The phrase “Chicago record fair” is nearly synonymous with the nonprofit community radio station CHIRP. Just Google search it.
In addition to spinning records for the city and introducing listeners to new music, they’re also known for hosting the record fair every summer at Pitchfork Music Festival and organizing the monthly series showcasing local artists at The Whistler.
And to celebrate the record fair's 15th year, CHIRP is hosting an especially large fair at Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union Hall next week Saturday, April 8th from sunrise to sunset.
Attendees will be able to scour the fair for vinyl records, CDs, posters, books and other music related items. In between crate digging, they can also find a respite by grabbing coffee, beer, or food, or by experiencing live music or DJs.
Moxee American Kitchen and Puffs Of Doom will be providing food, Dark Matter Coffee will be caffeinating the collectors of analog music, Pedal To The People will be offering bike tune-ups in the parking lot, and Read/Write Library will be there with music-related books. And for this year, Vintage Garage will be expanding into the venue’s lower floor where they will feature vintage décor — think mid-century modern — and fashion from 20 dealers.
Of course, a record fair wouldn’t be complete without live music. CHIRP DJs will be spinning music throughout the day as well as a guest DJ set from local band Flesh Panthers. Meanwhile, members of Impulsive Hearts, Half Gringa, Beat Drun Juel, Dust Bunnies, will be performing live acoustic sets downstairs.
Local creative groups South Side Hackerspace, Tandem Felix Letterpress, Busy Beaver Button Co, among others, will be settling into CHIRP’s “nest” space.
Tickets are $7.00 and all proceeds go to CHIRP. Early admission tickets are available for $25.00 and allow re-admission all day long. Purchase them here.