This Saturday, April 22, Dearborn Music owner Kevin LeAnnais is planning on opening an hour and a half earlier than he typically would. That's because it's Record Store Day, an international holiday for record collectors and record store owners alike.
Now in its tenth year, Record Store Day has helped drum up publicity and interest for independent record stores, with some of the biggest and best artists and labels collaborating on limited edition releases for distribution on this particular day, all across the country and even the world.
LeAnnais is expecting about 400 special releases for this Record Store Day, exclusively available at participating independent record stores. That's why he's opening at 8 a.m. on a Saturday. He anticipates about 225 people lined up at his doors that morning, eagerly waiting for LeAnnais to unlock Dearborn Music. He says that on the eve of last year's Record Store Day, one especially fanatic record collector began waiting outside the shop at 9 p.m., the moment the record store locked its doors for the night.
"Record Store Day is for independent record stores. It's to remind people that we're still here and that music is our top priority," says LeAnnais. "Think about going to your local record store and buying music instead of downloading it."
In addition to selling the limited edition Record Store Day releases, Dearborn Music is also offering 20 percent off all vinyl, including new, used, and RSD records, and 20 percent off all used CDs as part of the celebration.
Over on the east end of downtown Dearborn, a second record store is also throwing a party, although not in the context of the official Record Store Day event. Operating out of its still relatively new storefront, Stormy Records is planning on its version of Record Store Day.
While it may not offer the official RSD limited edition releases, Stormy will be debuting the personal record collection of a friend. The collection includes roughly 1,500 record albums and 2,000 45s. Store owner Windy Weber says the records are in pristine condition, consisting mostly of 1990s- and early 2000s-era Detroit garage rock, girl groups, noise rock, and experimental records. Chris Tyson will also be DJing from 2 to 4 p.m.
"We want people to come in and have a relaxing and enjoyable day with music," says Weber. "No fighting and no biting."
Record Store Day 2017 is Saturday, April 22.
Dearborn Music is located at 22501 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. Special RSD hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Stormy Records is located at 13306 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. Hours of operation will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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