Record Store Day – Southsea
Another year and time for another Record Store Day at Castle Road, Southsea, in conjunction with the lovely folk at Pie & Vinyl.
Independent record stores across the country joined together to support the music industry, providing music fans with exclusive releases. Having first launched in the US and now in its 10th anniversary, RSD17 took place in sunny Portsmouth for the 4th year running.
Since the launch of our little independent Record Café, I’ve noticed how Record Store Day has evolved in recent years. During my first experience of RSD there seemed to be a lot more focus on recordings specifically made for the occasion, special musical collaborations or unusual pressings.
While this was still the case last year, the corporate world cashing in seemed to become more obvious. With the untimely passing of legends such as David Bowie and Prince, it was always inevitable that the death of such cult figures would bring with it labels cashing in.
Record Store Day, Castle Road, Southsea
This year in the press however, I noticed a rise in the artists themselves asking fans to boycott the numerous re-releases of their work. Largely due to either not having a say in the matter, or disputes with upper management.
All this negativity may well have a point, but as the name suggests, this annual event is actually about celebrating the Record Store itself – rather than necessarily the labels or musicians. The majority of music lovers of course appreciate all the politics that come with it, choosing whether or not to part company with our pennies, in exchange for rare collectables.
I can’t speak for elsewhere in the country, but in Southsea Record Store Day is much more than the event itself and thrives on giving back to the community. Local traders and artists come together in Castle Road to provide a pop-up market place, while like-minded individuals gather in unison, bonding over a passion for live music.
Is Bliss
We were treated to a midday performance from singer-songwriter Emily Barker, her beautiful acoustic songs drifting through the crowd. I missed the majority of Plastic Mermaids and the vocals during Blaenavon may have been slightly lost in the mix, but this didn’t affect the numbers lining the street to watch.
The mid-afternoon slot fell to Idles, who having been the much-hyped band of the day certainly lived up to expectations. Even being a lot nosier and chaotic than the previous bands, it was clear they had gone down well among the varied audience.
While the Magic Gang also put in a great set, it was Is Bliss that were to be a fairly new discovery. Sound levels were much stronger than earlier, helping to showcase how good these guys are live, as they went on to be the penultimate act for the day.
DJ’s continued to spin some more commercial tunes to keep the revellers dancing, as Highlights of Our Modern World pottered about the stage getting his one-man set up ready. Things may have been running late, but the electronic beats and live guitar finally provided the perfect backdrop to bring another successful day to a close.
Highlights of Our Modern World
If you wish to order vinyl records online, Pie & Vinyl Online is an independent online record store run by the friendly folk at Pie & Vinyl in Southsea.
