This Weekend: CHIRP Record Fair

Posted by Andrew Hertzberg

There’s nothing my bank account fears more than a mass amount of records all within a centralized location asking to be purchased. True, most of my music listening medium is digital, but I’ve always been attracted to album hunting since I first stepped into a Reckless Records many moons ago. I never go looking for something specific, I just allow myself to be surprised by first editions and out-of-prints, of collaborations I never knew existed or solo projects that may not have been the best of ideas. Chance is what supplies the excitement in the record buying experience. So when multiple vendors come together, it’s safe to say I’m more than a little excited.

The Chicago Independent Radio Project (or CHIRP for the cool kids) has put together a little shindig featuring over 30 vendors that specialize in vinyl in a variety of genres, as well as CDs, cassettes, clothing, postcards and much more. As if that weren’t enough, there’s a full a day of bands and DJs including WCR favorites Village and Daniel Knox (full list below).

The 9^th annual fair is going down this Saturday and Sunday (April 9^th and 10^th) from 10 AM – 5 PM both days at 1340 W Washington Blvd, better known as the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union. There’s plenty of free parking and it’s not too far from the Green Line Ashland stop. There is a $7 cover to get in, but bring in any flyer (including the one on their site) to reduce it to $5. See you there, crate diggers.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9th
8am – 10am DJ set: CHIRP DJs
10am – 11am Dealer DJ set
11am – 12pm Darling
12pm – 1pm Village
1pm – 2pm Soul Summit DJs
2pm – 3pm Leafbird
3pm – 4pm Ami Saraiya & the Outcome
4pm – 5pm Numero Ebirac Salsa DJ set

SUNDAY, APRIL 10th
10am – 11am Dealer DJ set
11am – 12pm Dealer DJ set
12pm – 1pm DJ set: Pyschedalex & Constantine
1pm – 1:30pm Blue Ribbon Glee Club
1:30pm – 2pm DJ set: Matt Holland (Vacations, Love of Everything)
2pm – 2:45pm Julie Meckler
2:45pm – 3:15pm Daniel Knox
3:15pm – 4pm Black Bear Combo
4pm – 5pm Mary Nisi’s “Picks from the Fair”