It's that time of year, when the third Saturday of April rolls around and record shops prepare for long lines of vinyl fanatics, both old and new, brave the brisk spring morning for rare and exclusive vinyl.
Record Store Day is a worldwide event that brings record store staff, customers, and artists together in a celebration of the music community. Exclusive releases, giveaways, and in store performances fill up record stores for what is usually their biggest day of the year.
Over the course of the last few years, the event has experienced some backlash, mostly for it's overpriced reissues of easy to find dollar bin items. Some of the stores even joke about the overabundance of unnecessary releases and silly novelties. However, RSD's beginnings and intentions are still incredibly important and can be still found, particularly while waiting in line and meeting people who share the same passion.
If you want to roam around Chicago and the surrounding areas and support record stores by picking up new music, meeting other music diehards, and listening to some free live music, we have you covered. Listed below are some great stores that will be having events this Saturday April 16th. Not all the stores and events listed below are Record Store Day pledged, but they all are striving to bring people together to celebrate. You can check out the
full list Illinois stores here and if you want to see what releases a few of the 3CR staff are hoping to get,
check out our wishlist.
606 Records - 1808 S. Allport - 312-585-6108 -
@606records
606 Records will open at 10am, a littler earlier than usual, to celebrate RSD with giveaways and in-store DJs all day till they close at 10pm. The DJ lineup is listed below.
- Cody Hudson (Struggle Inc)
- Leja Hazer (Hesperian Sound Division)
- Senor Eddy ((((Sonorama))))
- Chicago Jim (Lobster Theremin)
- Special Guest DJ (Terry Radio)
- HIDE (Midwich)
- Alex Barnett (Midwich)
- MAGAS (Midwich)
Audio Archaeology - 1324 W Devon Ave. - 773-856-3472
Audio Archaeology will be open from 9am to 8pm for RSD goodness.
Beverly Records - 11612 S. Western Ave. - 773-779-0066 -
@BeverlyRecords
Beverly Records will be enjoying RSD in two fun ways. The store itself will open at 8am and will have the exclusive RSD releases. The at 11am, Beverly Records will take over Cullinan's Stadium Club, the tavern right next door, for
Record Fair II, where LPs will be on sale for $2.00 and 45s will be a quarter a piece. There will be special guests throughout the day and a vinyl only DJ spinning wax.
Borderline - 5351 N. Clark St. - 773-728-6582
Record Store Day for
Borderline starts bright and early at 9am.
Bric-A-Brac Records & Collectibles - 3156 W Diversey Ave - 773-654-3915 -
@bricabracrcords
Bric-A-Brac will join in on "
physical media and over-priced repackage jobs" celebration starting at 8am! There will be coffee and donuts from Wormhole and Donut Vault in the early hours and pizza from Dimo's later on in the day. They will have prints from Dead Meat Design for sale and bands playing throughout the day. Set times are TBD, but the lineup is available below.
- The Lisa Louise Squeeze (Lisa from the Dyes)
- Bruised
- Strange Relations (MPLS)
- Ovef Ow
- KO
- Bleach Party
- THING (TN)
Bucket O' Blood Books and Records - 3182 N Elston Ave. - 312.890.3860 -
@bucketoblood
Bucket O' Blood have turned this year's
RSD into an election themed event, so the voting for vinyl starting at 10am!
Cafe Mustache - 2313 N Milwaukee Ave. - @cafemustache
No RSD exclusives, but they will be holding the Deadbeat album release show at 9pm
Dave's Records - 2604 N. Clark St. - 773-929-6325 -
@davesrecordschi
Dave's usually opens up quite earlier than the usual announced time, making for a nice long line. Last year the first people in line arrived at 10pm the previous evening. So arrive early, get one of the exclusive posters that the store gets made for RSD, and don't forget
Dave's Golden Rules
Dusty Groove Records - 1120 N. Ashland Ave. - 773-342-5800 -
@DustyGroove
Dusty Groove's
Record Store Day will run from 8am to 9pm and feature some magic in the afternoon, giveaways, refreshments and a chance to spin the wheel of fortune with every purchase.
