What started as an annual celebration of all things vinyl, marked largely by niche indie releases and celebrating independent stores, has ballooned to become a cultural phenomenon, now in its tenth year, known as Record Store Day. Set to take place tomorrow, April 16, the music lovers’ holiday not only brings a massive number of new, collectible, and limited edition releases an re-issues from artists small and large, but, also, includes tons of festivities at independent record stores across the nation. Being the music obsessed city that we are, Nashville goes all out every year, and there are so many happenings that it’s hard to keep track. That’s why we’ve put together this guide, detailing the stores, sales, performances, events, and releases you can expect to find tomorrow. Read on for more, and start planning your day!
GRIMEY’S
As Nashville’s largest and best-known independent record store, Grimey’s has definitely become the destination for all things Record Store Day. That has its pros and cons; you’ll have to plan to arrive very early (a few people even camp out overnight, which is being officially allowed this year), and fight through large crowds to find your coveted wax. On the flipside, the selection is amazing, there are sales on non-RSD exclusives, and there’s plenty of free fun to be had, including performances from an impressive slate of artists.
WHERE: 1604 8th Ave S; RSD releases will be in Grimey’s Too (on the right-hand side), and live music will take place in the lot behind Grimey’s.
WHEN: Sales will officially begin at 10 a.m. (when both stores open), but the line could start forming as early as Friday night. Grimey’s staffers will be around to direct anyone who intends to camp, and the line will be directed to form at the back deck by early morning, at which point the fine folks at Frothy Monkey will open early for your breakfast and coffee needs.
Here’s the performance schedule:
11:30am – djb
12:00pm – Wray
12:30pm – DJ Beaver Pete (City Councilman Colby Sledge)
01:00pm – Los Colognes
0 1:30pm – Mayor Megan Barry
02:00pm – Blank Range
02:30pm – Pimpdaddysupreme
03:00pm – HeCTA
03:30pm – Josh Rosenthal (author of ‘Record Store of the Mind’)
04:00pm – Drivin’ N Cryin’
04:30pm – WXNA DJ
05:00pm – Adia Victoria
WHAT: Expect to find virtually every release on the official Record Store Day list, and a few that aren’t. Plus live music, food and food trucks (Crankees Pizzeria, Smoke Et Al), drink specials in The Basement (sponsored by Dogfish Head), DJ sets (including one from the mayor herself), a sidewalk sale, free swag, and tons of enthusiastic music lovers.
WHO: Grimey’s will feature performances from Adia Victoria, Drivin’ N Cryin’, HeCTA, Blank Range, Los Colognes, and Wray, plus DJs from WXNA, Josh Rosenthal, Pimpdaddysupreme, Mayor Megan Barry, DJ Beaver Pete (Councilman Sledge), and djb.
WHY: If you want the biggest, busiest, most comprehensive Record Store Day experience, Grimey’s is the spot. It’s an especially good choice if you’re not as bent on finding all of your record picks (they’ll go quick), and simply want to have a fun time and catch some live music.
THE GROOVE
Smaller but just as well-curated, East Nashville’s The Groove has definitely developed a reputation for throwing a solid Record Store Day shindig every year. They’ve got almost as many bands and RSD releases as Grimey’s, but with a typically smaller crowd to deal with.
WHERE: 1103 Calvin Ave; RSD releases will be inside, while additional sales items and festivities are planned for outside.
WHEN: The Groove will open at 10 a.m., but the real party doesn’t start until the afternoon.
Here’s the performance schedule:
12:30pm – Dudette (of Southern Girls Rock Camp)
01:15pm – Soft Bodies
02:00pm – Lasso Spells
02:45pm – Ornament
03:30pm – Big Surr
04:15pm – Promised Land Sound
05:00pm – Sun Seeker
05:45pm – HeCTA
WHAT: Most RSD releases will be available, and are limited to 1 per customer, first come, first served. Additionally, there will be a 15% off storewide sale for all other merchandise, and plenty of sale items to dig through outside. There will be also beer (from Blackstone) and food trucks (Mas Tacos, King of Pops) on site, along with local vendors, free swag, and giveaways (including concert tickets and even a turntable).
