LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts/ Indie Record Shop Official Website) IndieRecordShop.Org, the lobbying organisation devoted to highlighting the contribution of independent stores to music, has announced first details of its plans for 2011: * The annual Record Store Day promotion is to take place on 16 April 2011 with around 150 UK independents taking part in a day of exclusive releases, PAs and other activities * Public voting has today begun to find the UK's Best Indie Record Shop with the competition extended for the first time to discover the Best Indie Store in each of the four nations- Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. IndieRecordShop.Org - is a lobbying and online resource backed by the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), designed to highlight the contribution of indies to the UK music scene. Kim Bayley, Director General of ERA said, "It is clear that there is a huge public affection for independent record stores. By supporting these two initiatives, we hope to further bolster the grassroots of music retailing." RECORD STORE DAY 2011
Organisers have confirmed that Record Store Day, the annual celebration of independent record stores, will take place this year on Saturday April 16.
More than 150 shops are expected to participate, and a new UK-focused website www.recordstoreday.co.uk will detail all of the activities taking place in the UK.
Organiser Spencer Hickman of London's Rough Trade East said, "Record Store Day is the perfect antidote to all the doom and gloom we hear about the music business. It's a day of celebration fuelled by the enthusiasm of artists and fans for record stores."
Last year's Record Store Day reached new heights with queues hundreds-strong forming outside some shops.
Key to the event are exclusive products available for one day only in participating stores.
Alongside the exclusives were a range of special events, including PAs and performances from the likes of The Paddingtons (Crash Records, Leeds), Ash and Laurie Anderson (Rough Trade East), and Magic Numbers (Rough Trade West). Elsewhere music fans enjoyed Rock 'n Roll Face-Painting, Indie cake stalls and RSD after-parties.
Spencer Hickman said, "Last set a very high standard for what Record Store Day can achieve. We'll be releasing full details of RSD 2011 closer to April 16, but already we have been knocked out by the great ideas coming from artists and labels. We're all going to make sure it's a day to remember."
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