Ten free concerts in one day.

That’s just part of what’s happening, locally, when the seventh Record Store Day is held around the nation Saturday. Amy Allen, Ghost of Paul Revere and North of Nashville are among the local bands doing free shows in Maine stores.

But Record Store Day will also feature some 450 special releases, being sold around the country in honor of the day. There will be re-issues, special box sets and vinyl picture discs.

Browsing the special releases on Saturday one might find a vinyl re-issue of Joan Baez’s 1971 album “Blessed Are,” a glow-in-the-dark vinyl edition of the “Ghostbusters” movie theme by Ray Parker Jr., or a 10-inch vinyl record featuring previously unreleased Hank Williams songs from a 1950 radio show.

But the live shows are really what makes Record Store Day more than just an excuse to shop.

“Without the shows, it would be Record Store Morning. Everybody would come out and buy the special releases, and be done,” said Chris Brown, head of marketing for the Maine-based Bull Moose music store chain. “To me, that’s what really makes it a holiday.”

Record Store Day is a celebration of independent record stores, as well as the folks who cherish them as local institutions. It’s been celebrated around the country since 2008, and this year more than 1,000 are expected to participate.

Brown was one of the originators of the idea, suggesting the idea to a group of record store owners. In Maine, Bull Moose is a cornerstone of Record Store Day, and the only store that has listed live performances on the Record Store Day website.

But that doesn’t mean some shows won’t pop up at the last minute, so if you have a favorite record store in your neighborhood, give them a call, just in case.

“The live events are the last things to be scheduled,” said Carrie Colliton, a Record Store Day co-founder who helps manage the annual event nationwide. “It’s always exciting to see what the stores come up with for acts.”

Colliton knew of only a couple other stores in other states that have 10 or more acts during the day Saturday, as Bull Moose does, including ones in Nashville and Atlanta.

Some of the best-known acts scheduled to play Record Store Day shows this year include Robert Trujillo of Metallica (in Baltimore), Drive By Truckers (in Denver) and Eric Burdon of the Animals (in Miami).

“I don’t really like to compare the stores … every one of them throws a terrific party for their community and customers,” Colliton said.

Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at:

rrouthier@pressherald.com

Twitter: RayRouthier

 

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