Albums on the Hill celebrates Record Store Day, April 21, 2012. Record Store Day is the annual celebration of both independent stores and artists. (James Bradbury/CU Independent File)
Every April since 2007, thousands of independently owned record stores across the globe set aside a day not only to celebrate independent music, but also local business and culture.
On Saturday—the day that has been dubbed Record Store Day—Boulder will play host to the annual event.
Doug Gaddy, the owner of Absolute Vinyl Records & Stereo, said that the store will have a slew of exclusives and freebies. There can be over 400 rare, Record Store Day exclusives that Absolute Vinyl may have in stock. But Gaddy said that until the doors open at 11 a.m. on Saturday, you can only guess what will be up for grabs, as he gets new arrivals every day.
Absolute Vinyl, located at 5360 Arapahoe Ave., will also be putting out close to 1,000 vintage titles, including collectible and rare Captain Beefheart, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Grateful Dead pressings, as well as nearly 55 Frank Zappa/Mothers of Invention LPs. Not to mention over 1,000 free obscure LPs for the taking.
Gaddy said that the store will also have vintage and new receivers, integrated amps and speakers, with experienced staff on-hand so even a novice can get his or her very first record player set up and spinning.
Around noon, guitar-looper and CU alumni Kendall Burks will be providing some live music. Following Burks, the indie-folk outfit Someone’s in for an Explosion will be taking the stage at 1 p.m.
Radio 1190’s street team will also be at Absolute Vinyl on Saturday, offering T-shirts, CDs, stickers, magnets and water bottles.
Albums on the Hill kicked off its Record Store Day weekend early today, April 18, with a special guest appearance from hip-hop artist Atmosphere. Hundreds of fans showed up and received autographs and photographs at noon before a taped performance at eTown Hall. Albums on the Hill will also have hundreds of Record Store Day exclusives as well as new arrivals that audiophiles can dig through starting at 10 a.m., Saturday at 1128 13th St.
Bart’s Record Shack, which recently moved to Folsom from Pearl Street, will also open its doors at 10 a.m., Saturday sporting new arrivals and free coffee and bagels. Bart will also have limited edition 7-inch pressings of Denver’s indie jazz and soul band Lake Street Drive with special post cards inside. Giveaways, raffles and drawings for signed Lake Street Drive posters are also on the docket. The new location of Bart’s Record Shack is 1625 Folsom St., just two doors down from The Village Coffee Shop.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer James Calvet at James.calvet@colorado.edu.
