INDIANAPOLIS — On Saturday, Feb. 2, Indy CD & Vinyl announced an event that thousands have responded to - a free Mumford & Sons concert on March 25.
The band is scheduled for an hour performance - starting at 3 p.m. - mere hours before their 7:30 p.m. start at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday, March 25.
"They contacted us," Indy CD & Vinyl co-owner, Andy Skinner, said.
Skinner and his wife, Annie Skinner, own and operate the Broad Ripple record store. They've had a close work-relationship with Island Records - the parent company to Mumford & Son's label - for ten years now.
"A lot of bands have played inside of our shop," Skinner said.
On the store's Facebook page, event after event (often free) is posted for central Indiana music fans. The Mumford and Sons Facebook event has already had more than 8,000 interactions.
The couple has presented a number of opportunities for fans to achieve tickets
"We put ourselves in the shoes of people who may want to come here, are big fans of the band and are willing to do what it takes," Skinner said.
They will give out 10% of the tickets, first come first serve, for ten days beginning Saturday, March 16. Although, the capacity number for the store is still being investigated by the fire marshals.
For example, if the store is coded for 250 people allowed in the store at once, then they will distribute 25 tickets per day for ten days.
"In order to answer to everyone who might feel excluded, we are coming up with more ideas for people who may not live close to Indy," Skinner said.
Indy CD & Vinyl has a VIP experience available to Mumford & Sons fans, that includes a spot next to the stage in this intimate setting. For every $50 you spend at the store, you are entered into a drawing for two VIP tickets to the event. They are allowing purchases over-the-phone for those who can not make it into the store.
The record store has also donated a pair of tickets into a silent auction at a local not-for-profit school, Village Montessori, that can be bid on online. The bidding starts online on March 2.
Skinner and his wife say they have been focusing on how they can serve everyone, so that everyone possible has a chance at attending.
"We're doing something really really rad and we're giving people multiple chances. So nobody can complain that they didn't have the chance to try."
According to Skinner, Indy CD & Vinyl will post another contest on the store's Instagram page.
The contest will ask fans of Mumford & Sons to prove they're the biggest fans of the band via a social media post, for a chance at winning two tickets.
Indy CD & Vinyl
Monday -Thursday: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
