Record Store Day 2026: Scottish Events Guide

Hopefully by now, you know the drill when it comes to Record Store Day (RSD). In case it’s all new to you, it’s kind of like Christmas for music fans, especially those that favour vinyl in the digital and streaming age. Since its inception in 2007, RSD has continued to grow in popularity and this year, over 300 shops are set to take part across the UK and Ireland, with over 500 releases being pressed specially for the occasion.

Some of the rare gems set for release include Disco Darling, an unreleased track from Carly Rae Jepsen; Madonna’s The Confessions Tour Live; an etched crystal clear 7” of Charli xcx’s party 4 u; and Ethel Cain’s 2021 EP Inbred, coming out on vinyl for the first time. There’s a special B-sides and rarities record from Metronomy on lucky dip marbled vinyl; Talking Heads’ 1975 The CBS/Columbia Demos is getting an official release, and following a Japan-only 1982 release, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s The End of Asia gets its first global release on vinyl. Plus, there’s more from the likes of CMAT, Primal Scream, Olivia Dean, Khruangbin, Flying Lotus, Hot Chip, PinkPantheress and literally hundreds more. With too many to mention, you’ll find the complete list here. Please note, there are some quite strict rules when it comes to securing an RSD release, with items often limited to one per customer, with no holds allowed, so if there’s something you’re desperate to get your hands on, you will need to get in the queue early and cross all your fingers and toes.  

With prep now seriously underway across the country, stores from Greenock to Orkney are set to take part in the huge day-long celebrations on Saturday 18 April, with extended opening hours and a whole host of one-off celebrations that sees community at the very heart of this special day. When it comes to what everyone is up to, below is everything we’ve found that’s going on in Scotland this Saturday. We’ve basically done the work, so you don’t have to – you’re welcome.

Image: Some Great Reward courtesy of Some Great Reward

Glasgow

Assai Records, Blitzkriegshop, Chameleon @ Audio, Love Music, Mixed Up Records, Monorail, Mostly Vinyl Micky, Music From Big Blue, Second Line Records, Some Great Reward and Strip Joint are set to take part in the day. With most stocking some/all of this year’s releases, many also have in-stores planned. Here’s some of what to expect on the day, beyond topping up your record collection with that limited edition picture disc.

At Music From Big Blue, the physical outpost of the Last Night From Glasgow label, alongside your big shop expect music in the afternoon from Vickie Paxton, Elgin and the Marbles and Xan Tyler & Dusty Stray; LNFG are also hopeful that their 10th anniversary IPA will be ready in time and we are too – happy birthday team! At Some Great Reward, it’s a community affair at the Cooperage with all businesses in their cosy nook of Glasgow’s Southside set to take part in the day’s celebrations. At the shop, expect DJs Sci-Fi Steven (bis), Isobel McKenna, Mao Mao and 2-4-1 spinning records from 11am, with live performances from 3.30pm, with music from The Scottish Parliament, Jude Norton-Smith and Starksy-Rae.

Across town at Monorail, you’ll find another packed all-dayer, with BBC Radio 6 Music’s Huw Stephens even stopping by the shop to broadcast live from 4-7pm. But the day kicks off earlier than that ,with the shop opening at 9am and their curated programme of live music and DJs getting underway at 11:30am. Expect DJ sets from Life Without Buildings, World of Twist and Karen Dunbar plus live performances from the inimitable Kathryn Joseph, bis, Supersun and Gichard.

Also in Glasgow this weekend, you’ll find the RSD-adjacent Rock Action Records Pop-Up, the first of its kind from Mogwai’s label, featuring rare and signed merch from current and former artists. Catch them across the weekend (18 & 19 Apr) at Glasgow Collective in the Gallowgate featuring artist DJ sets. 

