The shops are still closed due to the coronavirus pandemic but Assai Records in Dundee is “so excited” about Love Record Stores Day taking place this weekend.
The #loverecordstores campaign was launched to raise awareness of the challenges faced by independent record stores during the current pandemic, and to encourage music fans to continue shopping online with their favourite stores.
On Saturday June 20, Assai, alongside Dundee’s Le Freak Record Store and Mo’Fidelity in Montrose are amongst record stores backing the 24-hour event which includes the world’s biggest online in-store.
Record Store Day has become an important fixture in the music retail calendar for UK record stores, labels and music fans alike, so it came as a real blow that the organisers had no choice but to postpone this year’s event due to the continued Covid-19 crisis.
To ensure that an opportunity to highlight the work of record stores at this critical time remained in place, the #loverecordstores campaign announced that a day-long event featuring over 130 record stores will take place on June 20.
The event will see dozens of new and re-issued vinyl releases being made available to music fans.
Stores will make the releases available from 9am on June 20 and will be shipping on various dates soon after the event.
The world’s biggest online in-store event is also planned with 24-hours of live performances, DJ sets, interviews, readings and more from a wide range of artists and influential music industry figures and has been curated by a number of the world’s independent labels including: Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans, ATO Records, Heavenly Recordings, Transgressive, Mute, Play It Again Sam, Bella Union, Speedy Wunderground, Partisan Records, Memphis Industries and Chrysalis amongst others are taking part.
The sessions includes an exclusive live performance premiere from Yannis of Foals, performances from Fontaines DC, Craig David, Circa Waves, John Grant, the event ambassador Tim Burgess and Black Pumas.
Jason Rackham, a co-founder of the #loverecordstores campaign said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from artists, DJs and labels for the #loverecordstores event on June 20.
“Alongside the dozens of new and re-issued record releases we’re making available for music fans to buy online from their favourite record stores our 24-hour ‘virtual instore’, which is the biggest online ‘in-store’ event the world has ever seen , has a stunning line-up of talent, all of whom are passionate about supporting this event.”
To view the #loverecordstores ‘virtual instore’ music fans should visit: www.loverecordstores.com where a full menu of all performances times will be made available on the homepage.
The programming will start at 7am on Saturday and will continue until 7am on Sunday June 21.
