Record Store Day 2024: An inventory of a number of the finest report shops in Bristol

Bristol is residence to an array of great locations you possibly can go to for your entire report and music wants, together with some which were on our excessive streets for many years. Ahead of Record Store Day on Saturday, April 20, we wish to have a good time a number of the unbiased report retailers to help regardless of the time of yr.

Many of them specialize in sure genres of music, sure specialities, host reside occasions – and a few even keep effectively away from Record Store Day utterly. Some are situated in Bristol’s interior metropolis buying hotspots, whereas others are in much less central places which can be price making the journey to.

Record shops are sometimes a treasure trove for not solely lovers however merely those that love the sound of a report taking part in their favorite items of music, however some are combating the price of residing disaster. Even massive chain HMV closed certainly one of its Bristol shops final yr, though certainly one of its administrators lately claimed the retailer was anticipating a comeback pushed by vinyl and bodily media.

Read extra: All the massive names introduced thus far to play Bristol in 2024

Read extra: Bristol Jazz Festival returns with new South Bristol location and a free music parade

We’ve compiled an inventory of a number of the finest report shops in Bristol – a few of which report followers have even dubbed ‘the most effective within the UK’. All info listed beneath is, to the most effective of our data, right at time of writing.

Think we have missed certainly one of your favourites? Let us know within the feedback beneath…

Wanted Records

43 High Street, BS1 2AT

Wanted Records opened in August 2009 regardless of many report retailers closing round them. It’s run by self-proclaimed ‘vinyl addicts’ and the brand new retailer, which opened in 2022, boasts 4 occasions the house of the unique.

The workforce says: "We have tried to create a store we want to go to ourselves, one the place situation is constant, while the inventory is assorted, fascinating and repeatedly up to date. Most importantly, the place the easiest inventory is out there to whoever walks in, not hidden away or on-line. As a end result, we’ve quickly change into the default Bristol vacation spot for collectors and sellers worldwide.

"In Wanted you will not discover report retailer day novelties, infinite racks of charity store fodder or records match for the bin. What you’ll find is a consistently altering wall of unpolluted rarities, sensible costs, welcoming unpatronising employees, even a espresso in the event you’re in for a session! The inventory is overwhelmingly second-hand, we inventory just a few new titles from fascinating independents, labels resembling Jazzman, Analog Africa, Trunk and so on.

"We have an extended background within the music business and an intensive data inside our areas of musical curiosity, be at liberty to choose our brains to root out what floats your boat. We journey far and huge to supply inventory, in addition to shopping for in-store for money or trade. If you are caught for a present, we promote reward tokens to any quantity."

Plastic Wax Records

222 Cheltenham Road, BS6 5QU

Plastic Wax Records is alleged to be ‘Bristol’s greatest report vendor’, serving music lovers since 1978. Open seven days every week, it boasts a ‘huge ever-changing inventory of vinyl – 7", 12" singles and LPs’, in addition to a ‘consistently increasing vary of CDs’. It affords each purchase and promote companies.

Plastic Wax Records caters to an enormous array of genres, together with rock, soul, reggae, jazz, blues, people, world, and punk music. It additionally affords common clearance gross sales and a few uncommon and specialised objects.

Astro Vinyl

68 Park Row, BS1 5LE

Reviews for Astro Vinyl on Park Row describe it as being a "cool little report store and cafe" promoting a spread of primarily second hand vinyl at "affordable costs". One evaluate says: "Not solely does this vinyl store promote such nice records with a tremendous choice, it additionally sells some tasty espresso! Not to say how low cost it’s…

"This place feels homely and the proprietor is so pleasant. Whether you are a music fanatic or are simply craving a espresso undoubtedly test it out!" A second evaluate reads: "Cool little report store and cafe. Lots of nice secondhand vinyl at affordable costs.

"A a lot smaller and fewer darkish model of Revolver Records for those who keep in mind that quite great retailer. Extra factors for the stools outdoors utilising Alternative Tentacles records as seats tops!"

Friendly Records

59 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1ES

Friendly Records is an unbiased report store based mostly in Bedminster, which is open seven days every week and affords a purchase and promote service. Friendly Records sells primarily used vinyl, however does inventory just a few new merchandise too.

It caters to followers of hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, world, indie/various, bass, soundtracks, and extra. Plus, Friendly Records sells a spread of its personal merchandise, together with t-shirts.

Prime Cuts

85 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8AS

Fans of Prime Cuts on Gloucester Road describe it as being "an excellent basement report store" and a "treasure trove" for individuals who love digging via report collections. One buyer mentioned: "The finest 70s funk, disco, soul part I’ve seen amongst many different genres.

"They had many records that I’ve needed to hunt down through the web on the shelf. It’s the primary report store I head to when visiting Bristol."

A second mentioned: "Have been coming to Bristol for 20+ years and Prime Cuts has at all times been a go to report store. I’ve at all times had a love of basement report retailers that make you dig for gold.

