Calling all vinyl junkies: This year’s Record Store Day celebration is coming Saturday, April 18. We’ve got all the details on where to shop and what to look for to expand your collection and support local independent record stores all in one fell swoop.
Before we begin, we’ll repeat the annual caveat that these events have lots of moving parts, and it’s always a good idea to check in with your favorite store — in person, via phone or on social media — to confirm details before you go. Similarly, we weren’t able to confirm this year’s plans at the time of this writing from some stores that typically participate in RSD (in some way, whether or not they carry exclusive titles), so be sure to watch their socials for updates.
‘I’ve embarrassed myself’: The former home of The Groove record store in East Nashville was torn down without permits in February
That includes the three nearby locations of The Great Escape (the flagship at 5400 Charlotte Ave. and the stores in Madison and Murfreesboro), Elevator Vinyl (inside Lykke Haus Vintage at 490 E. Trinity Lane) and Phonoluxe (2609 Nolensville Pike). Sadly, Nashville RSD staple The Groove won’t be participating this year since the business is in a state of flux. The shop closed at the end of 2025, and plans to reopen elsewhere haven’t yet come to fruition. Its longtime home on Calvin Avenue was demolished, but Metro has ordered the owner to rebuild it.
Update, April 15: The Great Escape has announced its RSD events. All locations will open two hours early at 8 a.m. on April 18 for you to shop exclusive titles. Even if you don't find anything to buy, you can get up to five free CDs or LPs from the bin of 99-cent items. At the Charlotte Avenue location, you can see Ben Scruggs perform at noon and meet musician and local punk historian Charles "Cat" Tidball at 1 p.m. Old-time, bluegrass and country band Animal Control is set to perform at the Murfreesboro location at 2 p.m.
The Nashville location of McKay’s (636 Old Hickory Blvd.) — which remains open, unlike the Knoxville location that is closing amid tense union negotiations — will be carrying RSD exclusives in addition to its usual stock of used records. McKay’s is planning to offer a “calmer vibe” for Record Store Day, allowing patrons to focus on the vinyl without distraction, and will open at 9 a.m.
Third Man Records (623 Seventh Ave. S.) is hosting an RSD celebration at The Blue Room from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All ages are welcome to enjoy live music from Soot, Herly Berly and Most Improved, and to shop the various vendors set up for the day, including Lucky Stars Vintage, Danger Zone Video, East Nashville Books and many more. The Third Man store carries RSD releases only from its own label, so the sole exclusive you’ll find here is The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Some Candy Talking EP. (You will find recent notable TMR releases like a Jack White 7-inch, a Sierra Ferrell live-to-acetate LP and a box set featuring Detroit songsmith Ted Lucas.)
Grimey’s (1060 E. Trinity Lane) hasn’t released finalized plans at the time of this writing, but they confirmed they will continue their tradition of offering RSD exclusive releases from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Typically, shoppers are asked to line up at the basement back door of the shop to order off the “menu” of available records.
At Vinyl Tap for Record Store Day, 4/20/2024
Vinyl Tap (2038 Greenwood Ave.) usually goes big for Record Store Day, and this year is no exception. They will open at 9 a.m. for patrons to shop the RSD exclusive drops and their usual selection of new and used vinyl. There will be a 20 percent discount for everything in the store except the RSD releases and April 17’s new releases. Starting at noon, Vinyl Tap will team up with the good folks at Music Valley Archive to host a community block party featuring performances from Nicole Atkins, Elke, Alanna Royale’s 30 Minutes of Revolution, Emily Nenni, Justin and the Cosmics, Animaleja, Bleary, Jeremy Fetzer and Ultrafrog. That’s in addition to DJ sets, local vendors, and of course MVA’s signature swag — including an exclusive collection featuring their RSD 2026 mascot Remi the Raccoon.