Empty Bottle - 1035 N. Western Ave. - 773-276-3600 -
@theemptybottle
Empty Bottle will be doing Record Store Day big with their
2nd Annual Hand Over Fist Release Party and Record Store Day Showcase. Things will start off at 12pm with a "Women in Music" discussion moderated Vocalo's own, Jill Hopkins-Olewnik. They will have tons of Hand Over Fist, the collaboration beer from Reckless Records and Revolution Brewery. Bring your Reckless Record receipt to get $4 Hand Over Fist pints all day! There will also pop-up shops from
Dumpster Tapes and
HoZac Records, who will be spinning all femme sets between a great lineup of bands.
Friends of the Ribbon: Record Store Day Pop-Up
Pabst Blue Ribbon and Feeltrip Records will be presenting a pair of pop-up stores around town. Both events start at noon and will feature PBR Raffle Prizes.
Boiler Room
Parts and Labor - 2700 n Milwaukee
- 12pm - 4pm DJ sets by Feeltrip Records artists
Funk Trunk Records - 6960 N. Sheridan Rd. Suite A - 773-654-1666
Gramaphone Records - 2843 N. Clark St. - 773-472-3683
@gramaphonechi
Gramaphone Records is teaming up with Northside '82 to celebrate this year's Record Store Day, releasing Smart Bar's in-house label's third title, Chrissy & Hawley's "The Photobooth." Smart Bar resident deejays and Gramaphone staffers will be DJ all day long. You can also get free Gramaphone slipmat with purchase while supplies last.
Groovin' High - 1047 W. Belmont Ave. - 773-476-6846
The one time of year that Groovin' High is definitely open is on Record Store Day so don't miss out on this pretty great shop.
Hyde Park Records - 1377 E. 53rd St. - 773-288-6588 -
@hydprkrcrds
It's the
spring edition of Soul Reunion at Hyde Park Records.
It starts at 12pm and you have a whole day a dancing and music thanks to the Thursday Night Dusties Party DJs from WHPK 88,5 FM (Andy, PJ Willis, Ray, The Duke of Earl and Gary Tyson).
KStarke Records - 1109 N. Western Ave - 773-772-4880 -
@Kstarke_Records
KStarke will be starting their RSD at 10am with a long list of releases, DJs, hip hop MCs, and free food and drinks. Seriously, it's going to be a huge amount of DJs, just look below
- Alex Gonzalez
- Tone B. Nimble
- Tim Zawada
- Marlow Baca
- Jarvis Mason
- Jordan Zawideh
- Specter
- Dan Aloney
- Genna Fitch
- Jerome Derradji
- Mark zender
- Nagel Lopez
- Jackmaster Hater
- Hip Hop Performance by MZSaigon aka Michelle Manifesto and Erik Oner
Laurie's Planet of Sound - 4639 N. Lincoln Ave. - 773-271-3569 -
@lauriespos
Laurie's Planet of Sounds will get their RSD started at 9am.
- 12 noon: Ungnomes
- 1pm: Phil Angotti & Friends perform Bee Gee's 1st
- 2pm: Tommi Zender & Friends perform songs of Aimee Mann & Michael Penn
- 3pm: Sweet Figurines performing the music of David Bowie
- 4pm: The Handcuffs
- 6pm: Canadian Rifle
Logan Hardware - 2532 W Fullerton Ave - 773-235-5030 -
@loganhardware
Come for RSD, stay for the arcade in the back.
Mile Long Records - 350 W. Front Street, Wheaton - 630-474-4954 -
@mile_long
Mile Long Records will be opening its door to the Recor Store Day masses at 10 am.
The Music Experience -
1959 1/2 E 73rd St -
773-493-0154
In addition to the usual RSD fare, The Music Experience will be hosting
Terisa Griffin. She will be releasing her latest single, "Save Me", and signing CDs from 1:30 to 3:00pm.
Numero Group Pop Up @ Comfort Station Logan Square - 2579 N Milwaukee Ave -
@numerogroup
Numero Group will be selling their catalog and deeply discounted prices at their Pop-Up starting at 10am. They will have an exclusive
cassette featuring the earliest recordings from the original torchbearers of Chicago’s rap underground. They will also have copies of Rick Altergott’s Los Alamos Grind! as a tract comic, free with any purchase.
Permanent Records - 1914 W. Chicago Ave. - 773-278-1744 -
@PermanentRex
RSD festivities begin at 8am, with coffee by Dark Matter Coffee and afternoon snacks provided by Roots Pizza.