WHO: HeCTA, Sun Seeker, Promised Land Sound, Big Surr, Ornament, Lasso Spells, Soft Bodies, and Dudette and DJs will be around to provide sets in between.
WHY: If you want to stick close to the east side, potentially have less of a crowd vying for the same items, or if The Groove’s music lineup is more your cup of tea, this could be a slightly less intense alternative to Grimey’s (and you might even save enough time to slip to another store).
FOND OBJECT
Nestled in Riverside Village, Fond Object is as much a record store as it is a neighborhood hangout. They have a petting zoo, carry vintage clothing, host awesome non-music events, and are genuinely just great. Like The Groove, you’ll have slightly smaller crowds to contend with than Grimey’s, but their selection should still rival both.
WHERE: 1313 McGavock Pike; RSD releases will be inside, music and actives will be around back.
WHEN: The shop opens at 10 a.m., while backyard festivities begin at noon.
Here’s the performance schedule:
12:00pm – Lawndry
12:50pm – Penicillin Baby
01:40pm – Western Medication
02:30pm – Teddy and The Rough Riders
03:20pm – Omni (Atlanta)
04:20pm – Ranch Ghost
05:20pm – Savoy Motel
06:20pm – Faux Ferocious
07:00pm – Nameless Frames
08:00pm – Promised Land Sound + Lavender Country (half and half set)
WHAT: Fond Object will host great live music and DJs all afternoon, plus food (Two Boots Pizza, Steaming Goat, King of Pops), drinks (Little Harpeth, Wiseacre), vendors, and a petting zoo! The shop will have RSD exclusives available, and are boasting nearly every RSD release in honor of their third anniversary.
WHO: Expect performances Promised Land Sound and Lavender County playing a half and half set, Austin’s Nameless Frames, Faux Ferocious, Savoy Motel, Ranch Ghost, Atlanta’s Omni, Teddy and The Rough Riders, Western Medication, Penicillin Baby, and Lawndry, plus DJ sets from Duke’s DJs Joey and Sara, DJ Jefe, DJ Tommy USA, DJ Helly, Heath Haynes, Ballroom Blitz, DJ Radski, and more!
WHY: Fond Object always has an amazing sense of community, and if your idea of a perfect Record Store Day is kicking it with fellow east siders and listening to great bands, and likely still have a good shot at snagging some exclusive releases, this is your spot.
THIRD MAN RECORDS
Third Man Records does not officially sign the Record Store Day pledge, and that’s because they’re don’t carry releases from outside artists. While this might be a turnoff from those of you with long shopping lists, the Jack White-obsessed will surely find plenty to salivate over in TMR’s always-unforgettable Record Store Day celebration.
WHERE: 623 7th Ave S; Releases and activities will take place in-store, in the patio, and in the lot out front.
WHEN: The shop opens at 10 a.m., and music will begin at 11 a.m.
Here’s the performance schedule:
11am – Datenight
12pm – Cat Flaps
1pm – Faux Ferocious
WHAT: The White Stripes’ Peel Sessions will receive its first authorized release in celebration of its 15th anniversary, after years of being passed around in bootleg from. Per usual, it’s a masterfully crafted double LP, on red and white vinyl, and, from the sound of it, you can snag it at other stores besides Third Man. Available only at Third Man, a Kermit-green 7″ of Jack White’s cover of “You Are the Sunshine of my Life,” from his appearance on The Muppets this spring, is a fun and collectible bonus. Third Man will also use RSD to drop Kate Pierson’s (of The B-52s) Blue Series black vinyl 7″ release of “Venus” b/w “Radio in Bed,” though it’s a wide release. In addition, Third Man will host breakfast and an afternoon grill out on their patio, corn hole and ping pong tournaments, drinks, and local venders. There’s also an early evening, 18+, separately ticketed Man or Astro-Man? show in the Blue Room.
