First and last moments for Inverness Record Store Day
by Margaret Chrystall
SATURDAY’s Record Store Day in Inverness is being celebrated by independent record shop Union Vinyl for the first time, while the Victorian Market’s Imperial Music sadly holds its closing down sale.
The eighth year of the global event sees independent record shops hosting live performances and selling special limited edition vinyl records exclusive to independent record shops.
The doors will open at 8am at Union Vinyl with owner Nigel Graham expecting queues from the early hours as fans try to get some of the exclusive releases that will be on sale.
There will also be performances by two local musicians – Dr Wook and Iain McLaughlin - from noon.
Nigel Graham, said: "I am really looking forward to Record Store Day as it will be my first one.
"Being a vinyl collector myself it is good to see that this day exists. Grabbing a limited edition is still a buzz – but at least now I don’t have to stand in the cold!"
A regular supporter of Record Store Day in the past, Mark Stumbles opened Imperial Music, selling new and used vinyl and CDs, in the Victorian Market six years ago.
But last month he announced that the shop would close at the end of April.
Then, he said, he believed a mixture of online shopping and a lack of footfall in the market was behind a big falling-off of trade.
In previous years, Mark had been an enthusiastic host of Record Store Day, ordering the special releases put out by musicians and bands plus hosting live performances by local musicians in the shop.
But on the shop’s website earlier this week, he wrote: "We will not be offering the record store day experience this year, due to the considerable financial commitment it requires and the poor trade we have recently experienced. Imperial Music will close at the end of April."
On Twitter, Mark commented: "This is my first and last tweet on #RSD15. Imperial is withdrawing from the event but WILL be open on the day for our closing down sale."
Nigel Graham opened Unioin Vinyl on May 1 last year after 30 years of collecting vinyl, finally having enough to open a shop.
Union Vinyl is a vinyl-only store that stocks mostly second-hand quality vinyl with a mixture of new releases. An acoustic session is held there once a month.
For a full list of Record Store Day’s exclusive releases on the website: www.recordstoreday.co.uk
