Here’s how to get free vinyl copies of Birmingham album On Record

This month, Brummies will be able to a free vinyl copy of On Record - a new album that celebrates the music of Birmingham.

The album was conceptualized by Jez Collins, founder of the Birmingham Music Archive, as a way to reflect the city and its music to celebrate the Commonwealth Games and the Birmingham 2022 Festival. It features 11 tracks by different artists, each with their own take on what it means to be from Birmingham - including Friendly Fire Band’s It’s A Brum Ting.

The album cuts across a large range of genres, reflecting the diversity of a city currently going through a renaissance. And while the artists may all offer alternative views on the city, the album is an opportunity to show the world a shared identity as Brummies.

How to get a free copy

On Saturday August 6, in record stores across Birmingham, the hunt will be on to find free limited edition vinyl copies of the album. Only 1000 vinyl copies of the album have been produced with a handful hidden at participating stores on the day.

Record stores taking part in the vinyl giveaway are Swordfish, Polar Bear, Ignite Records, Diskery, Psychtron, HMV Bullring and HMV Dale End. Lucky music fans discovering the vinyl copies are encouraged to take a selfie of themselves with the vinyl and tag #OnRecord, #B2022Festival and @brummusicpics in a social media post.

Featuring UB40’s official Commonwealth games track ‘Champion’ and ‘It’s a Brum ting’ by Friendly Fire Band, the official track of the BBC coverage of the games, as well as tracks by Dapz on the Map, SANITY ft Black Voices, and Xhosa Cole with Soweto Kinch amongst others, the 11-track LP is an all-star Birmingham record.

Head to BMA Insta for recent artist music videos and more from the album.

The release – engineered and mastered by Grammy nominee and acclaimed producer Simon Duggal - is presented by the Birmingham 2022 Festival, a six-month celebration of creativity surrounding the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and generously supported by Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Birmingham’s surprising parallels with Brazilian cities, its famed Balti curries and canal network, unsung musical pioneers, integrated communities, and industrial past are all explored via songs in a myriad of genres and styles on the album. Spanning Afrobeat, Asian electronica, folk, garage rock, hip-hop, jazz, neo-soul, reggae, RnB, trip-hop, and grime, On Record reflects Birmingham’s diverse communities and rich, vibrant music culture which is currently experiencing a renaissance thanks to an explosion of creativity across the city’s cultural industries.

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