Every year since 2008, independent record stores around the country have combined forces to celebrate Record Store Day: part party, part limited-release sale, part spotlight on why brick-and-mortar record stores — despite the music industry’s broader struggles — remain important, vibrant and exciting parts of music culture.
This year’s Record Store Day is almost here: Saturday, April 16, 2016, hundreds of shops across the country will share RSD-special releases, host live music, sling drinks, offer giveaways and lots more.
We’re lucky in Nashville that we have a really healthy cache of indie record stores — probably for obvious reasons — all with their own unique personalities. And so, naturally, we have a lot of fun Record Store Day celebrations to choose from.
Here’s a quick look at where to go on Saturday, and a quick rundown of what you’ll find at those places. (This isn’t the whole list — you can hit the Record Store Day website for a full lineup.)
Nashville Record Store Day events
Fond Object Records
1313 McGavock Pike
Inglewood’s Fond Object is one of the more unique record shops in the country, we’d dare say, what with being a record shop, vintage store, local fashion line boutique, live venue and petting zoo (if you haven’t met their wonder pig, it’s recommended). Their Record Store Day party will of course be fittingly well-rounded, with DJs and live music all day (including Faux Ferocious, who’ll apparently have a really busy RSD — see below); food from Two Boots, Steaming Goat Food Truck and others; beer from East Nashville breweries Little Harpeth and Smith & Lentz; plus a whole bunch of vendors selling stuff (East Nashville’s Hail, Dark Aesthetics and Palaver Records among them). The doors open at 10 a.m., with outdoor festivities starting at noon.
The Great Escape DVDs, Records & Comics
5400 Charlotte Ave., Nashville and 105 Gallatin Road North, Madison
All Great Escape locations — including the ones in Madison and West Nashville — have Record Store Day happenings in the works. Those local shops open three hours early, at 7 a.m., so if you’re hunting for RSD exclusives and don’t sleep in on Saturdays, here’s your early-bird option (and if you’re looking to snag exclusives at any of these events, early birdness is your friend). Along with RSD offerings, they’ll have freebies like stickers and posters, plus lots of discounts that’ll really appeal to vinyl hunters: 20 percent off used LPs, 50 percent off used 45s and more.
Grimey’s New & Preloved Music
1604 8th Ave S.
Grimey’s is kind of the red-hot core of Record Store Day excitement in Nashville year after year — their party is always awesome, always packed. This year looks to be no exception. They’ll have Los Colognes, Blank Range, Adia Victoria and more performing, Smoke Et Al and Crankees Pizzeria (among others) slinging food, DJ sets, fun visitors and, of course, lots of Record Store Day exclusives. Things kick off at 11:30 a.m., and will stay busy throughout the day.
The Groove
1103 Calvin Ave.
East Nashville’s The Groove has a fantastic day of celebrating and shopping in store, with sale CDs and LPs to sift through (plus 15 percent off savings storewide), food from Mas Tacos, beer from Blackstone and live music throughout the day. There’ll be giveaways too, including a turntable — something to proudly play your RSD scores on. Celebration kicks off at 10 a.m., and runs through 8 p.m.
Third Man Records and Novelties
623 7th Ave. S.
Jack White’s Third Man Records is one of the loudest cheerleaders of the enduring beauty of owning physical copies of music — vinyl in particular. So of course the Nashville Third Man Shop isn’t going to slack on Record Store Day. They have a patio breakfast in the morning and cookout in the afternoon, live music from Datenight, Cat Flaps and Faux Ferocious in the daytime, and Man or Astro-man performing in the early evening (tix here), plus corn hole and ping-pong competitions and more. You’ll also get a crack at Third Man RSD exclusives, of which there are many (including a live White Stripes double LP and a Jack White 7-inch).
For more info on the whole nationwide celebration, visit the Record Store Day website. If you’re set to celebrate in Nashville, hope to see you out and about Saturday!