Record Store Day began in 2007 and has grown into a North America-wide party, held on the third Saturday of April (in other words, this Saturday). To celebrate, musicians big and small release exclusive records or play surprise shows. Toronto, with its wealth of indie shops, has 21 stores officially participating. Here’s a quick rundown of some the best places to go celebrate.
Internationally speaking, some of the biggest releases scheduled for Record Store Day include reworked classics from Elliott Smith, The Grateful Dead, and Notorious B.I.G. New pieces by MGMT, Soundgarden, and a live album from Mumford & Sons are also going to be available. Stores will have limited quantities of these items, and some will only be available on the day.
Many Toronto music stores will be holding free in-store concerts to celebrate. Sunrise Records (336 Yonge Street) is hosting Gentleman Reg in a Record Store Day kick-off show on April 19. The store will also be participating in the event on the day of, though no shows are scheduled.
Play De Record’s (357 Yonge Street) Saturday line-up features soul, funk, and hip-hop, with live music running from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m. The full schedule can be found on the store’s Facebook page.
Sonic Boom (782 Bathurst Street) will be celebrating on Saturday with its usual marathon live show, featuring eight local acts. The event is all-ages and free with a non-perishable food item. “It’s quite obviously a chance for the vinyl industry to have its own Christmas,” said Rob Butcher, who has been working at Sonic Boom for three years and now books the in-store performances. “We’ve always had different performers do their thing during RSD, and this year will be no different.”
Tess Parks, a Toronto musician, is kicking off the in-store concert. “[Record Store Day] brings people together and it’s a way of keeping record stores alive and getting people excited about music in a communal way,” she said. “It’s also fun and free, and it’s springtime and people should be out enjoying life anyway!”
Jesse James Laderout, of Young Mother, an indie-rock quartet, doesn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t attend the day’s events. “I’m involved with Record Store Day because I spend a lot of money on records,” he said. “There are a bunch of free bands, discounts, and exclusive releases. What the hell else are you going to do?” A performance by Young Mother will close Sonic Boom’s events for the day.
Butcher feels the same way. “There are plenty of fantastic indie record stores in Toronto. It’s an embarrassment of riches. Whether it be June Records, Soundscapes, Grasshopper, or Rotate This—it’s the vinyl-loving folk in Toronto that win at the end of the day.”
A full list of participating Toronto stores can be found on Record Store Day’s website.
This post originally said that Frantic City Records, a Toronto music store that is no longer open, was participating in this year’s Record Store Day. The reference has been removed.