Get Ready for Record Store Gay

Record Store Day has grown from modest beginnings into an essential date on every music lover's calendar. And like any good phenomenon, it's given birth to a fascinating spin-off. Record Store Gay celebrates the music and culture of the LGBT community with a covers compilation and a series of events that have raised money for charitable organisations such as the Yes Equality and Outhouse, an LGBT safe space in Dublin.
Now in its fifth year, Record Store Gay is for the first time striking out on its own as a unique celebration of the gay scene with free concerts in the Phoenix Park and Kildare Street's Little Gem Records.
"We've expanded this project every year since we started it. In the last few years it's been the highlight of Record Store Day for many people", says Record Store Gay founder and Little Gem Records head honcho Andy Walsh.
Describing it as "a celebration of music and diversity and a massive joy", Walsh continues: "The year I started Record Store Gay, the record companies were pushing tonnes of mainstream reissues like ABBA. Everything was really expensive. We decided to broaden it out, and include other types of music and cultures."
The Record Store Gay covers compilation quickly became one of the high-points of Record Store Day with Come On Live Long, Le Galaxie, Crayonsmith, You're Only Massive, The Late David Turpin and Sleep Thieves all joining in the fun.
"Bananarama got in touch to say how much they liked Sleeping At The Cinema's version of 'Robert De Niro's Waiting'," Walsh enthuses.
This year's compilation will benefit the Abortion Rights Campaign - Senator Ronan Mullen is unlikely to be purchasing a copy - and includes exclusive tracks from Paranoid Visions, Everything Shook, Patrick Kelleher, I Love The Monster Hero, catscars, Cal Folger Day, Mhaol and French artist Lispector who treats us to a stunning take on Prince's 'Raspberry Beret'.
"What she did is amazing and will bring a lot of happiness to people", Andy concludes. "You can download the album from recordstoregay.bandcamp.com where youÕll also find its 2014 and 2015 predecessors."

Record Store Gay kicks off in Little Gem Records, Dublin on May 20 and continues throughout the weekend.