SacMusicBlog

Record Store Day is coming up again and it’s time to get out and patronize your local, independent record stores! One of life’s greatest pleasures is shopping in a good record store, looking for cool music and hidden treasures. Is it a new release? Maybe an obscure 12″ single with a rare non-LP B-side? Colored vinyl? A classic album that never made it to CD? An album with some great artwork that just can’t be appreciated on a smaller format? Or maybe just the general rush of holding a record album in your hands!

Check out this page to see what some of your favorite artists have to say about record stores. Then make plans to head out to one (or all) of your local stores. A list of stores in the Sacramento area is here, including locations for The Beat, Dimple, Phono Select, and Esoteric.

What do local independent record stores mean to you?

Sacramento area record stores

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The Sacramento Heritage Festival Blues-A-Rama show is this Sunday, February 13th, at 2:00 PM (doors at 1:00). Rick Estrin and the Nightcats headline with Ray Bailey, Chris Cain, Ron Thompson, and more. Get all the info at the official web site.

It happens at the Horseman’s Club, 3200 Longview Drive and tickets are $15 at The Beat and the door if there are any left. Proceeds will help buy musical instruments for area schools.

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Once again we celebrate our independent record stores. April 17th is the day, be sure to go to your local store! From the national Record Store Day web site last year:

“This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances.”

Here is Sacramento, local stores R5 Records, The Beat, and Dimple will probably be celebrating with special product, sales, live music, and who knows what else. Check it out, just go! Support your local independent record stores!

Learn more about Record Store Day

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The latest installment of National Public Radio’s Sounds of the Re:Union highlights a Sacramento community gem, The Beat. This Sounds of the Re:Union episode, titled ‘For the Record,’ focuses on independent record stores across the country and what they are doing to survive during a widespread industry decline. Host Brenton Crozier talks to owner Rob Fauble about how the store started, dealing with the struggles of the digital age of music and what the store means to the community of Sacramento. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is also a customer and gives his opinion of the store.

The video was a little choppy in spots when we tried it but it’s still well worth watching. We love The Beat and it truly is a local treasure.

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Celebrate our most precious national treasure, the independent record stores. April 18th is the day, be sure to go to your local store! “This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances.” That’s from the web site here. Check it out.

Meanwhile here is Sacramento, local stores R5 Records, The Beat, and Dimple will be celebrating with special product, sales, live music, and who knows what else. Just go!

National web site