This article refers to the August Drop - please refer to the updated September Drop guide!
"Strange days have found us! Strange days have tracked us down!"
It's been a weird old year, but we're trying to keep things as normal as possible for Record Store Day here at Relevant. The article below should answer almost any question you should have regarding this year's RSD celebrations - please read and understand this in full before calling the shop to ask us questions, as we're extremely busy, almost always single-staffed, and any question you could have will be answered below.
Record Store Day is now split across three dates in 2020, the first (and by far the biggest) being on Saturday 29th August.
This year marks our sixth RSD, and after the success of all the previous ones, we intend to run things the same way we have done the past few years, whilst ensuring everyone's safety during the global pandemic.
We'll publish a complete stock list of what titles we have in the shop with prices, quantities, etc the day before (mid-afternoon / early evening on Friday 28th August). This way you can make an informed decision regarding when to start queuing based on what we have available.
For now, you can browse all the RSD titles we expect to stock in our online shop (updated daily).
Standard RSD rules apply - you cannot pre-order, reserve, buy over the phone, etc. Physical, in-person sales only (until 6pm). You can only buy 1 of any given title (but buy as many different titles as you want).
The cafe will open at 6am, by which time we anticipate a fairly large queue will have formed. We won't be able to fit everyone inside the cafe, but there'll be plenty of outdoor seating available (weather permitting).
In previous years the queue has started at 11:30pm the night before, gotten to double digits by 3am, reached about 50 by 6am, and hit triple figures by 8am. We have no idea what to expect this year in terms of queue size.
Everyone in the queue will be assigned a number based on the order in which they arrived - you'll get this number as you enter the cafe, or pass by the front door. Once you've got your numbered ticket, you can chill-out in the cafe with some coffee and breakfast, sit outside and watch the world go by, or just leave altogether and come back when we open the record shop at 8am. Don't loose your numbered ticket, as that's proof of your place in the queue, and we'll need to see it before we can let you in.
The record shop will open at 8am, but we'll only be allowing customers downstairs in groups of five. We'll serve customers in the order they initially arrived (Deli-counter style), and your number will be called at the top of the stairs / at the front door of the cafe, so listen out and don't miss your slot!
You will be required to use hand sanitiser (provided) and wear a face covering (not provided) before entering the record shop. If you aren't prepared to do both of these things, you'll have to stay upstairs / send someone downstairs on your behalf. We have absolutely no fresh air-flow in the basement ("the air is as old as the wallpaper looks!"), so please have your mask on before you begin your decent down the staircase.
All of our previously published Covid-19 reopening rules MUST be adhered to throughout your visit.
Please be aware that RSD products won't be physically browse-able in the racks, so you'll need to know what you intend to buy before coming downstairs. We'll have lists available on the day, but would encourage you to browse our website and the official RSD website for product information for now.
Don't be the fool who accidentally looks at the American RSD website! Different products are only available in different territories: ".co.uk" NOT ".com" is correct for this region.
We have limited space in the cafe, and no-one wants to contract an easily-preventable deadly disease, so please respect other peoples' space, don't block access to the basement, and (if you don't have a table to sit on), don't loiter unnecessarily waiting to go downstairs to the basement.
There'll be plenty of space outside the cafe, and we'll be calling out numbers at the front door. Observe social distancing and don't get in the way.
Once the queue system has ended, we'll still only be allowing a maximum of 5 customers in the basement at once. Please be patient and prepared to wait your turn.
Unfortunately (but obviously) there's no live music this year.
In a notably different approach this year, once the day ends all remaining stock will go up for sale on our website at 6pm. We can't guarantee we won't have sold out of lots of stuff, but if you'd prefer to stay at home this year, get online to snap up what's left!
All updates (including the full stock list) will be posted on the dedicated Record Store Day 2020 page of our website.
Check back there for more info!
Have fun, stay safe, play nice, and don't forget your face mask!