Record Store Day 2016: Glasgow, Edinburgh & Dundee

The annual celebration of vinyl merchants returns for another round on Saturday 16 April, with 557 releases in the pipeline and a plethora of events across Scotland.

As regular customers of indie record stores shops will know, there's valid questions to be asked and concerns to be raised about RSD and whether it's ultimately damaging the very thing it was set up to protect – independent record shops, duhhh – but hey-ho, it's happening now, so we may as well make the most of it, right? Besides, any excuse to spend vast amounts (and yeah, they'll be vast) on records without anyone raising an eyebrow has to be some cause for conviviality.

To help ensure you don't miss out, here's our guide to the best Record Store Day events aross Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.

Organising or know of a Record Store Day event in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Dundee? Email will@theskinny.co.uk and we’ll add it in!

Record Store Day events in Glasgow

We start at Love Music who, not satisfied with merely carrying a massive stash of RSD releases, are spreading themselves across (count 'em!) three venues this year. There's live music instore once more (details to be announced), but they've also secured the function rooms of two neighbouring Dundas Street pubs – The Dows hosts DJ sets from Olive Grove Records, Glasgow Podcart, Scottish Fiction, Rockin' Tom Rafferty (The Primevals/The Beat Poets) and Love Music's own Soul Boy Davey Bee, while The Vale features live performances from The Filthy Tongues, Pinact, Man of Moon, Be Charlotte and Marshall Chipped, with even more to be added. As if all that wasn't enough, there's also a free tea stall, RSD cakes (we admit, our curiosity is piqued), and a 'bag-sitting' service for those who'd rather not lug their lavish spoils around all day.

The everlovin' Monorail are no slouches either, with a party designed to "jettison the naysayers and grumps" and focus our ailing millennial attention spans on what matters most (that's the music, for those of you daydreaming at the back). Opening from 9am for the usual queues'n'vinyl shiz, they've also got a hella line-up of live music and DJs in the shop from 3pm: Emma Pollock, Spinning Coin and Batteries are all present to rep the former, while wax-spinning comes courtesy of Charlie McCann, Holly Calder (Eyes Wide Open), Mickey Rooney (The Primevals) and Calvin Halliday (The Pooches / Anxiety). The Mono bar/cafe opens from 11am too, and they're promising home-baked cakes and a kids' table as well. Fun for all the family!

Monorail Music, Glasgow

Over in the relatively new surrounds of LP Records, the West End shop celebrate their first Record Store Day with a veritable mini-festival of their own. Opening from 8am 'til late, they've got live performances instore from (deep breath) Pinact, WOMPS, Urvanovic, Three Blind Wolves, Michael Cassidy, Ultras, Man of Moon, HQFU, John Knox Sex Club, Be Charlotte, Codist and Bridal Shower, and there's still more to be announced. There's raffles, discounts and goodies planned too, making for an intensely packed day. Not. Too. Shabby.

Elsewhere, the good folks from the Mungo's Hi Fi sound system have teamed up with dancehall maestro Stalawa Sound to present the Scotch Bonnet Record Shop Party at The 78 café. Partying, in their own words, "in true ragamuffin style," they're promising a classic reggae record store party vibe, with DJ sets from Mungo’s Hi Fi & Stalawa Sound all day, 500+ titles from the Scotch Bonnet label's online shop, a 'Selector's Box' of second-hand records, listening decks, and special deals on food and music. It's free entry too, so your inner rudie has no excuse not to get down.

Where to buy Record Store Day releases in Glasgow

Participating stores are Love Music, Monorail, LP Records, Mixed Up Records, and Apollo Music – or if you're willing to trek a little further, Rare Trade in Kilwinning and Europa Music in Stirling will also be stocking the official releases.

Record Store Day events in Edinburgh

There's plenty going down in the Scottish capital too: Underground Solu'shn start the party (well, they open their doors) at 8am to allow for the brave souls waiting outside to exchange money for goods and services (well, buy RSD vinyl). From 2pm they've also got a hefty bill of DJs for your listening pleasure, with the likes of Vic Galloway (BBC Radio Scotland/6 Music), Mark Nicholas O. (Ring Rose Records), Found (Chemikal Underground) and Dancin' Dave Carson (Boots For Dancing) all eager to share their favourite sounds with you, the public. Plus appearances from Main Ingredient, Believe and more.

VoxBox, Edinburgh

Up on The Mound, Coda have another day of live acts including John McCusker (performing with Adam Holmes and Heidi Talbot), Wilf Smarties (Mowgli) and Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow). Music starts at 3pm, and the shop opens to sell you the official RSD releases at 8.30am. "Breakfast is on us," they say, "with bacon rolls for the hardy customers in the queue!" No need to force any Weetabix down your throat on your way out of house, then.

Down in Stockbridge, meanwhile, VoxBox host their annual Record Store Day Party, tying in with their fifth birthday celebration. They're handling all the usual RSD exclusives, with the shop open from 9am, while neighbouring venues host a vast array of live music. Notebooks out? Good: from noon onwards you can catch former Crass frontman Steve Ignorant (also on hand for a Q&A and signing), Kathryn Joseph, Emma Pollock, Adam Stafford, Kid Canaveral, Best Girl Athlete, De Rosa (solo), Glass Caves, Faith Eliott, Jargo, Man of Moon, Miracle Glass Company and Pinact. There are also appearances from Kitchen Disco DJs and a reading, interview and signing from Graeme Thomson, author of Cowboy Song: The Authorised Biography of Philip Lynott. It's not like you can't say they're busy.

Where to buy Record Store Day releases in Edinburgh

Participating stores in Edinburgh are Underground Solu'shn, VoxBox, Coda, Blackwell's and McAlister Matheson.

Record Store Day events in Dundee

It's a Record Store Day first for Dundee, as the official event finally comes to the city. Assai Records will have the limited editions in stock plus live music from 11am, courtesy of Be Charlotte, Carousel, Courtney Elena and Dave Webster of Sinderins. As an extra incentive, they're offering 10% off all non-RSD vinyl, and promising a "party atmosphere" to boot. DAMN STRAIGHT.

Where to buy Record Store Day releases in Dundee

Just Assai participating here, although more hardy travellers may wish to head to Concorde Records in Perth, who'll also be carrying the RSD swag.