Milk Bar’s Guide to Record Store Day

This Saturday is Record Store Day, an annual international event celebrating independent record stores and the culture and communities that surround them. With independent record stores fighting an uphill battle against major discount chains and the ever-blooming digital music industry, Record Store Day is a celebration of indie music culture and a reminder that record stores have a lot to offer music lovers over the fluorescent nightmare of JB and the technological dystopia of iTunes.

Indie stores are supported by artists who put out limited edition, RSD only releases that can’t be obtained elsewhere, though in the past they’ve not often reached Australia. Vinyl geeks will be pleased to hear that this year local stores such as Polyester, Ritual and Thornbury Records have managed to secure a good range of releases from artists such as David Lynch, The Fall, Arcade Fire, The White Stripes, Tomahawk, Beach House, Mclusky, Battles, Justin Townes Earl, Animal Collective, Captain Beefheart, Devo and many more. Remember though it’s first in best dressed!

We’ve listed our RSD highlights below, and make sure you check out your local record store on the day.

Basement Discs
24 Block Place, Melbourne
Live music: Lisa Miller & Shane O’Mara, Chris Wilson, Jeff Lang, Charles Jenkins and heaps more
Music quiz, prizes, discounts and refreshments

Greville Records
152 Greville St, Prahran
10-20% off store wide

Northside Records
236 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Live music: The Putbacks and The Psyde Projects
10% off vinyl, 20% off CDs, limited edition RSD tees and 45s, giveaways and guest DJs all day

Polyester City
288 Flinders Ln, Melbourne
DJ sets:
Sugar Mountain – 11am
Gasometer – 12pm
My Disco – 1pm
Rainbow Connection – 2pm
Lost Animal – 3pm
Live music: The Stevens, Max Crumbs
20% off store wide, limited RSD releases and cupcakes from Sticky Fingers

Polyester Fitzroy
387 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
DJ sets:
RRR Breakfasters – 11am
Alan Brough – 12pm
Daniel Kitson & Claudia O’Doherty – 1pm
Darren Hanlon – 2pm
Geoffrey O’Connor – 3pm
20% off store wide, limited RSD releases and cupcakes from Sticky Fingers

Pure Pop
221 Barkly St, St Kilda
Live music: Michael Shaun, Elephant, Simon Imrei, Simon Comber
Fully licensed bar

Record Paradise
100 Chapel St, St Kilda
Live music: Rosie Haden, The Bowers, Money For Rope + *Secret Act* and Even
Gold coin lucky 7” dip, guest DJs, bar and Record Store Daydream cocktails

Ritual Music & Books
189 St George Rd, Fitzroy
10% off store wide and lots of limited RSD vinyl

Thornbury Records
591 High St, Thornbury
Lots of RSD releases, free BBQ and guest DJs

Woolly Bully
104 Errol St, North Melbourne
Peak Twins live in-store from 4pm