WHO: Faux Ferocious, Cat Flaps, and Date Night are slated to perform, and Man or Astro-Man? will play a ticketed, 7 p.m. show in the Blue Room.
WHY: If you’re looking to snag one of Third Man’s enticing, exclusive releases or you’re a Jack White devotee, this is a Record Store Day experience like no other.
CARPE DIEM (FRANKLIN)
Billed as Franklin’s first record store, Carpe Diem (at The Legendary Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor) is generally known as a destination for quality vintage vinyl, photography, oddities, antiques, and more. However, they’re officially stocking up on new releases for Record Store Day, and with a full slate of live music to boot, we thought they deserved an extra plug.
WHERE: 212 S Margin St, Franklin; Performances will take place inside and outside and all releases will presumably be in the shop.
WHEN: Festivities get going on 11am, and, from the sound of it, that’s when you can expect the shop to open as well.
Here’s the performance schedule:
Inside Stage
12:00pm – Melody Guy
01:00pm – Doug Allen Music
02:00pm – Kristin Larkin Band
03:00pm – Bob’s Your Uncle – Nashville
04:00pm – Aaron Paul
05:00pm – Travis Harris & The West Coast Turnarounds
06:00pm – Soundcheck
07:00pm – The Bullhorn Boys
09:00pm – The Black Diamond Heavies
Outside Stage
11:00am – Ali Warren
12:00pm – Carson Hill
01:00pm – Brenda Lynn Allen
02:00pm – Jacob Westfall
03:00pm – Rob Higginbotham
04:00pm – David F. Newbould
05:00pm – Derek W. Curtis
06:00pm – Walter Lindsay Egan
WHAT: Carpe Diem has a bunch blues, folk, Americana, singer-songwriter, and straight up rock skewing live music on deck that’ll provide something of an alternative to the more punk, indie, and alternative at Nashville’s record shops. There will also be special sales, food and drink, and, of course, RSD exclusives.
WHO: Walter Lindsay Egan, The Black Diamond Heavies, Derek W. Curtis, The Bullhorn Boys, and so many more acts are performing across two stages.
WHY: Obviously if you live in Franklin, this is a solid choice. However, if you’re hoping to seriously score a ton of RSD exclusives, we can’t vouch for exactly how many they intend to stock, given the fact they’re typically more of a vintage shop. Y0u go wrong if their musical lineup strikes your fancy, and you just want to soak up some free tunes though.
ADDITIONAL RECORD STORES
The Great Escape (111B Gallatin Pike N & 5400 Charlotte Ave) – Often overlooked, comic/book/toy/music chain The Great Escape tends to stock a decent selection of vinyl at both their Charlotte location and new Madison superstore. They do officially participate, so while you might not find all RSD exclusives, their 7 a.m. opening time could make them an attractive first stop. Additionally, both stores are offering 20%-50% off of used music and supplies, freebies, and more!
McKay Books (636 Old Hickory Blvd) – Last year, McKay warranted a full writeup, when they acquired 50,000 records from a serious collector, and handpicked nearly half to release on RSD. This time, they’re promoting 10,000 used LPs hitting the floor; still nothing to scoff at. They will open at 9 a.m. (a bit earlier than most), and they are officially participating in Record Store Day, so they’ll have some exclusive releases; however, this destination makes the most sense for collectors less caught up in the RSD hype.
Luna Record Shop (230 Franklin Rd; Franklin) – Nestled in The Factory at Franklin, well-curated, new boutique record store Luna will open at 9 a.m., and are boasting live music. They are officially participating in RSD, and it looks like they plan to stock a healthy amount of exclusives. Obviously a great bet if you live closer to Franklin and don’t want to trek to Nashville.
Infinity Cat (467 Humphreys St) – Like Third Man, Infinity Cat only stock their own releases at their Cat House Visitor’s Center, and, through they’re not putting out anything special for RSD, that’s not stopping them from celebrating “Record Label Store Day” for the first time. They’re opening up at 11 a.m. for a mega sale, with discounts up to 50%, and some rare finds they dug up during spring cleaning. There’s promise of cheap beer, balloons, and all day fun, so stop by after you do all of your RSD shopping.
