fter two years of being a fairly subdued matter, Record Store Day is back in full force this Saturday (April 23) for the festival’s 15th anniversary, with more than 260 independent record shops getting in on the act.
In addition to all the special-edition releases that are coming out to mark RSD, there will also be a whole programme of events taking place at the weekend: live music, day-parties, DJ sets, prizes, limited edition goodies, signed copies of records, and more.
London is absolutely bursting with incredible record shops, so if you’re not sure where to start, check out our guide to the city’s best record shops. Then, here’s our breakdown of the best events taking place on Saturday. Bear in mind that queues are likely, and if you can book ahead, we’d advise you do so to avoid disappointment on the day.
Shrubs & Dubs
What could be more fun than buying a record and getting a free plant? Not much, which is why we’re excited for this one over at Hackney’s Shrubs & Dubs. The plants-and-vinyl specialists will be giving away a free shrub with every record purchased. Free tote bags are also being toted.
61a Hackney Road, E2 7NX, shrubsanddubs.co.uk
Peckham Soul
This south-east London store event is going bigger than ever for its RSD 2022 event. Deadletter, Island of Love and Ry-Guy will play live, while Father Phoenix, Alex Curran and guests will take to the decks to spin some reggae, funk, soul and more. There’ll be limited-edition B-Side Beer on sale from Meantime Brewery. The event is free, but make sure you secure a ticket in advance.
133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST, peckhamsoul.co.uk
Flashback Records
Head down to Flashback Records’ east London outpost to catch a performance from London-based jazz-rapper Goya Gumbani, who’ll be playing live in-store? Gumbani recently toured with Jay Electronica and Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA so it’s not one to miss.
131 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG, flashback.co.uk
Lion Vibes
Brixton’s Lion Vibes record shop is welcoming reggae label Room In The Sky on Saturday for a venue takeover. Expect some trumpet playing from Room In The Sky’s Kevin Davy, as well as appearances from reggae singer Winston Reedy, and AJ Franklin of the Chosen Few. There’s also some signed records up for grabs.
98 Granville Arcade, Brixton Village, SW9 8PS, lionvibes.com
Casbah Records
Greenwich’s Casbah records will have live music from 2.30pm, though the shop will be open from 8am. The Spang Sisters will be performing and there’ll be a raffle (with proceeds going to Refuge and Guide Dogs For the Blind charities) plus free beer from Meantime brewery for the first 20 attendees, and free tote bags for the first 30.
320-322 Creel Road, SE10 9SW, casbahrecords.co.uk
Level Crossing Records
English folk rock band Treetop Flyers will be playing an acoustic set at this shop down in south-west London. Elsewhere, there’ll be speciality coffee, signed artworks, and even a one-off signed photo of Nick Cave, which will be auctioned off with proceeds going to support the Ukraine humanitarian effort. Afterwards the party will be moved to Micro Beers in East Sheen, from 6pm until 11pm.
49 Sheen Lane, SW14 8AB, levelcrossingrecords.com
Lion Coffee & Records
At Lower Clapton’s Lion Records there’s going to be a full day of festivities, starting from 1pm. So far the line-up includes Heartworms, Human Interest, Video Blue, Great Western, Hatty Taylor and Lo Barnes, with vinyl DJs filling in the gaps.
118a Lower Clapton Road, E5 0QR, lioncoffeerecords.com