FOR the pop-fan it was Taylor Swift, for the indie-minded Sam Fender while for a hardy few it may have been a couple of blokes from long-forgotten Britpop also-rans Ocean Colour Scene.

Yet whatever the artist that drew the record buyer to Resident in Kensington Gardens, Brighton, for Record Store Day 2022 on Saturday, come and queue they did – and in their hundreds.

“It’s been absolutely mad in here today already,” said Natasha Youngs, co-owner of Resident.” I think we’ll probably have had about a thousand people through the doors by the end of the day.”

Although the store opened at 8am, queues started forming from 6pm on Friday night.

Record Store Day is held on one Saturday in April every year and was first conceived back in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees in the US as a way to celebrate the culture surrounding independently owned record stores.

 

 

It is now celebrated as a major cultural event across the world, with Taylor Swift its first global ambassador.

Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day, while festivities also include live performances, meet and greets with artists, parades, DJs spinning records, and vinyl market stalls.

This year’s highlights include as diverse tracks as Live Seeds by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Praise You/Right Here Right Now Remixes by Fatboy Slim, Alright/The Kitchen by Sam Fender and Live On The River Boat by Simon Fowler and Oscar Harrison from Ocean Colour Scene.

“The atmosphere has been amazing,” said Natasha. “This event is so important, not only for us, but for every record store in Brighton and the country.”

The Argus: Niamh Faherty bagged a copy of Rizzle Kicks' Stereo TypicalNiamh Faherty bagged a copy of Rizzle Kicks' Stereo Typical

This was a view echoed by local record collector Niamh Faherty of Shoreham, who managed to bag a copy of Rizzle Kicks’ Stereo Typical, another highlight.

“I’ve been collecting records for years so it’s great to support an event such as this,” said Niamh. “It’s good to see so many people turn up.”

 

 

For David Cargill, originally from Aberdeen but now living in Paris and visiting friends in Brighton, the double-sided joy at finally being able to buy records and support a worthwhile event was clearly palpable.

“This is just brilliant,” he said. “It’s so good to be in a record shop and support Record Store Day.”

The Argus: David Cargill was hoping to buy a copy of Sam Fender's Alright/The KitchenDavid Cargill was hoping to buy a copy of Sam Fender's Alright/The Kitchen

As well as Resident, there were three other shops taking part in this year’s Record Store Day across the city - Rarekind Records, Cult Hero and Bella Union.

“The last few years has been difficult for everyone in the music industry,” added Natasha. “That makes what’s happening today extra special.”

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