Guide to Record Store Day 2011

Once again, it’s time for Record Store Day, when more than 700 independently owned U.S. record stores and 100 international stores celebrate music by offering exclusive tunes not available in chain stores. It falls on Saturday, April 16, and several local stores will transform their parking lots into mini music festivals, with bands playing all day long.

Graywhale co-owner Dustin Hansen says Record Store Day brings an awareness that record stores still exist. “A few years back, everyone talked about the death of the record store and about how the industry would collapse,” he says. “That’s partially true across the country, but there are still a lot of independent, locally owned stores succeeding, making money, being happy and still providing product for people.”

Slowtrain Records owner Anna Brozek is grateful the store has been able to keep its doors open for the past 4 1/2 years. She hopes to see a lot of faces, old and new, hanging out on Record Store Day. “Even if you are broke and don’t have money to spend,” she says, “just come and hang out and remember why record stores are important to local communities.”

For a complete list of Record Store Day-related limited releases, check out RecordStoreDay.com or visit one of these local independent record stores:
Slowtrain Records, 221 E. Broadway, 801-364-2611
Slowtrain will be selling more than 300 exclusive releases. For customers who arrive early, Slowtrain will serve Nobrow coffee. At 10 a.m., Brenda from Boobiliboo will provide children’s entertainment. Then, bands including American Shakes, Plastic Furs and more will entertain the crowd on the main stage in the parking lot. Slowtrain will serve beer from Bohemian Brewery and will have booths set up with crafters from Craft Lake City.