You’ll likely notice some lineups outside local record shops on Saturday.
April 20 marks the 17th annual Record Store Day Canada, a celebration of the culture of independent record stores.
Dozens of shops across the country will be carrying special releases, different coloured records and bonus tracks that haven’t been released on vinyl before.
The Tragically Hip are this year’s record store day ambassadors, releasing an exclusive standalone live album, as they celebrate 40 years as a band.
That’s one of the records Joseph Wong is carrying, among many other rare releases — though his usual stock is focused on city pop, Asian music and soundtracks for films and video games.
“People are really excited to find this gem in North York,” said Wong, who opened his brick and mortar shop last October, after noting how difficult it was to find the records he wanted to collect locally.
“I was thinking if I spend so much time doing this, maybe I can get one or two more for people who love this kind of music,” he said.
Record Store Day Canada says the annual event grows every year, from the foot traffic in the stores to the number of participating artists.
As interest in collecting and playing vinyl soars, listening bars — which feature high quality sound systems to play and enjoy vinyl, are also popping up around Toronto.
Wong said he’s “really excited” about his first time participating in Record Store Day.
“When someone comes in and they find a record they’ve been looking for, their eyes brighten, and it just makes my day,” he said. “It’s not even really about making money, just sharing music that we love together.”