photo: Jamakassi
Record Store Day UK organizers are preparing to carry out their much-anticipated event while also adhering to social-distancing guidelines and assuring the safety of both employees and customers.
Record Store Day UK (RSD UK) planners revealed their updated plans earlier today. Instead of taking place on June 20th, as was previously expected, Record Store Day UK will be split up across three Saturdays: August 29th, September 26th, and October 24th.
In the aforementioned plans, organizers indicated that the three-part Record Store Day UK schedule will enable as many stores as possible to participate, presumably while assuring the wellbeing of attendees. Moreover, the statement noted that planners are taking steps, based upon government recommendations, to assure that RSD UK celebrations “are as socially responsible and safe for all involved as possible.”
The message closed by recognizing the fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding preventative measures, besides emphasizing that additional updates will be provided: “We are aware that this is an ever-changing situation that brings new challenges every day. Please check www.recordstoreday.co.uk for updates.”
The UK’s coronavirus-related lockdown measures will remain in place until at least May 7th; government officials are expected to evaluate the situation and make a decision in the near future. On Monday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to work after a tough battle with COVID-19.
To date, UK medical professionals have diagnosed over 165,000 COVID-19 cases, and more than 26,000 residents have perished as a result of complications from the disease.
Early social media responses to Record Store Day UK’s new plan are mixed, and not a few fans are voicing their dissatisfaction. “Yeah this is a bit mad… Why not just put the titles up for sale on indie record shops in June as planned if going to the actual store is not possible,” wrote one individual.
Another person tweeted, “This is a terrible idea. Just make it an online version this year so that everyone can stay safe. Three days? Come on…”
An updated list of exclusive RSD UK releases (and their corresponding stores) will be published next month.