National Album Day announce Nova Twins, Wolf Alice, Architects & Iron Maiden as album champions: Today, National Album Day announces Wolf Alice, Architects, Nova Twins, and metal icons Iron Maiden as Album Champions for National Album Day 2025, set to return on Saturday 18th October and which this year celebrates Rock Music. The newly appointed Album Champions will take centre stage in promoting National Album Day and are set to unveil a series of promotional activities around National Album Day as the day draws nearer. National Album Day is organised jointly by the BPI—the UK association of record companies and independent labels (BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize)—and ERA, the digital entertainment and retail association (Record Store Day).
Shoreham, UK | Slipped Discs to close its Shoreham High Street record shop: An independent record business is closing one of its stores to refocus on its second hand range. Slipped Discs was started in Steyning in 2020 by James Anderson, who lives in the area. It first opened in Cobblestone Walk before moving to Steyning High Street following its success. In April 2024, Mr Anderson, 39, opened his second store in Shoreham High Street. However, the independent business owner has made the decision to close the Shoreham store to focus his attention on second hand sales in Steyning. He said: “We have been running for over five years. “In April 2024, we opened the Shoreham branch to focus on new releases, there are so many new releases. “It has been going quite well however I have decided to focus more on the second hand market.
Baltimore, MD | Nirvana CDs mingle with Wutang vinyl in genre bending record store: Were you one of those kids that would go into a local record store and spend hours flipping through albums looking for that treasured find? Well, Wax Atlas in Hamilton is teaching a whole new generation the magic of an independent music space. Photojournalist Kristi Harper popped by to check it out. You might have a picture in your head of the vibe a record store owner has. “That stereotype of, like, the grizzled old angry white dude who’s pretentious as f*ck,” said Andrew Phillips, owner of Wax Atlas. But that’s the vibe of independent record stores of the past. This place on Harford Road is different. Phillips has owned the store here for about a year. He tells me the space is more positivist and more inclusive. He’s the first to say, “It’s not a boys club.”
Charlotte, NC | Lunchbox Records store hosts Twenty One Pilots listening party: It’s rare to feel an entire room hold its breath at the same moment, but that’s exactly what happened when Tyler Joseph’s voice first broke the silence at Lunchbox Records’ Twenty One Pilots listening party. All at once, fans tucked into the center of the city seemed to fill with the kind of joy that only generates when someone knows they’re about to witness something special. Smiles spread across the room in real time as strangers leaned toward each other to whisper and laugh. Or even, at one point, burst into applause after someone exclaimed, “Thank you, Josh Dun!” following Joseph’s story about the drummer insisting a song be pulled from the vault after 14 years. It was euphoric, proof that music is not just something you listen to, but something to be experienced.
Cleveland, OH | The Vinyl Groove Records Holds All Day End-of-Summer Community Fest: The space at 5100 Pearl Road in Old Brooklyn was occupied for many years by legendary record stores such as Peaches and Coconuts. So when The Vinyl Groove Records moved there last November after nearly ten years in Bedford, it assumed the weight of a lot of Cleveland music history. Offering new and used vinyl releases, collectibles, vintage stereo equipment and restoration services, it’s a mecca for serious music lovers. If your one of those and you haven’t discovered it yet, the idea time is this Saturday when it puts on its End-of-Summer Wax & Tracks Fest, a free community event featuring live music inside and out, curated vinyl and artist vendors, specials on memorabilia and other items, and a raffle to benefit Cleveland Rocks: Past Present Future, the Waterloo-based nonprofit devoted to building an infrastructure to advance the careers of local musicians.
Cheshire, UK | Fans meet Ellis-Bextor at independent store tour: Pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor promoted her new album at shops across the UK this week to show her support for independent outlets. The Murder on the Dancefloor singer visited Applestump Records’ new premises in Nantwich, Cheshire, as part of her intimate tour. She welcomed 150 “adorable” fans to the Oat Market business, which has grown rapidly since the owners sold records from their driveway during lockdown. “It’s really important to come to these beautiful independent record shops like Applestump,” Ellis-Bextor said. Independent shops in Southampton and Liverpool were on Ellis-Bextor‘s tick list before she arrived in the Cheshire town. “We really bed in, meet and chat to everybody and sign anything they brought along,” she said. After autographing copies of her new album, Perimenopop, and posing for photographs, the artist described passing on love for physical records. “My 13-year-old and my 21-year-old collect a lot of albums on vinyl, so the baton is being passed,” she said.
Muncie, IN | Locked Groove Records celebrates three years with community music festival: Locked Groove Records celebrates its 3-year anniversary with an indoor music festival. Whether you use Spotify, pop a CD into your car or spin some vinyl, music has so many different forms. At Locked Groove Records, they sell vinyl and CDs, all while providing local community members a way to express themselves through music. The owners of the store, Celeste Outen and Kevin Pickerill, have been pouring renovations and love into the store for the last three years. Outen and Pickerill first started fixing up the store in 2022, after the previous owner of 16 years, Travis Harvey, pushed for the two to take over the store. Since then, the tiny shop has undergone a variety of changes.
Richmond, VA | The Richmond Record Riot! Over 15,000 LPs in one room! Sat October 18th at Stony Point Fashion Park. The Richmond Record Riot! It’s a MASSIVE vinyl record POP-UP sale at Stony Point Fashion Park! Sat October 18th. Over 15,000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. A giant record store lands in Richmond VA! Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! Saturday October 18th, steps away from our friends at Crossroads Records—in Stony Point Fashion Park! LPs and 45s and CDs too. All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz and more. Dust off that turntable and come on down. Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
Fairfax, VA | The Fairfax Record Riot! Over 15.000 vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Sun October 19th at the Fairfax Elks. The Fairfax Record Riot RETURNS! It’s a GIANT vinyl record POP-UP sale at the Fairfax Elks! Sun October 19th.10,000+ vinyl records in ONE ROOM! Great music and amazing family fun. LPs, CDs and 45s. A giant record store lands in Fairfax County! Dealers from far and wide converge for a giant music sale! LPs and 45s and CDs too. All types of music from punk to funk to country to classic rock, hip hop, soul/jazz and more. Dust off that turntable and come on down. DOOR PRIZES TOO! Regular admission starts at 10 AM ($5) with early admission at 9 AM ($15). Don’t miss the BIG VINYL DIG!
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