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Record Store Day is here. This saturday, 22rd April, marks the return of Record Store Day to it’s true pre-covid glory, complete with street parties, in-store gigs and celebrations. As the seasoned RSD shoppers prep their lists, it’s easy to feel confused or intimidated by the mass queues. 

To get the lowdown and some tips for beginners, we talked to Record Store Day’s head of Marketing, Megan Page, to give us a crash course on the day and a dummy's guide to getting involved in your first RSD. 

First up, can you give me a real Record Store Day for dummies introduction to the event?

Record Store Day is the biggest day in the calendar for thousands of independent record stores all over the world. The event started in the US back in 2007, with the aim of celebrating the culture and character of independent records shops, and the art of vinyl. 

The first events took place in the UK a year later with only a handful of shops taking part to start with. Fast forward to now and there are Record Store Day events on every continent (except Antarctica) including 264 stores in the UK alone.  

What is the purpose of the day?

The real aim of the day is to put a spotlight on the work that the brilliant teams behind the counters put in to keeping the scene thriving. They’re all bursting with musical knowledge and work all year round to offer their customers a place to immerse themselves in their new favourite records, so RSD is a great way of celebrating their skill and dedication while simultaneously encouraging people to spend more time in independent record shops. We often find that once people visit their local store they quickly become a regular!

It’s also a chance to celebrate music in the way the artists behind the special releases intended. Putting something out on Record Store Day allows them to showcase their album, mixtape or EP in a carefully selected and curated order with the artwork painstakingly designed and finalised. There’s a serious amount of time and effort that goes into the releases before they even get to the record stores. 

In an age when everyone’s lives have become so much busier and streaming has become such a popular way of listening to music, there’s something very special about being able to take a moment out and put on a record. 

So I've never been to a RSD but I want to go along for the first time on Saturday. I've looked at the lists and know what I want to try and get - but what do I need to do on the day? 

As simple as it sounds, head to your local record store. If there’s a special release you’re after, we’d recommend getting up early to avoid disappointment because lots of the shops will be opening from 8am and we can almost guarantee there will be a line of eager record collectors waiting outside before they open.  

All of the releases are sold in store on a first come, first serve basis and you won’t be able to reserve anything in advance. So a bit of preparation is key if there’s something you’re really keen to get your hands on. It’s probably best to have had at least one look over the whole list before you get to the store, make a note of your favourites and don’t wait until the afternoon to head down. You might also want to consider calling or DMing your local shop to check they will definitely be stocking the record you’re after too.

You can find your local record store on our shop locator.

Or if you just want to join in the fun and celebrations, check out the events that your local shop will be putting on too. There will be live music, DJ sets and street parties up and down the country so rock up when you’re ready to party! 

Can you get involved online?

The best bit about RSD is the atmosphere at the shops when they're buzzing with activity so you'll get the most out of the day if you go in person. That said lots of the shops will sell any remaining Record Store Day stock online on the Friday following the event at 8pm. Don’t be tempted to give into the flippers on marketplace sites such as eBay or Discogs either – we know that with a bit of digging around you’ll have a good chance of finding the record you’re after at retail price. 

We’re also all over social media so you get let the world know where you went and which special releases you get hold of. RSDUK on Twitter, and @recordstoreday on Instagram and TikTok. Make sure you take us and use #RecordStoreDay in your posts so we can share them around on the day. 

And can you even get involved if you don’t have a record player?

Of course! Records are also a brilliant gift for the music fans in your life (or even a treat for yourself)! With each release being specially designed for RSD and limited to a certain number of copies they all look amazing and are a brilliant addition to any collection. 

What’s your best tip for bagging the record you want?

Getting to the store early and knowing exactly what you’re after is the safest way to make sure you don’t miss out. Some shops will ask you which releases you’re after before you even get inside when they’re really busy. Turning up at 12 and ‘seeing if there’s any David Bowie left’ is a risky business. And don’t ask a mate to double up on what they’re getting and have a lie in - you’ll only be allowed one copy of each release per person. 

Record Stores are brilliant places to find your next favourite album or artist, and lots of them will let have a browse after you’ve picked up your RSD releases if they’re not too busy. But if you’re after something on “the list” you need to make it as easy as possible for the staff to help you and everyone else get what they’re after.

Even if you do “miss out” on a certain release, you could still find your new favourite record in the crates. So head down for the day, get chatting to staff and fellow fans for recommendations and enjoy the celebrations! 

If you miss out, are there any other ways or opportunities to get it? And will they be available after the day or not? 

We’d love to promise everyone a copy of the records they’re after but part of the magic of RSD releases is that once they’re gone, they’re gone. In some cases there will be as few as 500 copies across the whole of the UK and they’ll only be available in participating stores. Lots of shops will make a “Record Store Day 2023” section on their shelves in the weeks after the day itself with remaining stock, and some might even make it to their online stores but there’s no guarantee the one you’re after will get that far before being snapped up.  

Is there a way of seeing what shop has which records? Or do they all have the same?

Not all of the stores will be stocking everything on the release list but lots of them will have a huge range on offer. You can contact the store you’re planning on visiting and ask if they’ve ordered in the record you’re after. 

Would you recommend going to a small shop or a bigger one for the best chance?

It doesn’t make a difference to be honest. If your local store has ordered the record you're after - no matter the size of the shop - then you have the same chance as everyone else of getting your hands on it. Every shop will be celebrating in their own special way and all the staff will be doing their best to make sure everyone gets what they’re after.

Make sure to pick up a copy of Gigwise Issue 8 at your local record store, and head to the Record Store Day site to find lists, events and tips - https://recordstoreday.co.uk

Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.

More about: Record Store DayRecordStoreDay