By April 19, 2018
Spring has arrived and while pollen continues to coat the city collectors are gearing up for the 11th annual Record Store Day. Started in 2007 by a group of record store owners in Baltimore, Record Store Day has grown into a national phenomenon, sparking a massive increase in vinyl sales across the globe and a revitalization of the entire industry. Over the years, RSD has brought collectors some of the most unique vinyl releases in history, including never-before-heard collaborations, unreleased material, and special live performance recordings.
Among all of the RSD traditions, perhaps one of the most memorable is the in-store live show. In the past eleven years, artists such as Metallica, Jack White, Beastie Boys, and The Foo Fighters have downsized their usual grandeur to play the stages of local record stores across the country. This has always stood as a rare opportunity to see some of our favorite groups up close and personal, almost as if they were once more local artists cutting their teeth on their way to stardom.
In 2009, Jesse “Boots Electric” Hughes established himself as the first-ever Record Store Day ambassador. Since then, the title has been passed to the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Dave Grohl, St. Vincent and now in 2018 the honor has been bestowed upon rap duo, Run The Jewels. In celebration on being named ambassadors, Run The Jewels has announced their own RSD exclusive release in the form of their Stay Gold collectors set, which will be available nationwide.
The real marvel of Record Store Day is found at the local independent level, and Charlotte’s own Lunchbox Records is no exception. Every year, hundreds of patrons line up outside the store, hungry for the chance to get their hands on a limited edition find. Lunchbox has consistently provided access to some of the rarer national and international RSD releases as well as live shows in-store, enormous discounts, giveaways, and it’s only getting bigger and better in 2018.
The festivities begin at 9 a.m. and will continue until the store closes at 9 p.m. The Los Angeles quintet Mt. Joy will take the Lunchbox stage at 2 p.m. as part of their special in-store appearance to play songs from their latest self-titled record. Some of Lunchbox’s most exclusive available items will include the Stay Gold box set from the RSD ambassadors themselves, Run The Jewels, as well as a collection of David Bowie records, the Grateful Dead 1969 live box set, a Mac DeMarco LP of previously unreleased demos, two records of remixes from The Cure, the Brian Eno and Kevin Shields collaboration, Powell Peralta’s The Search for Animal Chin soundtrack (movie download included), comedy LP They’re All Going To Laugh At You from Adam Sandler, and much more.
Record Store Day has stood for over a decade to honor the hard working independent record stores, a place that provides a haven for music appreciators. Whether your collection is boundless, or you’re just getting started, Record Store Day is the perfect way to celebrate tradition and keep the stores that we love alive.
You can also check out Repo Record for special Record Store Day releases and check out more on Lunchbox Records.
Want to win this limited clear Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour vinyl and poster? Check out our Instagram giveaway at @CharlotteCLTure.
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