7pm. The store will be promoting the releases specific to Record Store Day as well as their love of all things vinyl. Full details can be found on the store’s Facebook page as well as a page created by them in homage to the day.
https://www.facebook.com/events/236683346472161/
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Vinyl Villains, 5 Elm Row, Edinburgh
Old-school audiophiles who enjoy record-buying without the fuss should head to Vinyl Villains at the top of Leith Walk. Around since 1983, Vinyl Villains has established longevity, weathered the storm and come out unscathed long before Record Store Day began. Owner Andrew Watters likes to think that “every day is record store day”. For an industry that is only now beginning to recover from the onslaught of digital music and illegal downloads, this sentiment has never proved truer.
http://www.vinylvillainsrecords.co.uk/
Full details of Record Store Day and participating stores can be found on the Record Store Day website.
http://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/
