Exclusive
Saturday marks Record Store Day, an annual celebration of independent record shops. Since 2008, record stores across the nation have typically commemorated the day by stocking limited-edition vinyl and CDs. Vinyl enthusiasts and superfans start lining up hours before doors open — sometimes as early as 3 a.m., Beverly Records owner Randy Dreznes said.
Some shops will also go the extra mile to provide free coffee for customers in line, host live music and plan other celebrations. South Side record store Beverly Records, 11612 S. Western Ave., will be throwing a festival in the parking lot, where three local bands will take to the stage for live shows.
“People line up down the street,” Dreznes said. “It’s a day-long party.”
And that’s just one of them. There are dozens more with exclusive releases, in-store deals, freebies, live music and more.
Here are 31 shops celebrating Record Store Day around Chicago:
606 Records, 1808 S. Allport Ave.
Pilsen shop 606 Records is celebrating 10 a.m.-7 p.m. with exclusive Record Store Day titles and sales, including two-for-$1 deals on vinyl. There will also be free coffee from neighborhood coffee shop Everybody’s Busy.
Learn more here.
Beverly Phono Mart, 1808 W. 103rd St.
Husband-and-wife record store Beverly Phono Mart will be open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The shop will offer a selection of exclusive titles, restocked new and used inventory and 20 percent off in-store Beverly Phono Mart merch.
There will also be a lineup of all vinyl DJs from noon-6 p.m. and Beverly Dry Goods, a neighboring non-alcoholic bottle shop, will be offering tastings of hemp-infused drinks from noon-3 p.m.
Beverly Records, 11612 S. Western Ave.
Beverly Records will sell new and limited-edition records 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. There will also be an afternoon festival in the parking lot with three local bands: M & R Rush, The Bourbon Belts and The Secret Four with Willie Buck. In honor of 4/20, Be. Blue Island dispensary will also be in store to talk about the new shop.
Learn more here.
Bob’s Blues & Jazz Mart, 3419 W. Irving Park Road
Bric-a-Brac Records, 2845 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Bric-a-Brac Records will be open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and is stocking up on more than 100 Record Store Day titles. After a morning dedicated to shopping, a lineup of local and touring bands will kick off performances at noon. Helicopter Leaves, 7K, Ineffectuals, Problems, Cruelster, Tension Pets and Cel Rey will take to the stage through the day. There will also be a pop-up for Latin food pop-up by Omarcitos with vegan, vegetarian and meat options.
Bucket O’ Blood Books & Records, 3182 N. Elston Ave.
Alongside exclusive Record Store Day titles, Bucket O’ Blood will have themed swag for the first few customers, a general sale and marked down vinyl from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Keeping with tradition, the shop is also hosting a “Let’s Get Physical” party at noon, which is ’80s jazzercise-themed — and customers are welcome to dress the part. There will be complimentary beverages from Pabst Blue Ribbon and Maplewood Brewing, free hot dogs and veggie dogs, ’80s jams all day long and Riot Fest ticket giveaways.
Learn more here.
Dusty Groove, 1120 N. Ashland Ave.
Dusty Groove will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. with nearly 250 Record Store Day exclusives (limited to one title per customer). Customers can print out order forms and bring them to the shop or fill them out in store. Customers can browse remaining goodies freely “later in the day, when the line subsides.”
There will also be free toys for kids, a free “Wheel of Fortune” spin, donut holes and snacks, coffee and live magic in the morning.
Learn more and find the order form here.
Gramaphone Records, 2843 N. Clark St.
Gramaphone Records, known for its focus on electronic music, will be open noon-6 p.m. and offer official and unofficial Record Store Day vinyl. There will also be an in-store event with Posthuman and Viva Acid.
Graveface Records & Curiosities, 1829 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Bucktown’s Graveface Records & Curiosities will be open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. with exclusive Record Store Day stock and a “huge” drop off used inventory “we’ve been saving,” the shop said.
Learn more here.
Groovin’ High, 1047 W. Belmont Ave.
Groovin’ High in Lakeview will be open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. with special Record Store Day drops and deals.
House of Music, 1637 E. 87th St.
South Side retail music store House of Music will be open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The shop won’t have official Record Store Day titles but will likely have in-store specials on vinyl.
Interstellar Space Records, 2022 W. Montrose Ave.
Interstellar Space Records will open noon-6 p.m. and offer a 15% off in-store sale.
Laurie’s Planet of Sound, 4639 N. Lincoln Ave.
Laurie’s Planet of Sound will open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. with exclusive Record Store Day titles, which the shop will share on social media Friday. It will also put out rare and used records and exclusive XRT radio records, including radio station copies of 10 albums that will be hidden in used vinyl stacks.
Miyagi Records, 307 E. Garfield Blvd.
Miyagi Records in Washington Park will be open noon-7 p.m., offering 20% off the entire store, 50% off $5 records and an additional $10 for each $50 gift card purchased. Miyagi’s second DJ class will graduate this weekend, and students will be performing in store starting at 3 p.m.
Orbit Records, 7155 W. Grand Ave.
