• Brandon Knapp
• Get thee to a record store

Happy Record Store Day to one and all. Below, you'll find ways that local stores are celebrating Saturday's music holiday, including live in-store shows, food and drink and of course, many many many records. You'll find a touching tribute to a local musician who tragically lost his life last year, but who is being celebrated by friends and family through the recording and pressing of a new record. You can read about Roy Griffth's Turntable Shoppe on Indy's Eastside. Check out an extended preview of this year's Gat3way event, a brand new collaborative record from the mind of J. Brookinz and his motley crew of hip-hop collaborators.

New to Record Store Day? Here's a giant list of all of the releases, for your listening and purchasing pleasure. The event was founded in 2007 to celebrate the more than 700 independently owned record stores in the USA and many more owned internationally. Iggy Pop is this year's official ambassador, and is, fittingly, reissuing an Iggy and the Stooges release.

Stores participating in Record Store Day must conform to certain specifications, roughly defined by the organization as "A stand alone brick and mortar retailer whose main primary business focuses on a physical store location, whose product line consists of at least 50% music retail, whose company is not publicly traded and whose ownership is at least 70% located in the state of operation."

Not up for the crowds? Stay in and watch classic record store movies like Empire Records and High Fidelity. But if you're brave enough to wade through the legions of collectors and general fans of good times that keep record stores packed on this musical holiday, you'll find lots to do.

LUNA Music

LUNA's Record Store Day celebration just keeps getting bigger. This year, they're bringing zillions of records, bands, brew, giveaways, tamales and even the front space in line. And it will take a lot of work.

"I'll probably get up around 4 a.m.," said LUNA Music owner Todd Robinson.

A one-day liquor license will be in effect, so Upland will be on hand with cold beverages to enhance your shopping experience. The shop is setting up a sidewalk sale, which will include loads of $1 vinyl records, CDs and other low-priced goodies. Free grab bags of samplers and other treats will be given out. Specialty LUNA merchandise will be available for the day. The ever-popular LUNA slipmats will be printed for the day with special ink.

"I'll have the coffee ready and get donuts from Taylor's for the first few people in line," said Robinson.

Performances begin at noon with the Indianapolis debut of Winslow. Slothpop vocalist Kristen Newport will debut her new project, KO at 1 p.m. Fans of her ethereal voice will undoubtedly be pleased. Auction fund recipient and new father Mike Adams will perform his project Mike Adams at His Honest Weight, which debuted to wildly popular acclaim last year on Flannelgraph Records, at 2 p.m. The day continues with Hen (3 p.m.), Sunni Sheets (4 p.m.,) and Ancient Slang (5 p.m.).

Joining the party is Laundromatinee, who will film throughout the day. Jolly Tamale has fresh, hot tamales made locally. Handmade Promenade features local artisan goods from 18 separate vendors, including The Thread House, Green Illuminations and Bebito. Mile 44 will be selling silk-screened show posters featuring local shows programmed in Indy in the last year.

Last week, LUNA held a lottery to give away the number one spot in line. That person will be the first in the door to check out the exclusive RSD releases. As a special gift to those who waited for something special, Robinson and the other LUNA employees have hidden signed posters and other Easter egg-style gifts inside of vinyl

"Richard [of Margot and the Nuclear So and So's] dropped off one of his last speciality white vinyl, and we're going to slip it into one their sleeves," said Robinson.

RSD opening time: 8 a.m.

Indy CD and Vinyl

Just around the corner of College Ave. and Broad Ripple Ave. is Indy CD and Vinyl, owned by Rick Ziegler.

The wildly popular Loyal Divide will perform at 1 p.m. The bluegrass boys in New Old Cavalry will take the stage at 2 p.m., followed by Brother Nature Band at 4 p.m.

Zach Molina, also known as DJ Crookshanks, spoke to me about what he's looking forward to in terms of Record Store Day releases.

"I want to get the Lana Del Rey 7''; there's new releases on that one. They have Taking Back Sunday 7'', which I think is kind of funny. I haven't heard of that many weird releases coming out like that this year," said Molina. "I'm most excited about Beach House."

"It's like Black Friday. People want to get the deals and there's limited amounts," said Mike Contreras, an Indy CD and Vinyl employee who is currently working on the solo project Shimmercore.

Any risk of trampling, I ask — making an Black Friday joke in very poor taste.

"Our customers haven't fought each other yet," said Contreras. "But we get angry phone calls, asking us to hold things, and we just can't. You have to be here physically to pick things up.

"'Oh, I got stuck in traffic, they say," said Molina. "And it's like, well, these people didn't."

RSD opening time: 10 a.m.

Landlocked Music

Perhaps you'll be in Bloomington this Record Store Day, preparing for the legions of bicycle enthusiasts and drinking mobs that flood Little 500. Come out early to Landlocked Music and still have plenty of time to make the big race. Performing throughout the day will be Spectrals, Stagnant Pools and Davy Jay Sparrow. They'll also have a collection of DJs, including Mad Monk, John Terrill (of Dancing Cigarettes), Bobb Easterbrook (of Eradicator Records), Jacqui Refice (of Secretly Canadian) and Bryce Martin (of the Vallures).

They've worked hard to officially license t-shirts for legendary Bloomington punk band The Gizmos, which will be on sale along with a RSD print from Andy J Miller at Design Koma and Goodnight Sweet Prints.

