Grimey’s Celebrates Record Store Day 2016

Grimey’s Celebrates Record Store Day 2016

By Hayden Howell

MTSU Raider Shakedown Reporter

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. ~ Grimey’s New and Preloved Music, a Nashville record store that opened in 1999, celebrated the annual holiday known as Record Store Day on April 12 with live performances throughout the day by local Nashville acts, two food trucks, and more than 300 exclusive vinyl releases.   

   

           Twelve acts including solo artists, bands and DJs, mostly from the Nashville area, performed on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the back lot of Grimey’s. The performances showcased talent from the wide range of genres that Nashville has to offer, from fast-paced indie rock like the band Blank Range to the soulful, country tinged blues of solo artist Adia Victoria; from the classic rock sound of 4-piece rock band Drivin and Cryin to the experimental electronica of Hecta, an act which includes three members of the Nashville experimental/indie collective Lambchop.

            Several DJs also played throughout the day, including a set from new Nashville radio station WXNA, which will soon be broadcasting from the top floor of the Grimey’s Building. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry also performed a special DJ set.

While Record Store Day at Grimey’s has hosted major touring acts such The Avvet Brothers and Mute Math in the past, the store was not able to book any national acts this year.

“It’s a mix of bands asking us about playing and us reaching out to bands to perform,” said store Manager Anna Lundy. “Some years we’re able to reach out to bigger acts, but for the most part, we book independent, local bands.

            A major part of Record Store Day as an international holiday is the release of albums and singles, including exclusives, limited and regional releases, and Record Store Day early releases. A full list of more than 300 releases is available on the Record Store Day website, and nearly all of them were available at Grimey’s on Saturday. For more information visit http://www.grimeys.com/.

Two food trucks provided food and drink: Crankees Pizza, serving wood-fired pizza and Smoke ATL, providing Southern-style barbeque. Other activities included fundraising for the Southern Girls Rock and Roll Camp, voter registration services by an organization called Head Count, and a special DJ set featuring Nashville Mayor Megan Barry.

            Grimey’s has participated in Record Store Day every year since the holiday began in 2007 and before that hosted an annual “Spring Fling” that has since been replaced by the Record Store Day celebrations.

“It’s our biggest day of sales,” said Lundy. “And it has been a great way to promote awareness of our store and bring in new customers.”

             “It went a bit smoother than the last couple of years. We closed two hours early last night to prepare, which we hadn’t done in the past. Turnout was lightly better than expected,” said Grimey’s co-owner, Doyle Davis on the success of this year’s Record Store Day at Grimey’s.

Davis went on to explain that despite somewhat lower turnout in comparison to years that Grimey’s has hosted more famous acts, record sales were still fairly high. 

“Some years when we have bigger acts, people just come for the band they want to see then leave without buying anything,” said Davis. “This year, everyone was here because of records they wanted to buy or a local band they wanted to see.”

In addition to its aid to Grimey’s as a business, Record Store Day is an excellent opportunity for vinyl enthusiasts to “add that final rare piece to their collection,” as Lundy puts it.

“It also allows people from the community to come hang out, maybe bring their kids or dogs, and listen to local bands for free,” Lundy noted, illustrating the importance of      Record Store Day as a community event within the city of Nashville.

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