Record Store Day 2024: dates, guides, and the full list of releases

Record Store Day banner logo 2024
(Image credit: Record Store Day)

It's that time again – Record Store Day 2024 takes place today, Saturday 20th April, and to get you in the mood, we've been celebrating all things vinyl with seven days of features, advice and reviews in our Vinyl Week 2024. Sales of vinyl are on the up, and last year grew at their fastest rate this decade. Time for a party.

Record Store Day is just that. As well as the special releases and limited edition vinyl, it includes all sorts of in-store performances and events to bring together the whole record store community and highlight these shops as hubs with the ability to unite music lovers of all kinds from any background. It's also a chance to celebrate the people working in the shops and the independent labels that make such a diverse selection of music available in the first place.

RSD started in the USA 16 years ago, and has since grown into a global event. This year, over 270 stores will take part in the UK alone – you can find one near you using the handy Store Locator tool.

Excited? Here's everything you need to know about Record Store Day 2024.

What is Record Store Day 2024?

Record Store Day album compilation banner

(Image credit: Record Store Day)

It's a day celebrating independent record shops and the vital role they play in their communities. 

It all started in 2007, when vinyl sales were a fraction of their current number. Faced with increased digital competition from both online retailers and digital streaming services, a group of record store owners in Baltimore, Maryland wanted to raise awareness of the flagging format, and to highlight the thousands of people who work in and around record shops. They decided to hold an event – the first Record Store Day took place on 29th April 2008.

The event has been held every year since, even managing to weather the pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, due to Covid-19 restrictions, it was delayed until later in the year, and then was held as a series of 'RSD Drops'. In 2020, the first RSD Black Friday was held to spread the celebration into the winter. This has continued to be held every year since.

In 2022, Taylor Swift became RSD's first-ever global ambassador for the event's 15th anniversary. Swift's 2023 RSD exclusive Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions became the first RSD vinyl to debut inside the Billboard 200 top 10, at number three. This year, pop legend Kate Bush will be the event's official ambassador, as confirmed by BBC News.

RSD is all about the special edition vinyl. You can't usually buy these limited editions online (not officially anyway, but there are always a few unscrupulous re-sellers around), nor can you pre-order or reserve any copies – you have to get up early and queue like everyone else. The whole point of the day is to get people visiting record shops, after all.

Some shops hold events too, like signings or special performances, or even just dishing out merchandise. Check out the official RSD website to see what's happening at your local store.

For the first time this year, RSD has teamed up with online vinyl marketplace Discogs for a post-event sale called "Record Store Day Afters" on Monday 22nd April, where fans can buy the exclusive limited-edition releases from official shops online and internationally.

Record Store dates: when is RSD 2024?

Apart from those pandemic years [shudder], RSD has taken place every April, and this year is no different. The date for your diary is Saturday 20th April 2024 – remember, you can't reserve any special releases, you'll have to get down to the shop yourself, along with every other vinyl head in the area. Better set your alarm...

The best Record Store Day 2024 releases

Vinyl record collection

(Image credit: Future)

Below you'll find the complete list of RSD 2024 releases. There are quite a few, including reissues and special editions from the likes of The Beat, Young Fathers, Tricky, Sonny Rollins, Sonic Youth, Sun Ra, The Orb, Public Image Limited, London Grammar and even the Airplane! soundtrack. Yes, really.

And it's not just vinyl. Among the releases are cassettes, hardback books, picture discs and plenty else besides.

Don't fancy trawling the full list? Check out our pick of the best Record Store Day 2024 releases – including Gorillaz, Pearl Jam, South Park and more.

Here's the full list of RSD 2024 releases...

100 Gecs – Snake Eyes: 10" Picture Disc 

10000 Maniacs – Playing Favorites: LP 

101 Strings – Astro-Sounds From Beyond The Year 2000: LP 

1975, The – The 1975 Live At Gorilla: LP 

86TVs – You Don't Have To Be Yourself: 10" EP 

94 East Featuring Prince – The Legendary Recordings, 1975-1985: LP 

Aggrovators – Dubbing at King Tubbys: LP

How to get the most from your new records

Audio-Technica LP5X turntable on a table playing a record

(Image credit: Audio-Technica)

Whether you're new to vinyl or a hardened veteran, the experts at What Hi-Fi? have plenty of advice on choosing the best turntables, how to get it set up to sound its best, other accessories you'll need, and plenty of great-sounding vinyl to play on your record player too.

Here's a list of the best advice around turntables below to get you started.

And check out all the latest Vinyl Week 2024 features, reviews and advice

Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.