The retail sibling of The Truck Festival celebrates record store day - Young Knives and more for two days of in-store performances.
Over the last five years an independent record shop has closed in the UK every three days so the opening of a brand new one is something to be championed loudly. Opening its doors just two months ago, the Truck Store on Cowley Road in Oxford has already found a place in the hearts of music lovers across the county.
Created in partnership between Rapture Entertainment in Witney and the team behind the Truck Festival, the record shop will sound the klaxons for independents by celebratating the UK's third Record Store Day on Saturday 16th April 2011. Like the festivals, pop-up venues and gigs already run by the Truck team, the shop was set up to combat corporate-blandification and bring people together. Already a hub of in-store performances and rare finds, the store has extended opening hours and a whole weekend of festivities planned to celebrate this special day.
Opening at 9am on the 16th, vinyl vultures will be able to get their mitts on exclusive Record Store Day releases from acts including AC/DC, Big Star, Caribou, Tom Petty, Deftones and hundreds more, all releasing some rarer-than-rocking-horse-poo recordings. Later that day, in-store performances include Sophie Barker (Zero 7), Rough Trade signing Nathaniel Rateliff and Oxford greats Young Knives who will bring the day's proceedings to a close playing songs from their upcoming album 'Ornaments from The Silver Arcade' at 9pm. Carrying on the annual celebration of indie record shops for an extra day, performances on Sunday 17th kick off in the afternoon and include hotly tipped local singer Richard Walters and an exclusive striped down set from Julu and Ben of Little Fish performing tracks from their forthcoming second album at 8pm.
The Truck Store will also be in residence at this year's Truck Festival. Taking place at Hill Farm, Steventon, Oxfordshire from 22nd to 24th July, this will be no basic festival merch stall. Truck Store will be bringing a full set-up to site including a selection of stock from the shop, bespoke Truck merchandise and some extra special releases from artists and label's involved in this year's line-up. Hosting on-site in-store performances from bands on the bill, the pop-up Truck Store promises to be just as much of a must-go destination in a field as it currently is on the Cowley Road!
Weekend tickets for Truck are less than £100, taking the prize for the best value mini-holiday music lovers could wish for in 2011. Cabaret, comedy, theatre, cinema, a dedicated Family Field, luxury camping options and the legendary after-dark party spot Boxford all add up to make Truck Festival a truly special destination this July.
Published on 13 April 2011 by Wayne Feltham
