Now in its eighth year, Record Store Day brings together hundreds of record stores and vinyl lovers across the UK in one day of cultural celebration on Saturday April 18. This year, Foo Fighters’ front man, Dave Grohl, has been named official ambassador. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to be and things to do on the day.

Words: Phillipa Rust

1 Exclusive releases

Each year, Record Store Day sees the release of never before heard material. In a change from previous years, in 2015 the list of releases extends to both new and vintage material. Mumford and Son are on board, releasing a 7” single containing two unreleased tracks from their Wilder Mind record. David Bowie gives an exclusive release of Changes, and the Foo Fighters are offering a 10” of their record Songs from the Laundry Room, containing new tracks and demos. There will also be releases from the ever popular George Ezra, The 1975, Calvin Harris and Jimi Hendrix.

For a full list of releases, visit recordstoresday.com/specialreleases

2 Limited edition signed turntables

As part of the annual Record Store Day celebrations, turntable makers Rega Research have gifted 12 turntables to be exclusively signed by renowned artists and distributed in secret to participating Record Store Day stores across the UK. The secret 12 will be hidden amongst 500 award-winning Rega RP1 turntables and distributed randomly to surprise a lucky dozen buyers.

A list of signees and participating stores can be found at recordstoreday.co.uk

3 Secret 7”

The Resident: English music video director and album cover designer Alexander Brown was one of the 7 selected to create a one-off vinyl sleeveEnglish music video director and album cover designer Alexander Brown was one of the 7 selected to create a one-off vinyl sleeve

The concept for Secret 7” has become famous throughout the UK and culminates for Record Store Day. Each year, the group at Secret 7” choose seven iconic tracks from exceptionally talented musicians, and press each one to 100 vinyl records. Each of these 700 records then receives a one-of-a-kind sleeve, designed by artists from across the world. The 700 sleeves will be put on exhibition for one month. This year the exhibition takes place at Somerset House, from April 10 to May 3.

The secret part of this event is that when each of these sleeves goes on sale on May 4, buyers will not know who the record is by, or who designed the sleeve, until after they purchase.

The seven iconic tracks chosen for this year’s Secret 7” are:

The Rolling Stones, Dead Flowers

Diana Ross & The Supremes, Reflections

Underworld, Born Slippy (Nuxx)

The Chemical Brothers, Let Forever Be

St Vincent, Digital Witness

Peter Gabriel, Sledgehammer

The Maccabees, Go

Somerset House Terrace Rooms, London WC2R 1LA; 020 7845 4600; somersethouse.org.uk

4 Carnaby Street popup

Renowned hip-hop record store Deal Real will return in pop up form to Carnaby for Record Store Day. The pop up will showcase talents from the London hip hop scene with artists, musicians and fashion designers all on display. The event will also act as a memorial to the original Deal Real that existed in Marlborough Court, with a photo gallery and previously unseen archive footage from world renowned artists including Kanye West, Example, Will I Am and Mr Hudson. The pop up is open until June 8, just in case you can’t make it on Record Store Day.

14 Newburgh Street, Carnaby W1F 7RT; dealreal.co.uk

6 Berwick Street

The Resident: Crowds on gather Berwick Street for RSD 2014Crowds on gather Berwick Street for RSD 2014

Known as ‘The Golden Mile of Vinyl’, in celebration of Record Store day, the entire length of Berwick Street, Soho, will be putting on a mini music festival. With Berwick Street itself being host to five independent record stores, each will join forces with other shops and restaurants to celebrate vinyl records. The day will run from midday to 6pm, with a main stage hosting 20 minute live music sets from well known and budding artists. On top of the performances, the festival will also host DJs, discounts, and food stalls as part of the Berwick Street Market.

berwickstreetlondon.co.uk

7 The Book and Record Bar

The Book and Record Bar, London, is a new gem in West Norwood. The coffee shop is a perfect spot to hunt for second hand fiction and vinyl records, and at night the shop is converted into a bar for special events. From 2pm on Record Store Day the store will host Dr. Alex Paterson (of the Orb) for a three hour DJ set, followed by a soul inspired night of 60s and 70s music with a mix of soul, R&B and funk until the early hours.

20 Norwood High Street, WestNorwood, London SE27 9NR; 079 7126 5228; thebookandrecordbar.co.uk

8 Café 1001

A favourite host of free live music near Brick Lane, Café 1001 has always been local haunt for students and young creative people to meet and mingle over a diverse range of events including dance performances, live bands and film screenings. For Record Store day Café 1001 is joining forces with Miserable Man, Raft Records and Erased Tape Records for a Record Store Day after party. They’ll bring sounds from River Consoles, Douglas Dare and LOOM to end your day of vinyl appreciation.

91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL; 020 7247 6166; cafe1001.co.uk

9 Casbah Records

Casbah Records are getting into the spirit of Record Store Day by inviting everyone to their Greenwich store with promises of twice as many Record Store Day titles available to the public than last year. Local band the Sonic Jewels will be there to entertain, playing their signature psychedelic 60s tunes. The store has also designed their own range of memorabilia, an exclusive range of T-shirts and badges available on the day. See their website for a full list of records available on the day.

320-322 Creek Road, London SE10 9SW; 020 8858 1964; casbahrecords.co.uk

10 And a few others…

Pretty much every record store in London will be getting involved on Record Store Day with discounts, special releases and live music.

Here are a few more choice stores we recommend checking out:

Flashback – stores located in Islington, Crouch End and Shoreditch; flashback.co.uk

Honest Jon’s – Portobello Road; honestjons.com

Sister Ray – Soho; sisterray.co.uk

Soul Brother Records – Putney; soulbrother.com

For a full list of Record Store Day events and participating stores across the UK, visit recordstoreday.co.uk