Richard BodinTwo shops, one city, and a whole lot of music love.
Every year, in April, vinyl enthusiasts around the world have the perfect excuse to get out of their musical hideout and open ground to a quarrel with their banker: Record Store Day. In a world where music has become a consumable good like any other—easily accessible online, from web stores or streaming platforms—this event chooses to promote the ones who suffer most from this so-called “progress”: brick-and-mortar independent record stores.
What started in 2008 as a niche celebration has become a highly anticipated event for music fans and collectors. Every year, a number of unique records are pressed specifically for the occasion and released to be sold exclusively in shops. Opinions on the matter are split. Many see what Record Store Day has become as a money-grab operation for some major labels. But the original spirit was to bring together independent stores, customers, and artists to truly celebrate music—not only by selling exclusive records, but most importantly through live events and artist encounters.
Limerick Keeps the Spirit Alive
In Limerick, the celebration stayed true to the original spirit of the day. Of course, loyal customers were queueing in front of shops before the 9 a.m. opening, ready to grab highly anticipated limited editions by their favourite artists. The city’s two independent stores, however, had planned much more for their customers to enjoy.
Downbeat Records’ Laid-Back First RSD
Downbeat Records, recently opened last summer in the Wickham Way market, had planned a few DJ sets in the afternoon: Rob Rue, Deego DC, Paul Byrne, and White Dove. Even though they couldn’t secure special RSD pressings for their first time, each purchase came with a free bottle of beer from local brewery Deas, who sponsored the event. The mood was relaxed, with customers and staff happily chatting over good music. Later in the night, the Downbeat team shared even more at The Record Room with a DJ set in the local pub.
Steamboat Records: The Main Stage of the Day
The main event was hosted by Steamboat Records, at Riverpoint on Bishop’s Quay—the most established record shop in Limerick. Initially a family-owned music shop, they filled the gap left by HMV when it exited the city in 2016 and became Limerick’s go-to record store. Since they first started selling records, they’ve marked Record Store Day by organising live events for their customers.
Mark remembers their biggest event, held the year before COVID, in partnership with Dolan’s: “The three different rooms of the venue—the Warehouse, the Kasbah, and the Upstairs—each had different live events, and you could just move around and see everything.” He proudly adds: “That was our biggest event. Today, we’re doing our longest: from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m.”
Paul Sheehan, known as PressPlayRepeat, organised the jam-packed day. Every hour featured a different artist. Many DJs gathered in the record store: Lorcan Ryan, Lady Michelle, Paul Casey, PMeeny, RDB, Noisy Chilli, RiasStartha… Between DJ sets, a few live performances took place.
Shiv’s Intimate Solo Performance
Shiv took the stage at noon. A bit nervous, alone on the small stage without her usual backing instrumentation and relying on pre-arranged soundtracks, she delivered a beautiful performance. While customers came into the shop and browsed records, she caught their attention with her warm and silky voice. The artist, who opened for Lana Del Rey in 2023 at the 3Arena, sang most of her album The Defiance of a Sadgirl, including Cherry Pie, for which she encouraged the crowd to join her on the chorus.
Theatre in the Stacks: Wreckquiem Reading
Later, at 1 p.m., Mike Finn showcased his new play Wreckquiem, accompanied by cast member Pat Ryan. Together they read part of the play, which takes place in a record store—very fitting. The pair did a great job winning over the audience, making them laugh on many occasions and moving them deeply during a monologue by Dessie, the shop owner in the story, who explains that without music we are simply nothing. The play will open at the Lime Tree Theatre on June 25th and run until July 5th.
Acoustic Energy from The Love Buzz
Finally, at 3 p.m., two hairy young lads took their places on the small stage. Kieran Hurley and Aiden Lynch, half of The Love Buzz, delivered a very convincing acoustic performance. The Love Buzz, a band from Cork, plays energetic music somewhere between glam and punk rock, and opened for The Darkness in 2022. The pair warned the audience beforehand that, since they were missing half the band, the performance might not be as energetic. They were just being modest, of course—the audience definitely enjoyed it.
An Evening That Kept the Groove Going
As the day went on, the customer crowd started to thin. But the live music continued, with the store providing free snacks and drinks from sponsor Treaty City Brewery. Around 6 p.m., PressPlayRepeat took his place behind the DJ workstation, while his collaborator BartyBeats sat behind his percussion kit. Together they started a chilled and mesmerising set. Ultimately, Cornelius would close the day with an epic performance.
“Without Music, We’re Nothing”
From inside the shop, with a view of the Shannon Bridge roundabout, we could see the bustling city going about its usual business. Passersby walked past the shop window, giving curious glances inside without stopping. The shop felt like a time capsule full of music, witnessing the outside world. “Without music, we’re nothing.” Dessie’s words echoed in my mind. As I stepped out of the shop, the dream faded away, and normal life resumed.
Two Shops, One Celebration
On Record Store Day, the two independent record stores in Limerick—Steamboat and Downbeat—put on a mini music festival of sorts. In the true spirit of the day, they celebrated music the way it should be: gathering artists, staff, and music enthusiasts in a shared celebration of life.