"Also, we'll be putting out a lot of quality used vinyl. We've been stockpiling for a while, and depending on time, we'll have a few hundred or more great used LPs hitting the bins that day, plus some nice new higher-end records on the walls," said Nickey.

"I'm looking forward to the Trouble in Mind's four-way RSD split with Apache Dropout covering Nilsson and The Monkees; Numero Group's WTNG "fake" radio yacht rock compilation; Moonchild and Frying Pan Double 7'' set; Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band release; The Mynah Birds' It's My Time 7'' vinyl; and Nobunny 7'' on Goner Records," said Nickey.

"We'll stay open late, until everyone is gone," said Nickey.

RSD opening time: 11:30 a.m.

Karma Records

With locations all around the city, Karma Records could very likely be the closest independent record store near you. And it's probably been like that for a while, as the chain of locally-owned record stores celebrated 42 years of being open in Indianapolis.

"We're not doing as big as what the stores in Broad Ripple do, but we're offering 25% off all used CDs and vinyl records that day," said owner Jim Ector. "We'll open at 9 a.m. At the Eastside location at Post and Washington.

"There are a few things that i'm excited for. The Heady Friends thing with The Flaming Lips, Blitzen Trapper, GroupLove, The Civil Wars," said Ector.

In addition to the special Record Store Day, Karma is giving away gift certificates in different drawings, and offering free donuts for all visitors.

"We always get a pretty decent crowd, with line of people outside the door," said Ector. "We'll also have the goodie bags for everyone as well, including samplers from labels — some will have t-shirts in them, posters, all kinds of stuff," said Ector.

They're offering something new at Karma as well.

"We now have systems in each one of our stores where people can come in and make their own custom CDS. You can do full album; the record label prints out the actual album label," said Ector. "You can come in and make your own mix CD. We've doing it for about two years."

Looking for a low-key Record Store Day? Stop by any of the Karma Records locations around the city — there's bound to be one near you.

"We have all the Record Store Day stuff too. Don't forget to check us out!" said Ector.

Locations, opening times vary.

Vibes Music

GloryHole Records is taking over Vibes for the biggest live showcase of the day, featuring thirteen live acts and DJ Jewey Ramone.

"Everything is kicking off around noon, with some softer stuff, some strings from Christian [Taylor] and Adam [Kuhn]," said Jim Peoni, the GloryHole Records label owner.

"As the day gets on, it will get a little louder and heavier. We'll give people time to shop, we'll have a DJ outside. There will be food trucks there. We'll have some GloryHole cornhole games outside, if weather permits," said Peoni.

GloryHole is also releasing a compilation tape with Hermetic Records, entitled Volume One of FSDC, a cassette limited to 100 copies. The tape, which stands for Fountain Square Don't Care, includes tracks from Ancient Slang, The Kemps and other GloryHole label regulars.

"The special tape they're releasing that day features a lot of bands that are playing the showcase," said employee Micah Jenkins.

"We also have an Apache Dropout and Three Man Band split, which is one of two releases we're launching for RSD," said Peoni.

Although Vibes and GloryHole are certainly excited for their own releases, they're ready to get their hands on some of the national releases as well.

"I'm really looking forward to The Civil Wars release— that just looks hot. I'm looking forward to a lot of stuff this year, actually," said Peoni.

RSD opening time: 10 a.m.

PRN Graphics

"We will have five different exclusive Record Store Day t-shirt designs available for people to choose from, all created by local artists. We have a ton of t-shirts in all colors and sizes for customers to choose from, so they really can create their own unique Record Store Day t for only $5," said Kelly Jones, general manager for PRN Graphics. "They can even print the shirt themselves if they want to give it a try."

Food trucks will be lined up outside Vibes and PRN to quench your thirst and fill your cravings.

PRN Graphics has a special connection to music, and it's not just sharing a building with a record store.

"PRN was started by musicians, for musicians, to provide quality low-cost screen-printed apparel," said Jones. "We have grown over the years and print for several well-known local companies like The Magic Bus, IndyMojo (Editor's note: And NUVO!) But, it is still very important to us to stay involved in the local music scene."

"Almost all our employees are actually in bands, except me," said Jones.

Stop by PRN and get a screen printing lesson, then pop over to Vibes and check out a dozen local and regional acts. And Kelly, join a band!

RSD Opening Time: 11 a.m.

WTTS-FM

This locally owned, independent radio station is playing only classic vinyl sides all day on Saturday. They're also giving away lots of new vinyl, as a listener will win a copy of every album they play. You can tune in to 92.3 FM on your radio dial or listen online.

"Some of the classic album sides we're talking about would include things like U2's Joshua Tree, Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon and Nirvana's Nevermind," said Brad Holtz, WTTS Program Director.

"And one lucky winner will win a slew of vinyl, including around 30 albums," said Josh Lantz, promotions director for the station.

The radio event is sponsored by The Mix, a bakery and record store in Columbus, Ind.

"[At The Mix you] eat while you search," said Lantz.

I'll leave it to Nick Cave to tell you what to do to celebrate the day:

"Do yourself a tremendous favour and go to a record store today. The relatively mild exertion of getting off your fat, computer-shackled ass and venturing out to find the object of your desire, the thrill of moving through actual space and time, through row upon row of records, and the tactile ecstasy of fondling the quested treasure - all this will augment and enrich the mental associations the music invokes in you for the rest of your life."