"This store specialises in city, jazz, soul and so on however nonetheless has severely good records throughout all genres (I used to purchase numerous indie/various and 60’s from right here). Prices are first rate too. Always price a go to."

Cherry Waves Vinyl

254 Church Road, BS5 8AF

Cherry Waves is a Bristol-based report retailer additionally working on-line and repeatedly posting its new records on its social media channels. Even open on Sundays, prospects and guests describe this spot as a "good little report store" with a "good collection of vinyl masking all genres" and "very moderately priced".

One native mentioned: "So fortunate to have this virtually on my doorstep. Great collection of vinyl and all priced realistically and inexpensive. Friendly, unobtrusive service. Highly really useful to all vinyl collectors and lovers."

The Centre for Better Grooves

33 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8AA

Another report retailer located on Bristol’s iconic Gloucester Road, The Centre for Better Grooves is described by one reviewer as being a "first-class unbiased report retailer" and boasting an enormous collection of genres amongst artists, each new and previous. They add: "They’ve received some nice rarities and it is a good place for a dig, at all times a heat welcome and valued suggestions."

Collector Cave UK

184 Cheltenham Road, Cotham, BS6 5RB

Collector Cave on Cheltenham Road sells a mixture of vinyl, CDs, Hifi and DJ gear from their retailer, in addition to on-line. The workforce right here provide a purchase and promote service on records, tapes, CDs, DVDs, video games consoles, tech and extra.

They’ve additionally been identified to help an area reside occasion or two.

Specialist Subject Records

72-73 Old Market, BS2 0EJ

Specialist Subject Records has a retailer in Old Market, and likewise delivers worldwide on-line. They inventory vinyl records, CDs, tapes, ‘merch and zines’ and will likely be providing ‘a great deal of exclusives’ within the Bristol store on Record Store Day.

Whatever is left will likely be obtainable on-line from 8pm, Monday, April 22. Specialist Subject Records primarily concentrate on punk, indie, metallic releases.

Rough Trade Bristol

3 New Bridewell, Nelson Street, BS1 2QD

With a number of shops the world over, Rough Trade is a reputation that is most likely acquainted to most individuals in Bristol. The venue in our metropolis performs host to not solely an enormous array of records, books, CDs and different merchandise, but additionally in-store signings from a number of the greatest bands and artists within the business.

You solely want to take a look at their Polaroid wall in-store to see a number of the individuals who have graced the tiny stage right here. What’s extra, Rough Trade at all times boasts an intensive record of Record Store Day titles, in addition to celebrations through the day.

Payback Records

Unit 45, St Nicholas Market, BS1 1LA

Situated in Bristol’s market vacation spot, followers of Payback Records say: "Payback Records has received to be any DJ’s favorite report retailer as they actually know a factor or two about vinyl! Not solely basic reggae, previous and new, however you may discover gems from all genres. Loving the old-skool Hip-Hop part. And, they’re actually good individuals!"

A second reviewer mentioned: "Nice vinyl, however largely a pleasant chat about music."

Black City Records

16 Trenchard Street, BS1 5AN

Dubbed ‘the South West’s solely heavy metallic report store’, Black City Records shares a complete vary of recent and pre-played vinyl, CDs and cassettes, in addition to DVDs, posters, t-shirts, patches, badges, books, fanzines and varied different heavy metallic merchandise and memorabilia. Black City Records opened on Trenchard Street in 2021, and is "proud to be the South West’s solely 100% devoted Heavy Metal retailer".

The workforce says: "Black City Records is a report retailer run by metalheads, for metalheads. Named after the music of the identical title on the debut album from Voïvod, we provide the South West Heavy Metal neighborhood a hub for locating and shopping for music from a spread of unbiased and main labels.

"If we don’t have what you’re on the lookout for in inventory then we will most likely supply it for you, for assortment or supply. Just ask… We are situated on Trenchard Street (on the junction of Lodge Street) in Bristol metropolis centre proper behind the Bristol Beacon, 100 metres from our buddies on the famend Metal pub – The Gryphon, and a brief stroll from the O2 Academy venue and the enduring Hatchet Inn."

Longwell Records

36 Temple Street, Keynsham, BS31 1EH

Longwell Records in Keynsham is an unbiased report store with greater than 10,000 records in inventory. It shares each new and second hand vinyl, in addition to CDs, and caters to ‘most genres’.

Longwell Records additionally has its personal listening station in retailer, so you possibly can attempt before you purchase, and you can even store on-line through the web site. You can also encounter the odd reside music occasion in-store, too, and should recognise employees from their appearances at festivals like Glastonbury.

Disk Frisk

Sommerville Road, Bishopston, BS7 9AA

Disk Frisk shares a variety of records from an array of genres – from synth pop and new wave, to reggae, techno and extra. The workforce add new inventory each week, repeatedly invite a few of their favorite DJs and collectors to choose three records for them to promote, and Disk Frisk is not any stranger to internet hosting events throughout completely different venues in Bristol and past, in addition to occasions in-store.