Permanent Records will also have a great lineup of live acts starting in the mid afternoon.
- Ryley Walker
- Hydrofoil
- Jim Becker
Pinwheel Records - 1722 W. 18th St. -
@PinwheelRecords
Pinwheel Records will open their doors at 10am for their first RSD and it will be a big with an amazing lineup of live music starting at 2pm.
- Melkbelly
- Oshwa
- BE.water
- Campdogzz
- Jude Shuma
- brontosaurus
- Vagabond Maurice
- Milked
- Jesse W. Johnson & the Coyote Scream
- Bill MacKay
Purple Dog Records - 329 N Center St., Naperville -
@PurpleDogRecord
On top of all the fun Record Store Day releases and great specials on everything else starting at 10am, Purple Dog Records will be teaming up with
Local Chaos to present the 2nd Annual "Eat, Drink, Buy Records". Live music will be going on right next door at Orazio Pub.
Raffe's Record Riot - 4350 N. Cicero - 773-725-1327 -
@RaffesRecrdRiot
Raffe's Record Riot will open up at 10am with plenty of RSD exclusives. Plus you can get a free record or CD with purchase!
Reckless Records - (Various) -
@RecklessRecords
All the Reckless locations will open at their usual time 10am for Record Store Day.
Bring your Reckless Record receipt to Empty Bottle that day and get $4 Hand Over Fist pints.
26 E. Madison
- No instore performances, just lots and lots of vinyl
1379 N Milwaukee Ave.
3126 N. Broadway
- 11am-1pm Jump over to Dryhop across the street for a meat and greet with Butch Vig & Steve Marker from Smart Studios
- 2pm - Mako Sica
- 3pm - New Candy Store Prophets (PLAYING THE MONKEES "HEADQUARTERS")
- 4pm - Savage Beliefs (legendary Chicago punks)
Record Breakers (above Reggie's Rock Club) - 2109 S. State St. - 312-949-0125 -
@reggieslive
RSD at Record Breakers will be begin at 8am with tons of vinyl and free hotdogs and pop throughout the day. The event will be hosted by two great breweries Great LAkes Brewing and New Belgium. They will also have live music starting at 10am and you can check out the lineup and set times below.
- 10:00 - Damien Wilburn (of The Blind Staggers)
- 10:30 - Flake Michigan (Sergio of Black Bear/Brown Bear)
- 11:00 - Daymaker.
- 11:45 - Magicks
- 12:30 - Budway Ferris and the Mutual Magic
- 1:15 - Mitch Mead
- 2:00 - soft candy
- 2:45 - Sheep Numbers
- 3:30 - So Pretty
- 4:15 - Ego
saki - 3716 W. Fullerton Ave. - 773-486-3997 -
@sakistore
saki opens up at 9am for RSD festivities which include a great lineup of music and DJ sets during the day by the
Wyler Road and CTD distro staff. The saki DJs will keep the tunes rolling over at
The Burlington after 10pm as well. You can see what they'll have in stock for RSD
here as they update it.
Shake, Rattle & Read - 4812 N. Broadway Ave. - 773-334-5311
Unfortunately this is the last year of Shake Rattle and Read as they will be closing on
May 21st. While they won't be carrying exclusive RSD titles, they will be offering some fantastic deals. New LPs will be 25% off while everything else will be 50% off.
Shuga Records -
1272 N. Milwaukee Ave. - @Shuga_Records
Opening at 8am, Shuga will be giving away an exclusive Shuga Records+Bangers and Lace pint glass and a drink ticket for any Dogfish Head beer at Bangers to the first 100 people (21+ of course) in line. There will also be some Dark Matter Coffee, "Cinnamon Shuga" Doughnuts, and a nice lineup of live music.
Squeezebox Books and Music - 1235 Chicago Ave., Evanston - 847-943-9309
Squeezebox will be opening at 10am on RSD, but they will have a sale that starts Friday with 20% off new and used vinyl. The discount only applies to non-RSD titles.
Val's Halla Records - 239 Harrison St, Oak Park - 708-524-1004 -
@ValshallaRecord
Val's Halla Records will open at 9am with a day full of vinyl, sales, free donuts and coffee, and great in store performances.
Vintage Vinyl - 925 Davis St., Evanston - 847-328-2899 -
@VVMOEvanston