Atomic Nashville (1603 Riverside Dr) – This new east side indie book, music, and art shop has been open for a minute, but they’re celebrating their official grand opening on Record Store Day. While they don’t appear to be carrying any official new RSD releases, they sell vinyl exclusively from local artists, and Saturday they’ll have live music (The Black Lemons, Shawn Byrne), live painting, a raffle, a special “Atomic Omelette” next door at Pied Piper, and more! The shop opens at 10 a.m. and things really get kicking around noon. RSD exclusives or not, this rad little local shop should be on your radar.
Alison’s Record Shop (994 Davidson Dr.) – West side destination Alison’s Record Shop won’t be stocking any new RSD exclusives, but their impressively curated selection of vintage vinyl will be on sale (20% off the first hour, 15% 9-11, and 10% off 11-5), and they open at 8 a.m., making them a possible first-stop for your busy day. Mode Fresh will perform in the parking lot, plus there’s food, giveaways, bargain bins, a sidewalk sale, and a raffle for a 1st pressing Frank Zappa LP.
CD Warehouse (7081 Hwy 70 S) – Chain store CD Warehouse officially participates in Record Store Day, though it’s unclear how many new offerings they stock.
Ernest Tubb Record Shop (417 Broadway) – Country-leaning downtown record store Ernet Tubb officially participates as well, though we’re not sure what, if any, exclusive releases they’ll have available; don’t expect much outside of their usual fare.
ADDITIONAL LIVE MUSIC
Queen Ave Art Collective (178 Queen Ave) – Though they’re not a record store, local showspace Queen Ave Art Collective will be getting in on the action by hosting a release show for Western Medication, who drop their debut LP, The Entertainer’s Secret, just for the occasion. It’s also a homecoming for Meth Dad and Terror Pigeon, who’ve been on the road for the past six weeks, and Penicillin Baby will kick things off. 9 p.m. start, 8 p.m. doors, and just $5.
Third Man Records – After a full day of Record Store Day fun, Third Man will host a 7 p.m. ticketed show in the Blue Room, featuring Man or Astro-Man? 7 p.m. start, 6 p.m. doors, 18+ (the daytime stuff is all ages), and $10.
TWiN – Get the full weekend rundown of shows in our This Weekend in Nashville feature.
LOCAL RELEASES TO LOOK OUT FOR
You can always count on some quality Record Store Day releases from Nashville artists! Here’s a rundown on some of the best:
*repeat repeat – “Plugged In” b/w “Windy” 7″
Brandy Clark/Sheryl Crow – “Girl Next Door”/”Homecoming Queen” 7″
Chris Janson – Buy Me a Boat LP
Emmylou Harris – Wrecking Ball Deluxe Vinyl Version 3xLP
Jack White – “You Are the Sunshine of my Life” 7″
Johnny Cash – All Aboard the Blue Train with Johnny Cash LP
Johnny Cash – The Best of The Johnny Cash Show LP
Langhorne Slim & The Law – Live at Grimey’s CD
Langhorne Slim & The Law – When the Sun’s Gone Done LP
Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear – Live at Grimey’s 12″ EP (not local, but hey, it’s Grimey’s)
Twin Forks – Twin Forks Cassette (online only)
Western Medication – The Entertainer’s Secret LP
& more!
