Hey y’all
This Saturday 16 April is Record Store Day! It’s a day of audiophile heaven with plenty of awesome stuff for those who aren’t.
I promise this post will not be a “Hey look! I have a record for sale today and every day” kind of post. Although, just once, a reminder that you can purchase my new album on vinyl or in digital form via brentonfoster.bandcamp.com.
This post is to celebrate the humble institution of local record stores. I had never fully realised their importance in our creative world until preparing this album for vinyl. Record shops are full of people that know music. They may not play a note, may sing awfully out of tune, hell, they might even be pre-disposed to clap on 1 and 3 (actually, that’s probably a step too far) but they are consistently some of the most ‘well-eared’ people I meet.
Aside from this, they’re also some of the most important architects in promoting and establishing the local music scene. They help to define community radio playlists, which in turn, helps to expand the local gig-scene. Record stores promote bands – their gigs, their new albums/singles/EPs, and the band itself. They offer encouragement from ‘the other side’ – that is, the non-musician side. As musicians, we can get caught up in the nitty-gritty of the music – record stores go with the feeling that the music creates. That’s what makes their enthusiasm, their “yeah!” feel so good.
Over the last few days, I’ve been touring Greater Melbourne, dropping by local record stores, chatting with their staff, emailing their owners and handing over copies of my album for them to sell. I want to personally thank many of Melbourne’s amazing record stores for stocking Two Cities and for caring enough to offer heartfelt encouragement. I do not know the owners/listening-experts of these stores personally; however, they were all so quick to offer me a place in their catalogue!
So, this Saturday 16 April, you can pick up a copy of my new record, Two Cities, from these fine purveyors of high-fidelity:
Wax Museum
Shop 2, Campbell Arcade
Degreaves St
MELBOURNE
Northside Records
236 Gertrude St
FITZROY
Alley Tunes
Shop 8
660 Glenferrie Rd
HAWTHORN
Greville Records
152 Greville St
PRAHRAN
Rathdowne Records
230 High St
NORTHCOTE
The Basement Discs
24 Block Place
MELBOURNE
Goldmine Records
369 Nicholson St
CARLTON NORTH
Vinyl Revival
405 Brunswick St
FITZROY
Nearly all of these stores have great line-ups of live music and/or DJs on the day.
Supporting your local record store helps the music industry thrive. We’re in an age of such amazing convenience that we can access almost the whole music universe on our phones. I’m guilty of neglecting physical stores too. But, honestly, these services hold little regard for local artists, venues and scenes.
SO GO OUT THIS SATURDAY 16 APRIL TO YOUR LOCAL RECORD STORE!!! You can buy my album, or anybody’s album! As well as having a great record to take home, you can also have the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped sustain your local music industry.
Again, if you’re keen to be a part of what I’m doing, I’d love to have you on board. Sign up to the mailing list here.
I’m determined to venture into my local record store more regularly.
Then to the one around the corner.
Brenton
