MacD on Music: The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Record shops are the heart and soul of any town. A city without a record shop is essentially a pointless collection of buildings held together by roads and sadness. Thankfully, Derry has a shop that has recently been proclaimed “The coolest record shop in Ireland” by Andy White (who’ll be gracing these fine pages later this month).

Yes, I’m talking about Cool Discs, the backbone of our town and the only place where you can find the music of GRIM17 side by side with the latest release from Sabrina Carpenter and a live album by Bobbi Conn.

Every year, one of the most anticipated days of the year for music lovers is Record Store Day. Starting in 2008, Record Store Day is basically Christmas for record shops, with Cool Discs being one of a handful of shops in Ireland asked to participate in that very first year. They’ve been taking part in it longer than any other shop in the north and are the only place in Derry to get the many exclusive releases.

Lee Mason, owner of Cool Discs describes it as "the most wonderful time of the year for us and lots of our customers-there is not a day like it."

This year, Record Store Day takes place this Saturday (12th April) and Cool Discs is the shop you need to visit if you have your eye on one or more of the LTD vinyl pressings released for the day. This year’s exclusives include a 7” of English Teacher’s ‘R&B’, the soundtrack albums of the first four Harry Potter movies, a double live album from the Pixies of the albums ‘Bossanova’ and ‘Trompe La Monde’, Prince Live At Glam Slam, a picture disc of The Cure’s ‘The Head On The Door’, Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor’s ‘Haunted’ (featuring the original track listing with three Shane MacGowan B-sides, including a cover of Neil Diamond’s ‘Cracklin’ Rosie’), Laura Nyro’s ‘Angel In The Dark’, a live album from Joni Mitchell’s 1976 US tour and many, many more.

READ MORE: MacD on Music

From Lee: “Cool Discs has been involved in this celebration of the "bricks & mortar" record shop from the very beginning: it all started way back in 2008.”

Lee has watched the day grow and grow year by year to what he says is now the busiest single day and week at his shop.

Lee Mason, owner of Cool Discs

"Even for those who may not be interested in any of the RSD releases, we find people just come on down for the craic and support what it's all about-the local record shop and the community we work in."

"The buzz on the day is amazing, we see familiar faces and many new ones every Record Store Day, RSD veterans mingling with first time fans.

“Over the years the queue gets longer, if you really want that release, you need to be early on the day. Those who know are always well up the queue, and of course the VINYL format continues to grow. We already know the ‘die hard’ vinyl enthusiasts never went away, and now alongside them there is a new younger generation (Gen Z) who are embracing the physical format of vinyl, CD & cassettes.”

“It is the disconnection it provides from digital platforms, many of Gen Z now visit record shops on a regular basis.”

“Over 57% of the vinyl buying community prefer the in-store experience when buying records, searching and finding that record is much more pleasing surveys have shown.”

“This year at Cool Discs there will be usual raffles if you spend a few bob, and there will be lots of bargains/special offers going on.”

Outside the shop (weather permitting) music will be in the air from 2pm.

Of course, Record Store Day doesn’t stop when the shutters go down. For those of us not at home listening to our new records, Lee is also going to be putting on what is sure to be a great gig featuring some brilliant local talent that night.

From Lee (again): “The BIG RSD gig takes place in Sandinos from 7pm-10pm when three exceptional bands will all debut their new albums.”

With a line-up of The Wood Burning Savages, Hypnic Jerk and Hong Kong Nocturne, this is sure to be a great night of music. Tickets are just £5, including a local charity donation and are available at Cool Discs or on their website: shop.cooldiscsmusic.com.

Finally, time for the socials. First, the bands: The Wood Burning Savages can be found on Instagram @thewoodburningsavages, Hypnic Jerk @hypnicjerk76 and Hong Kong Nocturne @hongkongnocturne.

Record Store Day can be found @recordstoreday and Cool Discs @cooldiscs.