Record Store Day was founded on the passion to celebrate the culture surrounding independently owned record stores and since 2008 has grown internationally (Manchester’s own Piccadilly Records was one of the first to get involved in the UK) and has seen ambassadors from Iggy Pop to Chuck D, to this year’s Dave Grohl, and limited edition releases that has roused many a music lover out of their bedtime cocoon at an ungodly hour and into the queues of their local record store. Like anything fed the right nutrition; in this case boundless talent and the ears to appreciate it, it has evolved to include in-store performances from bands, wax-spinning from new and veteran DJs, quizzes and more. In the city centre these stores will be handling the throbbing crowds: Piccadilly Records, Vinyl Exchange, Eastern Bloc Records, Beatin’ Rhythm Records, Clampdown Records and Vinyl Revival, and you can see the full list of exclusive releases here. Head south to see our top three picks of events from Manchester institutions that are helping to keep this culture so virile:

Ménage à Trois, Aldous RH & Bernard & Edith (poster pictured)
Once you have your day’s purchases safe in your still-shaking paws, head over to Soup Kitchen and bask in uplifting sounds, as hosted by Soup Kitchen. There are six bands on the bill, but we’re excited by these Manchester-based acts; Ménage à Trois and their soulful, R&B tinged textures, Egyptian Hip Hop offshoots in the form of Aldous RH (frontman) and his lo-fi, sleazy funk musical manouvres, and Bernard & Edith who will be bringing with them seductive, brooding trip hop beats.
Sat 18 Apr, Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Manchester M1 1DF, 4-10pm, £3 OTD, www.facebook.com

Islington Mill
Coinciding Record Store Day with the celebration of independent labels and promoters in Manchester and Salford, this event will see record stalls, DJs, delicious edibles, and some of the most desirable labels and promoters the area can offer, including party dons Fat Out Till You Pass Out, Grey Lanterns (who regularly put on highly intimate, highly unmissable gigs at some of Manchester’s smaller venues), Sways Records plus more. Watch this space, live acts will be announced shortly.
Sat 18 Apr, Islington Mill, 1 James Street, Salford, Lancashire M3 5HW, 4pm-2am, www.facebook.com

Section 25, Crispy Ambulance & B-Movie (hosted by Vinyl Revival)
Giving music lovers a taste of the past, on the bill are a band who were on Factory Records and whose tracks have been produced by the likes of Ian Curtis. The post-punk and electronica band Section 25 will be on hand to give weary pins a boost after a hard day’s graft expertly weaving through crowds and satisfying your RSD15 list, and joining them will be post-punk band Crispy Ambulance and B-Movie, makers of new wave who you’ll recognise from 1982 single Nowhere Girl.
Sat 18 Apr, The Deaf Institute, 135 Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HE, 6.30pm, £10, www.seetickets.com

Sat 18 Apr
Words:
Edwina Chan
Published on:
Mon 13 Apr 2015