This year's Record Store Day is happening on Saturday, April 18. Record Store Day is an annual celebration of the people who make up the world of the record store, including staff, customers, and artists, as they come together to recognize the unique culture of a record store and the special role that independent record stores play in the community. Originally conceived in California in 2007, Record Store Day has grown by leaps and bounds in the years since and is now celebrated across the country on the third Saturday of every April with festivities, celebration, and unique promotions and releases. Special vinyl and CD releases are made exclusively for the day from many independent labels and artists. Hundreds of artists across the globe make special appearances and in-store performances in honor of support independent music and commerce.

WWOZ, of course, spins many records from our local independent artists and stores, and operates our own merchandise store, the Swamp Shop, inside one of them-- the Louisiana Music Factory on Frenchmen Street. The Louisiana Music Factory is celebrating the day with live performances from Jon Roniger (2pm), Alexandra Scott (3pm), Caesar Brothers (4pm), and Tank & the Bangas (5pm).

Euclid Records is celebrating their one-year anniversary at the Piety Street location and will also have live performances throughout the afternoon: Lovelee and J (1pm), Danny (2pm), The Kid Carsons (3pm), and Chicken Snake (4pm).

Other participating record stores in the area include Peaches Records, The Mushroom, Skully'z Recordz, and Jim Russell Records.