Orbit Records will offer special Record Store Day releases and in-store from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sales include 15% off all used LPs, 10 Quarter 45s for $1, two LPs for $1 and three CDs for $1. There will also be pastries, coffee and live entertainment from DJ Jivan’ Ivan, who will be playing early jazz, jump blues, R&B and more. In-store deals will also extend through Sunday.
Learn more here.
Out of the Past Records, 4407 W. Madison St.
Family-owned used record store Out of the Past will be open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. While the West Side shop won’t have exclusive Record Store Day titles, it’s still celebrating with these in-store sales: 10% off used vinyl, $5 off new vinyl and dollar bins for CDs and records.
Pinwheel Records, 1722 W. 18th St.
Pinwheel Records will be open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and offer select Record Store Day titles. Customers waiting in line in the morning can enjoy free coffee and a grab-and-go menu from Pochos, a neighboring brunch spot. In Pinwheel tradition, owner Scott Schaff will also have cookies made by his mom for customers.
Local band The Aluminum Group will also be performing at 1 p.m. and have custom, Pinwheel-exclusive artwork for customers who purchase “Happyness” or their self-titled LP. Other festivities include a raffle for prizes like Riot Fest tickets.
Learn more here.
Rattleback Records, 5405 N. Clark St.
Rattleback Records will have exclusive Record Store Day drops from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. People will likely start lining up outside around 6 a.m., the shop said. There will also be a limited number of posters by Chicago-based artist Oscar Joyo available with purchase.
Learn more here.
Reckless Records (Lakeview), 929 W. Belmont Ave.
Reckless Records on Belmont will be open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and have a large stock of Record Store Day titles. There will also be an in-store signing with The Magnetic Fields at 1 p.m. and a DJ set from Heart of Chicago Soul Club, an all-women vinyl club, at 2 p.m.
The store will also be holding a giveaway for Ravinia Festival music tickets, and the winner will get free tickets to their show of choice.
Reckless Records (Loop), 26 E. Madison St.
Reckless Records on Madison will be open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and have Record Store Day titles in limited quantities. The store will also host a raffle for Ravinia Festival music tickets, and the winner will get free tickets to their show of choice.
Reckless Records (Wicker Park), 1379 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Reckless Records on Milwaukee will be open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and have exclusive Record Store Day titles and archive records from XRT radio. There will also be free coffee from Metric Coffee and two DJ sets: International Anthem family Junius Paul, Will Miller and King Hippo will perform at 1:30 p.m. and DJ Scary Lady Sarah will perform at 3:30 p.m.
The store will also be holding a giveaway for Ravinia Festival music tickets. The winner will get free tickets to their show of choice.
Record Breakers, 2935 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Avondale’s Record Breakers will open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and offer a limited amount of exclusive Record Store Day titles. It will also have XRT radio-played records. Customers can also enjoy free coffee from Magnifico Coffee Roasters.
Four local bands will also kick off performances at noon: Bitcrush, My Sister, The Heron, Morgan Powers and Precocious Neophyte.
Learn more here.
Round Trip Records, 3455 W. Foster Ave.
Round Trip Records will be celebrating noon-8 p.m. with official Record Store Day releases and 10% off used vinyl all day. The North Side shop will also have coffee and donuts courtesy of Bru Coffeeworks.
Learn more here.
Shady Rest Vintage & Vinyl, 1659 S. Throop St.
Shady Rest Vintage & Vinyl will be open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Since it’s used bookstore, Shady won’t have official Record Store Day releases. But the shop will still celebrate DJs playing in-store all day, a new stock of several hundred “collector-worthy, rare” used records and a $2 sale on all budget records $6 and under. Everything else — including CDs, cassettes, audio components, books, lamps, photography equipment and more — will be 15% off.
Shuga Records (Logan Square), 3306 W. Armitage Ave.
Shuga Records on Armitage will have copies of all exclusive Record Store Day titles, plus Dark Matter coffee and donuts for people in line. The first few customers will also get freebies like posters. Store hours will be extended, although they aren’t set in stone yet. The shop is planning on opening around 8 or 9 a.m. and closing around 6 or 7 p.m.
Learn more here.
Shuga Records (Wicker Park), 1272 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Shuga Records on Milwaukee will open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. with exclusive Record Store Day titles, plus free coffee and donuts from Dark Matter Coffee while supplies last. Didjits guitarist and vocalist Rick Sims will be performing a DJ set and signing at 1 p.m., and five-piece Smut is up at 5 p.m.
Learn more here.
Signal Records (Logan Square), 3156 W. Diversey Ave.
Signal Records will be open noon-7 p.m. and offer 20 percent off all inventory.
Signal Records (Wicker Park), 1343 N. Ashland Ave.
Signal Records will be open noon-7 p.m. and offer 20 percent off all inventory.
The Exchange, 935 W. Belmont Ave.
Lakeview’s The Exchange will open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and be stocked with exclusive Record Store Day releases.
Tone Deaf Records, 4356 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Portage Park’s Tone Deaf Records will be open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and offer exclusive Record Store Day titles.
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