Crate-diggers rejoice, Record Store Day 2017 is almost upon us. This time tomorrow, thousands of people will be joining queues that should snake into record shop entrances across the UK for the whole day.
Any vinyl heads with a keen ear for music industry news will set off comfortable in the knowledge that the BPI’s Q1 figures showed vinyl sales were up 35.8% year-on-year, which still represents solid growth despite falling short of the previous year’s spike of 61.8%.
The cover story of Music Week’s current edition, which sees retailers predict that the boom will continue despite the slowdown, could make for useful reading while you wait in line. As could Banquet Records’ Jon Tolley’s impassioned Viewpoint piece, also from this week’s magazine. And spare a thought for the supermarkets too, who the indies say are more than welcome in the market.
But the main thing to do before you go is peruse the following list, which collects 10 of the best Record Store Day special events. Oh, and don’t forget to scroll through the limited edition Record Store Day releases for 2017, too…
1. Sound Knowledge, Marlborough
Along with Kate Tempest, Slaves, Kate Nash and Anton Newcombe, Izzy Bizu is an official Record Store Day champion for 2017. Head to Sound Knowledge in Marlborough tomorrow afternoon, where she’ll be performing live and signing copies of her RSD 7" single. The live music runs from 12-6pm, and cocktails will be served by Thirty8.
What better way to celebrate the wonders of wax than by listening to 15 solid hours of music in an Asian restaurant? Among the special guests and labels playing on the day are Nik Weston, Bopperson, Diesler, Will Tramp!, Planet Records, Irfan Rainy, Andrea Trout, Stutter & Twitch. But the main attraction is Manc hero Mr Scruff, who will be spinning an hour of never-previously heard dub from 5pm. Better still, the records will have been freshly cut that afternoon, at a workshop at nearby venue Band On The Wall.
Also in Manchester and going one better is Eastern Bloc, where the system will be fired up at 8am for a full 19 hours of music, with an afterparty taking place at Stage & Radio. DJs include Arnaldo, Bane, Indigo, Antidote and Space Afrika.
4 Rough Trade, London and Nottingham
This airy husk of bricks and records is always rammed on Record Store Day, and this year will be no different. The music starts at 11am, with performers including The Black Angels, Anton Newcombe, David Rodigan (DJ) and more. Across town at Rough Trade West, the musical line-up includes Bandante and Gilbert O’Sullivan. And, at Rough Trade Nottingham, Maximo Park, H.Grimace, Pins and Crosa Crosa will all play live.
5 The Run Out 2017, A Celebration Of DIY Culture, Peckham
This street party doesn’t take place inside a record shop, but in an industrial estate above one. Rye Wax in Peckham is a south-east London favourite, and this all-day event should be packed. Expect good food and drink, an independent label market featuring Hyperdub, Pan, Rhythm Section and YAM Records and music from Bok Bok, L-Vis 1990, Dubplate Pearl and more. Then comes an afterparty that runs til 4am.
Now for something totally different in Amersham, where The Record Shop are hosting free live Americana/Country music courtesy of local record label Clubhouse Records. They’ll also be raffling off a limited edition Rega RP1 turntable. NB: free bacon sandwiches and coffee for the first 10 people in the queue.
Now safely installed in the Merrion Centre for their first Record Store Day since their relocation, this Leeds institution is hosting live appearances from Mansion Of Smaskes, Fling, Drahla, Harkin, Fuss Dead Naked Hippies, and Behlua Hutchinson, who will be performing at the The Key Club under the shop.
In what’s quite possibly the gimmick of the year, Forever are teaming up with local cafe The Kiosk to make a Sleaford Mods-inspired "English Tapas". Local label I'm Not From London are playing the tunes outside, while live music comes from HCBP, 94 Gunships, Rat Columns and more.
This full day of live music events across Newport city centre includes performances from messy grungy types Vant, Vince James and Clarity.
It’s hard to think of anywhere that combines food, booze, records and gigs better than Mono/Monorail in Glasgow. This Record Store Day, they’ve outdone themselves with band names too, booking Snails, Pussy Mothers, Breakfast Muff and Teen Canteen to play live. Get there for 9am.
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