Music lovers in the Midlands, and especially those for whom vinyl is still king, will be excited by the news that Westmeath is to host its first record fairs in over four years.
Organized by the renowned Records Fairs Ireland group, the fair will take place in John Mac’s Café Bar in Harbour Street, Mullingar on Saturday April 18 with a second fair to be held in the Prince of Wales hotel in Athlone on a date in May to be announced later in the month.
Westmeath was chosen by Record Fairs Ireland as being the location for their first fair because of its worldwide reputation for being a ‘musical county’, not only in terms of the famous musicians and singers who were reared here, but also for its people’s great love of the music.
The county has always had an appetite for record fairs, and indeed for vinyl, and Record Fairs Ireland are hoping for a big turn out on the day, which coincidentally is also international Record Store Day.
The fairs will feature a massive range of vinyl records spanning almost every era - from the 1950's right up to the present day - and every musical genre – from blues to metal, rap to alternative, punk to funk, Irish to indie.
There’s literally something for everyone and every musical taste will be catered for.
If vinyl is not your medium of choice, then a selection of hard-to-find CDs and DVDs will also be on sale on the day.
Record Fairs Ireland is a group made up of a number of the country's best-known record dealers who have come together out of their mutual love of vinyl and the people who make it, play on it and listen to it.
In the coming weeks they are organising record fairs in several other towns and cities, including Athlone, Galway, Sligo, Kilkenny, Dundalk and Navan.
The original idea for Record Store Day was conceived in the USA some years ago as a celebration of the unique culture surrounding over 700 independently owned record stores in the USA, and hundreds of similar stores internationally.
It is being celebrated by record stores around the world on April 18 and in Westmeath, Mullingar’s E2 record store (located on the same street as John Mac’s ) will be celebrating this event with live music and promotions. All in all, the area will be a hive of musical activity on the day.
In e2 Music live music will come from some of Westmeath’s best known (and diverse ) musical acts including The Aftermath, Ever27, Innate, Arrow In The Sky, Darragh J, Not Men But Giants, Shy Talks, Red Cub and Perfect Skins.
There will also be a special guest appearance by one of Ireland’s biggest bands...
And as if that wasn’t enough there will also be DJ sets from DJ Belly Savalas (John Mac's ), Mick Cronin from Aftermath and e2's own Daryl.
This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists make special appearances and performances.
Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body and face painting, meet and greets with artists, DJs spinning records and on and on.
Metallica and REM are just two of the big international acts who have supported Record Store Day by playing impromptu sets in small stores, although unfortunately not in Mullingar.
As it is taking place almost on the same street as the Record Fair at John Mac’s, there will be some special ‘cross-street’ offers for music lovers on the day.
Record Fairs Ireland have recently established a facebook page entitled Record Fairs Ireland, so if you want to keep up to date with locations of their forthcoming fairs, or have any special requests for a particular record or artist ahead of their Athlone fair in May then check it out.
Admission to the fair at John Mac’s, Harbour Street, Mullingar is free, and it takes place from 11am to 6pm.
For more information contact Ronan at Casey Communications
(086 ) 8390191 or (044 ) 934 9899
