Record Store Day 2014 – Events Guide

Founded in 2007 in Baltimore, Record Store Day has become a global phenomenon – each year thousands of vinyl enthusiasts and music lovers cram themselves into their local vinyl emporiums to catch exclusive live sets and sessions from local bands, and to race each other through the racks in search of limited edition releases from their favourite artists.

The spokesman for Record Store Day 2014 is Public Enemy's Chuck D., and as we reported previously, there are some very tempting releases on offer from the likes of CHVRCHES, Tame Impala and David Bowie (read all about them here), as well as Dinosaur Jr., Liars, Camera Obscura and Fucked Up (find out more here).

That's just scratching the surface – there are over 600 official Record Store Day releases this year, and you'll find them all listed on the RSD site. We also had a chat with James Graham of The Twilight Sad about his band's reissue of their debut album, Fourteen Autumns & Ffteen Winters – for Graham, one yearly celebration of vinyl isn't enough. As he told us, "Every day should be Record Store Day!" Read the interview here, and check below for our in-depth guide to events happening near you on 19 April.

GLASGOW

At Glasgow’s Love Music, you can catch live sets from a huge bill of local talent including two thirds of the especially resurrected Super Adventure Club, SAY Award-nominated hip-hop crew Stanley Odd, Kilmarnock indie kids Fatherson, as well as The Primevals, Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5, Harry and the Hendersons, SchnarffSchnarff, Bridie Jackson and the Arbours, Ross Clark and Joe Black, Pronto Mama, and Blood Relatives. Also confirmed for live appearances are Lost Map Records signings Tuff Love, and label boss The Pictish Trail. Find more details here.

Over at Monorail, as well as free cakes and a kids’ table to distract the little ones while you browse the racks, they’ll have Rock Action’s Sacred Paws, garage rockers Los Tentakills, and DJ sets from Adele Bethel of Sons & Daughters, Ladytron's Helen Marnie and Rafla (The Hot Club). Skinny favourites and John Carpenter's natural heirs to the synthesiser crown, Ubre Blanca, will also be playing live. Monorail opens at 9am sharp so you can get first crack at some of the RSD exclusives, too. "Bring family, make a day of it," they say. Find out more here.

Mixed Up Records will have lots of limited edition vinyl, and promise a welcoming, party atmosphere on the day – they haven't confirmed any bands or DJs for the day, but have advised us to keep an eye on their site for a news of few surprises in the next few days. Local promoters PMCJ also have a vinyl fair and pop-up gig planned at The Record Factory, no doubt featuring the cream of the local live scene – that kicks off at 2pm, but you'll have to wait until the day to find out who's playing.

Rubadub will also be welcoming a who’s who of DJ talent, spinning the platters that matter – they'll have sets from the White Material Records DJs, in town for Love Action, as well as Doc Daneeka of the city's celebrated Numbers crew, Dixon Avenue Basement Jams, and a very special session in association with Boiler Room, the details of which will be revealed on the day – not to mention a huge selection of exclusive RSD releases.

EDINBURGH

VoxBox will be hosting a very special, one-off event on Record Store Day this year, welcoming Postcard Records head honcho Simon Goddard in conversation with Ian Rankin, discussing his new book about the storied label. There will also be live sets from much-loved Edinburgh lot Broken Records, another appearance from Tuff Love and The Pictish Trail, plus LAW, Stanley Odd, and Book Group. Find out more here.

Underground Solu’shn have a stellar lineup of local DJs, including LuckyMe beatsmith S-Type, live sets from Wounded Knee and friends, Lord of the Isles, and hip-hop/dancehall party-starters Capitol 1212, plus House of Traps, Craig Smith, and the shop’s staff, all of whom are noted Edinburgh DJs, not least boss and Manga main-man G-Mac. They also promise "giveaways, promotions and discounts" a-plenty on the day. 

Coda Music will have live sets from Adam Holmes, King Eider, and Fin-Ray, and with their shop's dedicated focus on Scottish folk, blues, country and traditional music, it may well prove to be the most chilled out of Edinburgh's RSD events, so if you're looking for something a bit more sedate, head on over. 

One of Edinburgh's best-loved music shops, Avalanche, has been closed for the past few weeks, but it's far from finished – where the shop will officially reopen its doors is unclear, but on Record Store Day (and from 18 to 21 April), they'll be taking part in the Ceilidh Culture Street Fair on Castle Street and Princes Street, with a stall selling vinyl, rare posters, and live appearances from The Dead Flowers and other bands and artists. Find out more here.

