Independent record stores across the country celebrate Record Store Day each April, often hosting in-store events that unite local music lovers for a day of festivities and community-building. Milwaukee’s own Lilliput Records commemorated their first Record Store Day on Saturday, April 22 with a bang, treating store-goers to a variety of entertainment in the name of shopping local.
Lilliput opened their doors last August following the statewide closure of Exclusive Company, Wisconsin’s signature record store chain. The Milwaukee location was bought by employees of the store shortly after its liquidation, and Lilliput Records now stands in its place on Farwell Avenue while continuing to serve the music lovers of Milwaukee. While the store has recently expanded to host exclusive album-listening parties, Saturday marked the first time that Lilliput was able to celebrate Record Store Day since its opening.
I got off my bus at Lilliput around 8 a.m. and, to my surprise, the line had already grown to extend about three blocks down Farwell Ave. The brisk morning air was enough to keep eager shoppers on their toes, as only a small number of attendees were admitted into the building at once to ensure a controlled crowd. After about 45 minutes in line, I was finally able to set foot in the store and take part in the long-awaited festivities.
The main draw of Record Store Day is the selection of exclusive titles that are available for purchase at participating stores. While these limited-edition releases were highlighted and put on display near the front of the store, discounts were also offered on new and pre-owned vinyl and CDs. This year’s crowd favorite was Taylor Swift’s “Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions,” a collection of live and acoustic recordings of songs from her Grammy-winning 2020 album “Folklore.” Only 75,000 copies were released nationwide, but a considerable batch was available at Lilliput for the earliest risers.
But for those who were more interested in the communal atmosphere that Record Store Day provides to local shops, Lilliput was more than prepared. The morning kicked off with back-to-back DJ sets from WMSE and Milwaukee Record contributors, and the music continued into the afternoon with live performances from a lineup of locally-sourced acts. A pop-up stand from Nomad Coffee Bar also welcomed early-morning shoppers, providing much-needed caffeine to those who had camped outside for hours before the store opened. The cozy ambiance that always makes Lilliput a haven for music lovers was thankfully still present, despite more foot traffic than usual. Even with a line out the door, store-goers continued to cheerfully forage through record crates and discover new music in the company of others.
However, the most exciting aspect of Saturday’s events was the involvement and reciprocity with other local businesses. Anyone who presented a Lilliput receipt on Saturday could receive discounts at several stores on Brady Street, including Nomad World Pub, Twisted Plants and Bandit MKE. Customers who spent $50 or more at Lilliput also were able to enter in a number of raffles sponsored by a variety of Milwaukee businesses. Prizes included tickets to shows at X-Ray Arcade, Summerfest and Pabst Theater Group venues, gift cards to shops on Brady Street, and merchandise from Lilliput, Milwaukee Record and WMSE. Seeing the community collaborate to make Lilliput’s first Record Store Day possible was inspiring to say the least, and I can’t wait to see how the store can one-up themselves next year. Just remind me to be a little earlier in line next time.