Back in ye olde 2007, Record Store Day was founded. For the uninitiated, it is a day that champions the musical community centre, the life force behind many music scenes: the local independent record store, with special events and limited edition releases.
At the time Record Store Day launched, the consumption of vinyl was on its way out and it is largely thanks to this movement that sales of vinyl grew and record shops came back into fashion. It is now a day that the music industry really gets behind, and you can tell by the sheer number of special releases they have planned. The Record Store Day website has even put out a staggering, comprehensive list of releases coming out on April 21, 2012.
Although it was initially launched in the U.S., the day quickly expanded to Canada and this year there are plenty of events, deals and performances for you to check out at your local Canadian record store.
In provincial order from east to west, here’s our list of Record Store Day events in Canada.
Is there a store or event that you would like to see on the list? Let us know in the comments below or send an email to rock@cbc.ca.
Newfoundland
Fred’s Records, St. John’s: According to their website, “Fred's Records will be a participant in Record Store Day this year.”
Nova Scotia
Taz Records, Halifax: 200 exclusive Record Store Day releases for sale, giveaways all day and a buy-two-get-one-free sale on all second-hand merchandise. In-store performances by: Rich Aucoin, Rose Cousins, Al Tuck, Christina Martin and Dale Murray, Jon McKiel, Nerd Army, Matthew Grimson and Jay Crocker.
P.E.I.
Back Alley Music, Charlottetown: Vinyl deals, limited edition Record Store Day LP releases and a barbecue on the street. In-store performances by: Liam Corcoran (Two Hours Traffic), English Words and Colour Code.
New Brunswick
Backstreet Records, Fredericton: All-day giveaways, Record Store Day special releases and in-store performances by Redwood Fields, the Squaredance Kid, the Shorty Tubbs, the Ray Finkles, Little City, Motherhood, J.J. Ipsen, Octoberman.
Quebec
Beatnick, Montreal: Record Store Day releases, 20 per cent off select records and a Jack White listening party.
Phonopolis, Montreal: Store-wide 15 per cent discount, Record Store Day special releases, homemade doughnuts, coffee and a DJ set from Thomas of Turbo Records.
Ontario
Bluestreak Records, Peterborough: 10 per cent off all new and used turntables.
Grooves Record Store, London: Spin the "Turntable of Fortune" for a chance at loads of great prizes. In-store performances by: Noise Level (12 p.m.), Deslecsick (1 p.m.), Handsome Dan and His Gallimaufry (2:30 p.m.), Weirdonia (4 p.m.) and a surprise “out of town” mystery band (5 p.m.).
Of a Kind, Toronto: Discounts on vinyl and clothing, beer and in-store performances by: Joelle Westman (11 a.m.), Anna Sudac (12 p.m.), Alberta Darling (1 p.m.), Johnny Walker (2 p.m.), Human Bodies (4 p.m.), Foxfire (5 p.m.), the Benefit of the Free Man (6 p.m.), Delta Will (7 p.m.), Patti Cake (8 p.m.), Sean Blackthorn and Brother, Brother (9 p.m.), Memorecks (10 p.m.)
Penguin Music, Toronto: Buy one get one free for all used CDs.
Speed City Records, London: Free non-alcoholic drinks and food. Special releases from local indie labels and Record Store Day limited releases. In-store performances by: Johnny Terrien and the Bad Lieutenants and the Statues.
Soundscapes, Toronto: In-store performance by the Elwins at 7 p.m.
Sonic Boom Records, Toronto: Exclusive releases, giveaways (record players, headphones, LPs), and in-store performances by: Army Girls (1 p.m.), the Darcys (2 p.m.), Born Ruffian (3 p.m.), Plants and Animals (4 p.m.), Bloodshot Bill (5 p.m.), Fresh Snow (6 p.m.), Lioness (7 p.m.), Eight and a Half (8 p.m.), Diemonds (9 p.m.).
Manitoba
Music Trader, Winnipeg: Record Store Day exclusive releases plus in-store performances by Cannon Bros and Greg MacPherson.
Saskatchewan
The Vinyl Diner, Saskatoon: Prizes to the first 40 customers on Record Store Day. Prizes include LPs, 7" singles, CDs, T-shirts and other goodies.
X-Ray Records, Regina: Record Store Day exclusive release in stock.
Alberta
Blackbyrd Myoozik, Edmonton: 50 per cent off all used stock, 20 per cent off all new stock, spend $50 or more and you'll receive Blackbyrd Myoozik's reusable cloth bag, spend $100 or more and you'll receive a Blackbyrd T-shirt, purchase anything and be entered in a draw to win a pair of tickets. In-store performances by: Camembert, Jessica Jalbert and friends and Renny Wilson.
Hot Wax Records, Calgary: All used CDs $5, all used vinyl 30 per cent off, select new vinyl 20 per cent off. In-store performances by: Phil Withers, Samantha Savage Smith, Sorry, Sleepy Panther, You Are Minez, the Gooeys and Rap X.
Sloth Records, Calgary: 15 per cent off all CDs, LPs, books, clothing, 50 per cent off all DVDs, 50 per cent off all used vinyl plus tons of exclusive Record Store Day releases in stock.
British Columbia
Beat Street Records, Vancouver: Exclusive releases, sales and live DJs spinning vinyl all day.
Ditch Records, Victoria: Lots of Record Store Day exclusives, specially stocked used records and an in-store performance by: Kathryn Calder, Freak Heat Waves and Horse Girls.
Neptoon Records, Vancouver: Big sale and about 180 different Record Store Day releases available. In-store performances by: Elliot C Way and the Wild North (11 a.m.), Rio By Night (11:45 a.m.), Greenback High (12:30 p.m.), Highway Kind (1:15 p.m.), the Beladeans (2 p.m.), Ballantynes (2:45 p.m.), Rags to Radio (3:30 p.m.), B-Lines (4:15 p.m.), Vicious Cycles (5 p.m.), Shitty Neighbors (5:45 p.m.), the Get Down (6:30 p.m.), Hallow Moon (7:15 p.m.).
Red Cat Records, Vancouver: Record Store Day exclusive releases plus in-store performances by Ladyhawk (2 p.m.), Apollo Ghosts (3 p.m.), Hard Drugs (4 p.m.), White Ash Falls (5 p.m.).
Scrape Records, Vancouver: This heavy metal record store will be holding a meet-and-greet with Behemoth from 4-5 p.m.
Zoo Shop, Vancouver: 10 per cent off all goods, 50 per cent off all used CDs, 25 per cent off all new CDs. In-store performances by: DJ Davidsmind, Bertha Cool, Filip Gorecki, Night Mirrors, Holzkopf, Adam Kadmon, Matty from Lyfe, Jesse Taylor (from Reflektionsss and Twin Crystals) and Legs.
Zulu Records, Vancouver: Giant store-wide sale, limited edition Record Store Day releases, guest DJs throughout the day, Jack White listening party, concert ticket giveaways all day long (Justice, Yukon Blonde, Best Coast, Mogwai, Deer Tick, Bombino and more). In-store performances by: Hannah Georgas (5:30 p.m.), Damien Jurado (6 p.m.), Siskiyou (6:45 p.m.) and No Sinner (7:30 p.m.).
Related links:
Record Store Day: Gems from Rich Terfry's record collection
Record Store Day 2012: Grant Lawrence's top 10 record stores in Canada