Image: Good Vibes Neighbourhood Store courtesy of Good Vibes

Edinburgh

In the capital all the usual suspects are in on the big day with Assai Records, Avalanche, Good Vibes Neighbourhood Store, Slow Progress, Thorne Records and Underground Solution all stocking official RSD releases. Up in Bruntsfield, Thorne Records is taking the day very seriously with the shop open from 8am-8pm. For mega early birds, their neighbours at Niko’s Espresso will be opening at 6am, so don’t worry if you don’t manage your morning coffee before rolling bleary-eyed out the door, they’ve got you covered. In the shop, there’ll be two live performances throughout the day from Rosie H. Sullivan, beers from Jubel and free slices of Civerinos pizza from 3pm. At the nearby Umbrella Vinyl, despite not being official RSD stockists, you’d better believe they’re getting involved in the day too, so if you’re in the area, be sure to pop in as they’ll have DJs in-store from 12-5pm. The recently opened Beat Generation Records in Tollcross are also muscling in with DJs in the shop from 10am until 4.30pm, with free beer and snacks – go say hi!

Smack bang in the city centre, Underground Solution are set to stock a gargantuan number of this year’s RSD releases. With doors opening at 8am, they’ve also pulled together a bumper lineup from 1pm in the shop to keep you dancing throughout the rest of the day – expect live music from Sanna and Daniel McGeever plus DJs Eclair Fifi, Lord of the Isles, DJ 3000, Euan Fryer (Athens of the North), Hobbes, GK Machine and LWS.

Down in Stockbridge, it should come as no surprise that VoxBox Music are pulling out all the stops. Once again they’ll be taking over the gorgeous St Vincent’s Chapel with a huge pop-up record shop, open from 8am with loads of RSD releases, with a packed all-day live programme from 11am and a licensed bar. Kathryn Joseph is doing the double, so as well as at Monorail, you’ll also catch her here too alongside other big hitters like Meursault, waverley., Phillip Jon Taylor (PAWS), Broken Chanter, Étain, Grant McPhee, Both Hands and 2025 SAY Award winners Kai Reesu.

Down in Leith, Good Vibes Neighbourhood Store have a packed day and night planned to help meet all your Record Store Day needs. With Good Vibes DJs in the shop all day, they’re also teaming up with Lost Map Records and Play Nice Presents for an outstore in the nearby False Widow bar from 12:30-5pm, with live music from Acolyte, Isa Gordon, Tony Morris, Buffet Lunch and Ballboy’s Gordon McIntyre. After all that, make sure you grab dinner before heading to the Leith FAB Cricket Club where the party continues with Good Vibes Record Store Night, curated by all-vinyl DJ collective Supper Club (full disclosure, I am one of them, hi!) and Play Nice Presents. Expect live music from Glasgow duo comfort, plus DJs Louise Mason (EHFM, BBC 6Music) and Plant City (EHFM) joining Supper Club themselves from 8pm until 1am.

Image: Le Freak Records by Tom Le Freak

Dundee & beyond

In Dundee, there are three options to get your Record Store Day fix this year. On Union Street, neighbours Assai Records and Thirteen Records are both taking part as official stockists, while up on Perth Road, Le Freak Records have a doubler planned for the big day. In the shop from 10am until 6pm they’ve got all-vinyl DJ sets planned from DJ Jon Jon, Mark Wallace, Fritz (Tunage) and Egang, and alongside all the lovely RSD stock, they’ll have a prize draw giving away gift vouchers and merch, plus a sale on all non-RSD vinyl. After all that, they’re hosting a Record Store Day Afterparty at CANVAS from 7pm until late with Edinburgh-based DJ and producer CRYOSAUNA, former Reading Rooms residents WeAreNot Robots, and Tom Le Freak and Teddy Hannah going B2B to round out the night. There’ll also be live club visuals from e.s.p.

At Europa Music in Stirling, things kick of at 9am with live music from midday; expect performances from Thrown Away, Xan Tyler & Dusty Stray, Deltamanic, Gator, Merrowfolk, The Shermans, Dead Dolphins, Yellowbeard, A Murder of Crows, Radio Banter and MRDB. Elsewhere, you’ll find official Record Store Day participants in Greenock (Reverence Music), Linlithgow (Low Port Music), Perth (Concorde Music Shop), Aberdeen (Assai Records & Chameleon @ Holborn Hifi) and Kirkwall, Orkney (Groove Records).