Record Store Day
Saturday 16th April is World Record Store Day. By all accounts, we need a full day to highlight how this business, pretty much collapsed in the last few years. Legends such as: Road Records in Dublin, Synthetic Records, Vinyl Room, and the much loved Comet in Cork have all closed down. The small independent music retailers didn’t stand a chance against the might of iTunes, Limewire downloads, streams and a host of other internet thingies. Even the big ones – HMV and Tower Records are contracting in Ireland and in these stores they now sell more Jedward posters and T-shirts than music.
In Cork there is HOPE – PLUGD RECORDS who have been connected with Triskel Arts Centre (left) in the past are moving into the refurbished building on Tobin Street and will be open for Record Store Day on the 16th. Congratulations to the genius who was responsible for this creative piece of matchmaking: an Art Centre and a Record Shop. We need more similar partnerships.
Christchurch the adjacent premises will also be officially open by then. There is definitely hope.
Find out more HERE
Good Plug John (ha ha).
Seriously, what it thrill it used to be to come to Cork to buy a record. I still remember buying the first Clash single in Pat Egan’s record shop in Pana and almost running to the train to get home to play it. Long gone, that shop, with many others.
Now it’s too easy online and not as much fun to buy music & listen to it. Like a lot of other things maybe: too easy and not as much fun. Sigh.