Record Store Day uk 2024: A Vinyl Celebration Like No Other
A Vinyl Celebration Like No Other!
Every year, over 270 independent record shops across the UK unite to celebrate Record Store Day—a festival of music, exclusive releases, and live performances that has become a cornerstone of the vinyl community.
Originating in the US in 2007, this event quickly spread globally, with the first official celebration kicking off on April 19, 2008. Today, it stands as the largest new music event of the past decade, a testament to the enduring allure of vinyl records.
The Vinyl Experience
The Vinyl Experience
Record Store Day isn’t just about snagging limited edition releases; it's a day dedicated to everyone who keeps the rich culture of record shops thriving—from the shop owners and staff to the musicians, labels, and, of course, the collectors themselves. It’s a day when music lovers gather to celebrate not just the music but the stories behind these beloved shops that dot every corner of the country.
At Vinyl Vandals, we love Phonica Records. If you are in the capital, make sure you go and check them out. Find them here
Exclusive Releases for 2024
This year, the excitement continues with some spectacular vinyl releases available exclusively on Saturday, April 20th.
Check out the full list of Record Store Day UK releases here
Chino’s Top Vinyl Picks…
Jamiroquai - Live at BBC Maida Vale: A neon green-coloured vinyl that captures a stellar 2006 live session from Jamiroquai, released for the first time. This collector’s gem features six tracks that showcase the band’s dynamic energy and unique sound. More details here.
Olivia Dean - Live at The Jazz Café: Fresh off her Mercury-nominated debut, Olivia Dean offers a limited edition vinyl that transports listeners straight to her enchanting performance at the Jazz Café. Featuring soul-stirring renditions of ‘The Hardest Part’ and ‘Be My Boyfriend’, this record is a snapshot of a rising star in her element. Grab your copy here.
Various Artists - The Bristol Roots Explosion: This reissued transparent blue vinyl brings together seminal roots reggae tracks from Bristol's vibrant scene between the 1970s and 1980s. With artwork and a hype sticker to match, it’s as much a visual treat as it is an auditory journey. Explore the roots here.
The Beat of Rega Turntables
The Beat of Rega Turntables
In partnership with Record Store Day, Rega has become synonymous with high-quality sound and vinyl culture. Since 1973, Rega has evolved from crafting tonearms and turntables to offering a full range of hi-fi equipment. Notably, in 2016, the limited edition Peter McKee Rega turntable became a collector’s favourite, adorned with artwork that harkens back to the vibrant beat clubs of the '60s. This partnership underscores the deep connection between music history and contemporary vinyl enthusiasm.
Find out more about Rega products here
Vinyl Vibes
As Record Store Day grows each year, it continues to be more than just a day; it's a movement that celebrates the undying passion for vinyl, the warmth of analogue sound, and the community spirit that music can foster. It's about making memories, discovering new sounds, and reconnecting with old favourites—all within the walls of your local record shop.
What VINYL RELEASE is top of your list??? Record Store Day 2019
“Record Store Day 2019 will take place on Saturday 13th April 2019. ”
Phonica Records London…
Record Store Day is the one day of the year when over 200 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture. Special vinyl releases are made exclusively for the day and many shops and cities host artist performances and events to mark the occasion.
Thousands more shops celebrate the day around the globe in what’s become one of the biggest annual events on the music calendar. We are excited about releases from AtJazz, Anderson Pak, Louie Vega, Dj Pierre, Roy Ayers, Prodigy, Alex Arnout and many more!
The full list of RSD 2019 releases are available here.
Helping independent stores
So, Record Store Day isn’t perfect, and yet it seems that it does generally help those little independent shops to keep afloat.
That can’t be a bad thing, not only for those of us who love flicking through racks and selecting purchases, but also for our diminishing high streets and the music industry in general.
Get yourself down to your local independent record shops and grab some WAX – and then do the same at regular intervals all year around, so that the UK music sector keeps thriving!
Phonica Records - London & Piccadilly Records - Manchester are personal favourites of mine!
You can find you nearest participating record store here
Rega RSD 2019 limited edition turntable…
This years limited edition 2019 Rega Record Store Day turntable.
Available from participating Rega dealers and independent record stores, this turntable will be available to collect from record stores or Rega dealers on April 13th 2019.
Limited to 500 units, this turntable is a custom made version of the Planar 1 Plus turntable with built in phono stage pre-amplifier.
You can find your nearest Rega dealer here
Dr Pete Dale, Senior Lecturer in Music, and a self-confessed vinyl junkie said...
“Vinyl's analogue is different”
There is no aural benefit to be had from listening to a CD compared with a soundfile on your computer, smartphone or iPod: you get a digitally-created sound which sounds continuous but which is actually made up of tiny little bits of sound so small that your ear can’t directly notice the gaps.
Vinyl, however, actually does give you analogue (that is, continuous) sound: whether or not you prefer vinyl records to the digital sound of CDs and computerised soundfiles, there is no question that the sound is different.
The analogue sound of a vinyl record has a ‘warmth’ which arrives not only from the analogue sound but also from the frequency range which the sound reproduction can allow. It is also possible to enjoy the ‘surface noise’ which vinyl produces, as indeed John Peel once claimed to do.
Chino Vv’s Rega RSD 2017 Pete McKee turnable and Omar S limited edition red vinyl purchased from Phonica Records London.
Record Store Day 2018
Why we love VINYL, why the hunt continues...
The emotional attachment to every purchase can be somewhat spiritual... Hunting down records, digging through creates, saving all your money, spending all your money, is something most millenniums will never really understand. The touch, the feel, the process, the connection amongst others within the same environment are some of the reasons we SHOUT Save Vinyl, knowing full-well it will never die!
Saturday 21st April 2018 celebrates a culture of record stores in the UK. For those of you getting involved, expect to witness long cues of smiling vinyl geeks plotting to bag some gems.
For Chino Vv who resides in Qatar, where record store culture is non existent, its all about selecting the classics at hand and embracing that feeling.
This year he looks back at a vinyl purchased in 2011 from a record store in Manchester called Eastern Bloc Records.
Side A is an easy, enjoyable breakbeat number by Roy Davis. Fast forward to Side B, the Solid Groove Remix and it's an absolute dance floor BANGER, bringing that Chicago house vibe to wax!
Close to being one of my all-time favourite tracks, the sound is typical of Solid Groove with a slight glitchyness, punchy kick drum, and that brilliant hard digital funk he always delivers.
The drop after first build up gets me every time. Not only an iconic track but an iconic record cover! Vv&out
A true Soulful House classic from Shaun Escofrey will be re-released on UK Record Store Day 2018!
“Those of you that love “The Southport Weekender or SunceBeat festival will all know and love this one! Vv&out”