Mumbai celebrates World Record Store Day

LPs of David Bowie, Simon and Garfunkel and the likes lined the shelves, more were packed into crates while others tottered in heaps atop sturdy wooden tables. Record enthusiasts, milled around selecting stacks of merchandise to add to their collections, and even those new to collecting vinyl did so with vigour. After all, they had been waiting for the World Record Store Day, celebrated annually on the third Saturday of April (this year on April 21), since digital LPs came into existence.

For instance, one of the centres for the festival was the Revolver Club in Mahim. Guests, who had started arriving since 10am, checked out the collection of over 3,000 LPs, many among them rare or of a special edition. While veteran vinyl collectors scoured the venue for the classics, even 10-11-year-olds were seen scheming on how to make their parents pick up the Disney LP.

Kailash Chandrasekhar and Robert Khongwir, who have been haunting record stores since last year to buy LPs, say they've already built up an impressive collection at home. "We collect all kinds of music. Even records to listen to at work," smiled Robert, holding an armful of vinyl.

Many connoisseurs, who visited the Revolver Club soon made their way over to the vinyl pop-up at The Quarter at The Royal Opera House. The searing afternoon heat proved hardly a deterrent as they rummaged through crates stuffed with desi and international labels. Happy to have revived his passion for LPs over the past few years, Rajesh Chabria, a veteran record collector, however, was not satisfied with the number of Indian records on display.

"While I wish there were a few more records in the Indian classical music section or other local music, I have to say, the music makes it worth the visit here!" he says, adding, "I buy records every once in a while from a store in Mahim, and one in Bandra, but a lot of the time, I also head to Chor Bazaar to see what I can find there." 

Apart from record bazaars, music lovers can check out a number of events lined up at the Quarter and the Revolver Club through the evening. These include listening sessions, workshops on vinyl and hip-hop culture, equipment maintenance and song mixing, and live music by the likes of Tajdar Junaid, The Fanculos, Siddharth Basrur, Sindhi Curry and other indie artists. International DJs will also spin tracks at The Quarter to bring the night to a close on a high note.