NATIONAL RELEASES TO LOOK OUT FOR
Record Store Day has morphed into a lot of fluff and obvious cash grabs. While this is far from complete, here’s a list of some interesting national releases from the full list we think might be worthy additions to your vinyl collection, a mix of rarities, overdue re-pressings, first time runs and more:
Air – Casanova 70 12″ EP
Albert Hammond Jr. – Yours to Keep LP
alt-J – Live at Red Rocks 2xLP
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness – The Canyons EP 10″
Anthrax – “In the End”/”Antisocial” 7″
The Appleseed Cast – Peregrine (10th Anniversary Edition) 2xLP
Best Coast – “Late 20s” b/w “Bigger Man” 7″
Big Star – Complete Columbia: Live at University of Missouri 4/25/93 2xLP
Bleachers – Terrible Thrills, Vol. 2 LP
Blitzen Trapper – Field Rexx LP
Bob Dylan – “Melancholy Mood” 7″
Brian Fallon – Georgia 10″
Buzzcocks – More Product in a Different Compilation: Best of the United Artists Recordings 2xLP
Cancerous Growth – Hmmlmmlum… LP
Cheap Trick – At Budokan: The Complete Concert 2xLP
CHVRCHES – Every Open Eye (Remix EP) 12″
Circa Survive / mewithoutYou – 7″ Split
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold the World 12″ Picture Disc
David Bowie – TVC15 7″ Picture Disc
David Bowie – I Dig Everything – The Pye Singles 1966 12″ EP
D.O.C. – No One Can Do It Better LP
Death Cab for Cutie – “Tractor Rape Chain”/”Black Sun” 7″
Deerhoof – Offend Maggie LP
Deftones – B-Sides & Rarities 2xLP
The Flaming Lips – Heady Nuggs Vol. II Studio Albums 2006-2012 8xLP
The Flaming Lips – Lightning Strikes the Postman CD & Comic Book
Fleetwood Mac – The Alternate Tusk 2xLP
Frank Turner – Positive Songs for Negative People (Acoustic) LP
Gerard Way – “Pinkish” b/w “Don’t Try” 7″
Green River – 1984 Demos LP
GWAR – Scumdogs of the Universe LP
Husker Du – “In a Free Land” 7″
Ida – Will You Find Me 2xLP
Iggy & The Stooges – Metallic K.O. LP
J Dilla – The Diary LP
James Bay – Chaos and the Calm 12″ Picture Disc
Jay Farrar – Sebastopol/thirdshiftgrottoslack 2xLP
Jay Reatard – Blood Visions (10th Anniversary) LP
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – Sinner LP 12″
John Williams – Star Wars: The Force Awakens “March of the Resistance” b/w “Rey’s Theme” 10″ Picture Disc
Justin Bieber – Purpose 12″ Picture Disc
La Dispute – Tiny Dots 12″ EP
Lil Wayne – Tha Carter 2xLP
Lil Wayne – Tha Carter II 2xLP
Low/S. Carey – “Not a Word” b/w “I Won’t Let You” 7″
Mac DeMarco – Another (Demo) One LP
Madonna – Live a Virgin & Other Hits 12″
Man Man – Six Demon Bag LP
Metz/Mission of Burma – “Good Not Great” b/w “Get Off” 7″
mewithoutYou – Ten Stories LP
Mike McCready, Duff McKagan, Mark Arm, and Barrett Martin – EXP Presents: Raw Power – A Tribute To Iggy & The Stooges Live From the Rooftop of Pike Place Market – August 23rd, 2015 LP
NOFX – “Sid & Nancy” 7″
Old Dirty Bastard – “Brooklyn Zoo”/”Shimmy Shimmy Ya” 12″
Outkast – “Elevators (Me & You)” 10″
Patti Smith – Horses (Live Electric Lady Studios) 2xLP
Pinback – Blue Screen Life 2xLP
Ramones – “Judy Is a Punk” 7″
Regina Spektor – Begin to Hope (Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition) 2xLP
Regina Spektor – Soviet Kitsch LP
The Runaways – The Runaways: Right Now/Black Leather 7″
Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols 12″ Picture Disc
Skrillex & Diplo (with Justin Bieber) – Where Are U Now? 12″
Skywave – Killerrockandroll LP
Superchunk – Tossing Seeds (Singles 1989-91) LP
The Thermals – “Hey You” 7″
The Turtles – “Happy Together” 7″
twenty one pilots – Double Sided 7″
The Vandals – Sweatin’ To the Oldies LP
Various Artists – Across the Universe OST 2xLP
Various Artists – Monster a Go-Go Volume 1 LP
The Weepies – Say I Am You LP
Xiu Xiu – Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks LP
& more!
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