Record Store Day in the Twin Cities

record store day, minneapolis, twin cities
Photo by rgvc – fotolia

Record Store Day (RSD) will be celebrated around the globe Saturday, April 16. Whether you’re a vinyl collector or looking for a taste of local live music, record stores around the Twin Cities will be blasting beats, featuring the best sales, and partnering with local eats to celebrate the holiday (yes—RSD an actual holiday!). And, of course, you can pick up new albums for your ever-growing collection. Here are a few highlights of the weekend:

Barely Brothers Records in St. Paul will feature live music from multiple genres throughout the day, including jazz and blues.

Eclipse Records will probably be the only store to (possibly) have a petting zoo. Live music will start at 10 a.m. and end at 7 p.m.

Electric Fetus has partnered with Dangerous Man Brewing Co., Peace Coffee, Glam Doll Donuts, Intelligentsia Coffee, Natedogs, Chef Shack, and Whistler Soda’s Bubble Boy Soda Fountain. In-store live performances start at 10:30 a.m., and the last starts at 4:30 p.m.

Fifth Element, the official store for Rhymesayers, will have exclusive RSD sales for the hip-hop record label, as well as other exclusive releases and performances. 

It’s the first RSD for Flashlight Vinyl, which opened its doors in February, so they’re extending the party by staying open 36 continuous hours (Saturday at 8 a.m. to Sunday at 8 p.m.), and will host live performances on both days. The morning crowd will be awarded with free coffee and Bogart’s Doughnuts.

As usual, Hymie’s Vintage Records will showcase live performances on two stages throughout the day, starting at 11 a.m. until close. If you get there early enough, you may be able to snag the “Live at Hymie’s LP Compilation,” featuring twelve tracks of live recordings from the store.

Treehouse Records may not be bringing out all the bells and whistles, but they’re a shop worth visiting, especially on RSD, for exclusive selections. For new collectors, this is a good place to start.

There are many more RSD events in the metro this weekend, uniting those who cherish the classic sounds of spinning vinyl. Check out the list of participating stores at the official RSD website for more locations.