Analog Your Life (2546 Lebanon Pike) will open early at 9 a.m. to offer a “curated selection” of some of the most anticipated RSD titles. (Teased in messages with the Scene: a certain mega country-turned-pop star associated with Hendersonville High School, a New Wave group whose frontman famously wore a big suit, and this year’s RSD ambassador.) They’ll also offer 50 percent off all records priced under $5, have local DJs spinning tunes and host a pop-up from Edengrey Prints.
As usual, Alison’s Record Shop (994A Davidson Drive) won’t have RSD exclusives but is offering special sales for early-bird shoppers. From 10 a.m. to noon they’ll offer 20 percent off everything in the store, and will transition to 15 percent off from noon until 5 p.m. As always, they are giving away a free Christmas record with every purchase, so head over their way if you’re feeling festive!
Metal- and punk-centric Dead End Records (1200 Clinton St., Suite 10) will have a limited selection of RSD exclusives, with a 10 a.m. open time. Shoppers looking to plan ahead should check Dead End’s social media as they plan to post photos of the shipment they receive prior to the day of sale. Further details on logistics for the big day can be found on their website, deadendrecordstn.com.
Talking with Daniel Halal about his recently opened used-only retail spot in the Shoppes on Fatherland
Daydream Records (1006 Fatherland St., No. 104A) offers only used vinyl, so no RSD exclusives here. Instead they are setting up a huge collection of $2 records for shoppers to peruse as they enjoy onsite refreshments and DJs. The store will be open the usual hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hi-Fi Frontier (inside Dashwood Vintage and Plants at 2416 Music Valley Drive) will have some new arrivals out for shoppers — and offer 20 percent off vinyl — on Record Store Day, but no RSD exclusive releases. Those who prefer to keep Saturday low-key can find them Sunday at Eastside Bowl for the vendor market put on by their new neighbors in Music Valley, Totally Rad Collectors Emporium.
Swaggie Records will have RSD exclusives and also honor Record Store Day with 25 percent off all used vinyl. The offer stands at both locations, downtown at 211 Union St. and the new Donelson outpost at 2720 Old Lebanon Pike.
This year’s Record Store Day ambassador is soulful pop star Bruno Mars. Lucky fans will be able to score his Collaborations LP, a compilation of the singer’s best duets, as an RSD exclusive. Other notable full-length recordings to check out include The Cure’s Greatest Hits double LP, an LP of Disney alum Hilary Duff’s contemporary re-recordings of her greatest hits on (Mine), and a double-LP set of En Vogue’s EV3. Also not to miss: Local legends Paramore’s debut All We Know Is Falling in a deluxe double-album edition including the first vinyl pressing of their 2006 The Summer Tic EP, a collection of Ma Rainey’s legendary foundational blues recordings on the Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom LP, singer-songwriter Labi Siffre’s Crying Laughing Loving Lying Expanded Edition on two LPs, and Swamp Dogg’s Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted LP.
Those who prefer their music in bite-size chunks can check out 7-inches from Johnny Blue Skies and the Dark Clouds (Castaways, featuring two covers), Charli XCX (“Party 4 U” ), Carly Rae Jepsen (“Disco Darling”), Khruangbin (“White Gloves II” b/w “M. Blanc”), Anderson .Paak (a 10-year anniversary box set of the songs from Malibu), Pink Pantheress (“Girl Like Me” ), The Rolling Stones (six 3-inch vinyl singles from the 1960s, available individually or bundled with a specialty turntable), Taylor Swift (“Elizabeth Taylor” ), and many more. Zoetrope fans can choose among special picture disc titles from Peter Gabriel, George Harrison and Bluey.
The highlight of this year’s RSD list is a fabulous selection of live albums, many released on vinyl for the first time. There’s something from nearly every major genre, with artists running the gamut from BABYMETAL, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Pixies to Jeff Buckley, Brandi Carlile, Tyler Childers (including a song recorded during his pop-up at Turkey and the Wolf Ice House) and John Prine — and beyond. Whatever you decide to take home, you’ll end up with some great new music to soundtrack your spring and the knowledge that you’ve supported Nashville’s booming independent record scene.
