Whether you descend down a narrow, dimly lit and more-than-slightly hazardous staircase, or step through a glass and wood door which jingles and creaks as you push it open, a soundscape of niche yet widely appealing tunes and a comforting smell of musty cardboard welcome you. A myriad of people wait to greet you, having wandered in that same door from any and all walks of life, each with a lively individual story (which they’ll no doubt share), unfold, as you carefully flick through the precise mess of treasure upon treasure.
They’re an increasingly rare find, and all the more of a gem when happened upon, but you’ve found yourself in a record store. Yes, those do still exist in Sydney, and, one might even argue, amidst both a resurgence of interest in vinyl and an enduring set of regular patrons who’ve been going to their favourite stores for decades, they’re surviving and thriving. Yet, as any art-dependent business must, record and CD stores rely on new interest and new customers who will one day become that set of regulars. And what better a time to discover that new world than on Record Store Day?
Held each year, between April and November, Record Store Day began in 2007, as a celebration of independent “bricks and mortar” recorded music specialists. Typically, Record Store Day coincides with new releases, and while each store will celebrate in a unique way, many will feature live performances, sales or special events. This year, Record Store Day is spread across two dates – June 12 and July 17.
This writer claims a bias, having spent many genuinely fascinating and highly enjoyable years behind the counter of a specialist music retailer, seeing firsthand the excitement upon each customer’s face as they stepped into the new world of the record store for the first time, or the delight in each regular’s eyes as they unearthed a long out-of-print disc or raced in to grab a copy of the latest release. Nonetheless and all bias aside, the physical record store truly is a treasure trove; head into your local this Record Store Day or, really, any day, and find out.
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www.recordstoreday.com.au
