This Saturday, April 20, independent record stores the world over will celebrate the sixth annual Record Store Day — autonomous record shops' answer to the Hallmark holiday. This year's official Record Store Day ambassador — a figurehead position if ever there was one, but still an honor — is Nashville's own Jack White, with The White Stripes' Elephant reissue among the droves of special RSD releases. Read below to see how Nashville's officially participating Record Store Day venues will celebrate the festivities, and see our list of some Nashvillian and Nashville-related special releases.
Ernest Tubb
417 Broadway; 9 a.m.-midnight
The historic Lower Broad shop will feature special Record Store Day releases from Eric Church, Elizabeth Cook and Jason Isbell, Justin Townes Earle, Sarah Jarosz, Avett Brothers and Randy Travis, Mumford & Sons, Willie Nelson, Old 97s and Waylon Jennings, Charlie Poole, and Yonder Mountain String Band. In addition, Bear Family Records box sets will be on sale for 15 percent off. There will be performances from onetime Tubb bandmate Leon Rhodes as well as Anita Stapleton (performances take place from 3 until 6 p.m.).
Fond Object
1313 McGavock Pike; 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Owned and operated by local rock 'n' rollers The Ettes and friends (see story here), East Side boutique more-than-just-records record shop Fond Object celebrates its grand opening with performances from JP5, Cheap Time, Promised Land and JP Harris and the Tough Choices, plus DJ sets from Sparkle City and special guests. There will be food from Mish Mosh and Tino D's Hot Dogs, and alcohol from Whisper Creek and Brooklyn Brewery, plus jewelry, art, clothing and more. Fond Object will carry Record Store Day special releases, and also appearing will be Dottie the shop pig.
The Great Escape
5400 Charlotte Ave.; 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
All used music on all formats will be 20 percent off, as will supplies including sleeves and record-cleaning materials. The Great Escape's location on Charlotte Avenue — along with their locations in Madison, Bowling Green and Louisville — will carry a variety of special Record Store Day releases.
Grimey's
1604 Eighth Ave. S.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Nashville's flagship indie record shop — as well as its recently opened annex, Grimey's Too — will host a multitude of local artists between roughly 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.: several DJ sets; Poplar Grove Middle School Ensemble performing selections from Beck's Song Reader sheet music collection; Daniel Bachman; Paramore (who plays for 15 minutes, followed by a 45-minute autograph signing); Alanna Royale; Josh Rouse; PUJOL; Hotpipes; and The Features. Grimey's will carry a plethora of Record Store Day special releases — including 300 copies of Paramore's die-cut 7-inch vinyl The Holiday Sessions — as well as marked-down CDs and vinyl. Also on hand will be the Smoke Et Al food truck and the folks from the erstwhile Jimmy Carl's Lunch Box.
The Groove
1103 Calvin Ave.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
This East Side record shop will carry many Record Store Day releases, with all non-RSD releases marked at 15 percent off. The store will see performances from DeRobert and the Half-Truths, Tristen, Forget Cassettes, Cooper, Penicillin Baby, Western Medication and Chrome Pony, plus DJ sets from Derek Hoke, Chris Crofton and more. Sam Fogarino of Interpol and Duane Denison of The Jesus Lizard and Tomahawk will participate in a meet-and-greet in celebration of their brand-new release as Empty Mansions. Plus adult beverages, pop-up shops from GED Soul Records, Jeffery Drag Records, Tucker and Bloom and more, and food from Mas Tacos Por Favor and more.
Third Man Records
623 Seventh Ave. S.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Even though much of the Third Man crew is out West celebrating Record Store Day with a pop-up shop at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs, Calif., Jack White's Nashville storefront will host a performance from Karen Elson with Fats Kaplin, as well as Mark Watrous and DJ sets from Jemina Pearl. They'll be peddling new TMR merch and the second volume in their Document Records reissues series, and unveiling their new make-your-own-record booth. Local vendors will include Hot Diggity Dogs, Fat Bottom Brewing Company, Bang Candy and Las Paletas.
Nashvillian and Nashville-related Record Store Day special releases
Alanna Royale, "Everybody Now!" 7-inch (each 7-inch cover features one of 100 different original art works by 20 local artists)
Chet Atkins, Black Jack EP 7-inch
The Band, The Last Waltz triple 12-inch (reissue)
Brendan Benson, "Diamond" b/w "Good to Me" 7-inch
Big Star, Nothing Can Hurt Me special-pressing double 12-inch
The Black Keys/The Stooges, Side by Side: No Fun 7-inch split
Bombino, "Azamane Tiliade" b/w "Si Chilan" 7-inch (produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach)
Eric Church, Caught in the Act live 12-inch (comes with a "whiskey-infused" 7-inch bonus single)
Elizabeth Cook and Jason Isbell, "Tecumseh Valley" b/w "Pancho and Lefty" 7-inch
Coupler, Sunless 12-inch
Bob Dylan, "Wigwam" b/w "Thirsty Boots" 7-inch (two previously unreleased recordings from the Self Portrait sessions)
Justin Townes Earle, Yuma 10-inch
Hanni El Khatib, "Skinny Little Girl" b/w "Pay No Mind" (produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach)
Alejandro Escovedo/Chris Scruggs, "It's a Sin" b/w "Just A Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way)" split 10-inch
Waylon Jennings/Old 97s, Old 97s/Waylon Jennings split double 7-inch
Los Straitjackets and Freddy Cannon, "The Sox R Rockin' " b/w "Red Sox Nation" 7-inch
Willy Mason/Brendan Benson, Upstairs at United Vol.7 12-inch EP
Willie Nelson, "Roll Me up and Smoke Me When I Die" 7-inch
Willie Nelson, Crazy: The Demo Sessions 12-inch
Nudity, "Supernatty" b/w "Oh Yeah" 7-inch
PUJOL, Deep Cuts 7-inch
Josh Rouse, "Julie (Come out of the Rain)" 7-inch
Richard Thompson, "Salford Sunday" 7-inch (25 copies will be signed by Thompson on the B side and distributed randomly)
Randy Travis/Avett Brothers, Music From CMT Crossroads 7-inch
Sharon Van Etten, "We Are Fine" b/w "Hotel 2 Tango" 7-inch
The White Stripes, Elephant 12-inch (10th anniversary reissue)
Email Music@nashvillescene.com.
