Back in 2007, more than 700 independent record stores in the United States came together to celebrate their unique culture in the first Record Store Day (RSD). The UK soon followed suit, and 2014 will see the seventh celebration of our country’s unique independent sector.

Saturday, April 19 is the one day that all of the independently-owned record stores come together with artists and music lovers to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases, along with various other promotional products, are made exclusively for the day, and musicians and bands will make special appearances at their favourite ‘indie’.

Music & Goods Exchange in Berwick Street, Soho, has DJs playing all day – Sean P, Richard Sen, Tommy Koi, Jonny Goodfella, and Rufus & Bambi – plus competitions and fun stuff taking place in all of its shops, including an exclusive mix CD for all customers (while stocks last), second hand stock sales and a selection of RSD releases (mgeshops.com).

Rough Trade East, at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, will be hosting Toy, The Rails, East India Youth, Ben Watt and Bernard Butler, Younghusband, J Spaceman, and Amazing Snakeheads, plus DJ sets from Trevor Jackson, Django Django, and some special secret guests. For the kids, there will be a colouring-in mural by Pete Fowler (roughtrade.com).

Vinyl Pimp in Felstead Road, Hackney Wick, is hosting an all-day, in-store event featuring an eclectic line-up with some of its favourite DJs, artist and labels, including Tim Exile, Unknown to the Known, Photonz, Shadow Dancer, Jamie Russell, London Modular Alliance and Esa (vinylpimp.co.uk).

Sounds of the Universe, in Broadwick Street in Soho, will be stocking hundreds of one-off exclusives and will be joined by Four Tet, Illum Sphere, Josey Rebelle, Tenderlonious, Andrew Ashong, Thris Tian, Alexander Nut, Sam (Zero 7), D.yvzor, Capracara, Johnny Roast, and Soul Jazz Soundsystem (soundsoftheuniverse.com). 

Sister Ray, in Berwick Street in Soho, will be playing host to Ruts DC, DJ Andy Smith, September Girls, Adam Ant, Augustines, Edwyn Collins, and the Soho Hobo (sisterray.co.uk).

BM Soho in D’Arblay Street, London’s longest-running independent dance music record store, will have sets throughout the day from Ashley Beedle, Jo Wallace, Rootikal, Addis Pablo, Waze and Odyssey, Vivek, dBridge, Fracture, Stray, Terry Francis, Samantha Blackburn, Brodanse, Dave Congreve, Hilit Kolet, Joe Seven, Tasha, and Mags. Complimentary cocktails and a raffle top the proceedings off (bm-soho.com)

There are also events taking place at Kristina Records in Stoke Newington Road, Hackney (kristinarecords.com), Eldica Records in Bradbury Street, Dalston (eldica.co.uk), Reckless Records in Berwick Street in Soho (reckless.co.uk), and Phonica Records in Poland Street in Soho (phonicarecords.com).

Details: recordstoreday.co.uk