And finally, Electric Circus are hosting an exclusive Record Store Day after-party with sets from local DJs, bands and key Scottish labels and tastemakers – entry is free with a receipt showing you bought vinyl on Record Store Day. VoxBox will also be hosting a pop-up vinyl stall, so you can keep shopping into the wee small hours. Find out more here.

LIVERPOOL

Arts hub, cafe and gig venue Mello Mello will be playing host to pup-up stalls from Warp, All Tomorrow's Parties, Tesla Tapes, Kazimier Records and Tombed Visions, plus merch and music from other local bands and labels, soundtracked by DJ sets from Upitup Records, Deep Hedonia, Oddbwar and Gnod, and a live performance from one man vocal / synth drone experimentalist AHRKH, with the festivities carrying on until well into the evening. Find out more here.

At The Shipping Forecast, they present a 12 hour tribute to the late, great pioneer of house music, Frankie Knuckles, kicking off at 3pm and running until 3am. The event will feature DJs including Glasgow's Al Kent, Stockholm's Mad Mats, and local crews Hustle, People Balearic Disco, So Flute, Abandon Silence and Analogue Bubbles. Find out more here.

3b Records have sets from Al Kent of BBE Records and others. Also participating, with limited edition releases in store, are Probe Records and Dig Vinyl, the latter of whom have a stall at the Mello Mello event, plus the Dig DJs in store from 12pm. The Dig crew finish things up with an after-party at Motel from 9pm, promising more DJ sets, and some very special giveaways.

MANCHESTER

Over at cafe and multi-purpose arts space Common, much-loved record store Piccadilly Records will be having a showcase, featuring Songs For Walter, Withered Hand, Holy Mountain, Nev Cottee, Dinner Party and KBeard, as well as DJ sets from Jason Boardman (Aficionado) and Duncan Sime (Red Deer Club), and the Piccadilly Records staff. Find out more here. In store, they have DJs from 12pm, including Ben Ward, Eccentronic Research Council, Nev Cottee, The Emperor Machine, and Smoke Fairies.

Dance music specialists Eastern Bloc Records have some awesome guests confirmed - their specially-installed soundsystem will be rocking to the sounds of Nat Birchall (Gondwana / Sound Soul Spirit), Alan Redfern and Dom Sotgiu (Breadwinners / King Spinna / Blood & Fire), Tomlin (Varie), Irfan Hussain (Rainy City Music / Pitched Black) Detroit's Mike Huckaby  (Synth / Deep Transportation / Tresor), Arnaldo (Greta Cottage Workshop, Smallville, Blank Slate), and Mark Turner (Orbit / Function Room / Trailer Trash), plus a surprise guest or two. They also host an exclusive after-party at Wahlbar, with DJs  Kerrie, Means&3rd, Conry, Radley, and Simon.

Manchester's Endless Music are also participating in Record Store Day, with a raft of limited edition vinyl on offer, as are Clampdown Records and Beatin' Rhythm. The Bay Horse meanwhile presents 'Manchester Spins Limited Edition Vinyl,' featuring Ash Mountain, who will be performing tracks alongside an exhibition from sleeve designer Trevor Johnson. Free Entry From 2pm.

Rothmans Music also have a special event planned - their Record Store Day party at Manchester's Soup Kitchen is one of a series of planned parties, happening throughout the year. On Record Store Day, they welcome Alberto Tarantini, plus Kid Machine, Ste Spandex, Tusk Wax, Starion, Tommy Walker 3, and Rothmans Ant for a 14-hour session, kicking off at 2pm. Find out more here. They also have a group you can join, to find out about upcoming events.

Over at The Deaf Institute, a very special Record Store Day gig will be kicking off at 6pm, with Ghost Outfit, Temple Songs, Frances Lung, The Louche and Harthem. Entry is a meagre £3, and a vinyl swap-shop, craft stalls, and some one-off, on the day releases to give away. Find out more here.

ELSEWHERE

Record Store Day events are happening in nearly every major city in the UK – check the RSD site for information about participating stores near you, and for listings of special events. If you have an event happening in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Liverpool, Manchester or Salford, please get in touch with us at news@theskinny.co.uk – we'll be more than happy to add details of your event to this article. We hope you enjoy Record Store Day! We'd love to hear which bands you saw, and which records you bought, in the comments below.