Record Store Day, the annual celebration of mom-and-pop music shops nationwide, is happening this Saturday, April 21. As in past years, record stores throughout Minnesota will be participating and hosting special events and in-store performances, and a few different labels are stepping forward with exclusive releases by Minnesota acts. Here's a guide to all of this year's highlights and happenings in the Twin Cities and beyond -- and for a complete rundown of participating stores, check out our interactive Record Store Day map below.

Special releases:

The biggest Minnesota Record Store Day release by far will be Noiseland's American Buffalo compilation, a 13-song vinyl release that features tracks from Trampled by Turtles, Polica, Doomtree, The Blind Shake, El Le Faunt, and more. The album will be free with qualifying purchase at several different stores (including all three Electric Fetus locations, Treehouse, Hymie's, Eclipse, and Cheapo), but supplies will be limited, so Noiseland is recommending people get to their preferred store early in the day to get a copy.

Secret Stash Records is getting into the mix this year with a very limited run of 250 pressings of the 45 Minneap'lis Minnesota, which features a Minneapolis-centric track recorded in 1968 by Rufus Lumley. On the B-side will be the song "Do It, To It" by Jackie Harris. This release will only be available at the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis.

And Rhymesayers will be back with a new Record Store Day release this year, this time a 10" picture disc with two tracks: a previously unreleased Atmosphere track, "Someday Soon," on the A-side and a new Kimya Dawson and Aesop Rock collaboration called The Uncluded with the track "Bats" on the B-side. Only 2000 copies of the album are being pressed, and it will be avaialble at Fifth Element and other independent retailers. Fifth Element will also release their latest FE Exclusive CD on Record Store Day: an album called Magnate by new project Auddio Draggons, featuring Xilam Balam (Los Nativos) and MR Gene Poole (D.A.P.O, Phull Surkle).

Of course, these MN-centric albums are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the full plethora of limited-edition Record Store Day releases being offered nationwide. The official RSD website has a complete listing of all the exclusive and limited-run albums being released Saturday, in addition to a searchable directory of participating stores across the U.S.
 

Special events:

Hymie's Vintage Records will host their second annual Record Store Day street fair with bands performing on two separate stages. Night Moves will headline the outdoor stage, and other performers include Ben Weaver, The Cactus Blossoms, Buffalo Moon, and Adam Levy's Liminal Phase. The street fair is scheduled to kick off at 10:30 a.m. with a full-blown marching band and wrap up at 6 p.m.; following that, an afterparty will take place inside the store with Is/Is and The Goondas.

Many other Twin Cities stores will have live bands: Extreme Noise is hosting Condominium and Chicago's Daylight Robbery; Fifth Element is showcasing a Lavabangers set by Lazerbeak and Plain Ole Bill in addition to sets by MaLLy, Auddio Draggon, and Bill's Get Cryphy cohorts Jimmy2Times, Fundo, and Last Word; Yeti Records will open its basement to a huge lineup of acts including Seated Heat, Magic Castles, Marijuana Deathsquads, Leisure Birds, Mother of Fire, Food Pyramid, and the Blind Shake; and all three locations of the Electric Fetus are presenting live acts throughout the day Saturday. In Minneapolis, the Fetus will host bands ranging from Heartbeats and Eric Koskinen to Malamanya, Nightinghales, and Howler; the St. Cloud and Duluth locations have hourly sets planned by regional artists as well.

Even stores too small for live bands and full PAs are planning special events throughout the day. Eclipse in downtown St. Paul will have guest DJs from the local music community, while Treehouse Records says surprise acts may set up on the sidewalk outside to serenade shoppers as they enter the store. It should also be noted that Treehouse traditionally has one of the more robust selections of Record Store Day offerings in town, second only to the massive stock offered by the Electric Fetus, and that the other participating RSD stores will often have unnanounced festivities and prizes planned for shoppers.

The Current's Morning Show host Jill Riley and producer Jade will be stopping by many of these events, so keep an eye out for The Current van at Twin Cities stores this Saturday. And tune into 89.3 The Current at 10:30 a.m. for a live update from Jill and Jade on the morning's festivities.

For a full list of each day's in-store performances, specials, sales, and giveaways check out our interactive map below, which includes participating independent stores across the state of Minnesota. And Happy Record Store Day!