Record Store Day (April 20)
Saturday, April 20 is Record Store Day! Since 2008, artists have released special CDs, vinyl, and other limited edition merch that you can only find in record stores. These releases are made exclusively for Record Store Day and are intended to celebrate the culture of the long-standing, independent record store.
If you’re a vinyl fan, or just want to pick up some rare finds, Birmingham has several shops that celebrate Record Store Day. Charlemagne Record Exchange in Five Points has been eagerly anticipating the day. “Last year, it was our biggest day in 35 years,” says owner Marian McKay Rosato. “This year will be the most records we’ve ever gotten for Record Store Day, so it should be good.” For the day, Charlemagne will offer 20% off all used, non-consignment items. DJ Radu will also spin records during the day.
On the other side of Five Points is Renaissance Records. This will be the tenth year owners Gary and Shirley Bourgeois have managed renaissance, and consider this Record Store Day as the shop’s anniversary celebration. “We’ll have a lot of seven inch for sale,” says Shirley. “Last year, Flaming Lips and Grateful Dead were big sellers. I’m looking forward to seeing what it is this year.” Renaissance also carries several models of vinyl players.
Birmingham Records in Gardendale will celebrate its first Record Store Day, after opening less than a year ago. “We’ll have deals that cover most of the store,” says co-owner Jack Wilson, who previously managed Medusa Sound in Southside. “We’ll have 20% off used vinyl, 10% off new. Next year, we may have some bands play as well.”
The local Record Store Day participants are:
Birmingham Records: 1103 Main Street Gardendale, AL 35071
Open at 9 a.m.
Charlemagne Record Exchange: 1924 1/2 11th Ave. South Birmingham, AL 35218
Open at 10 a.m.
Renaissance Records: 2020 11th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35205
Open at 10 a.m.
Photos of Charlemagne Record Exchange.
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