LIVE REVIEW: Record Store Day 2025 in Liverpool

This year's Record Store Day saw the usual mile-long queues outside Liverpool's record stores as vinyl fanatics eagerly await access limited editions, new releases and the rarest of records. These queues began in the early hours of the morning and didn't end until late afternoon. It was honestly beautiful to see how the day can bring together the music community within a city and have music lovers young and old chatting over a shared obsession, making new friends and supporting local stores.

However, Liverpool's record stores also play a huge part in the city's live scene. This meant that the day also involved full-day lineups of emerging talent at both The Jacaranda and Rough Trade. Our writers Bella Moore and Michaela Roper were on hand to cover the day's proceedings, that were rudely interrupted by a city centre power cut...

Photo Credit: @Johnsysshots

The Jacaranda

After what was already an eventful morning at the Jacaranda, with the city centre power cut leading to impromptu street performances, celebrations continued into the night with a range of local artists and bands taking the stage both upstairs and downstairs. Despite the record store closing and the excited queue of customers hoping to bag some exclusive vinyls coming to a close, the Jacaranda was still packed, with a crowd out the door listening to the acoustic sets from the ground floor bar. 

Photo Credit: @Johnsysshots

Heading downstairs into the evening, Rae Charlea kicked off the basement sets with some Indie-Rock tunes ahead of supporting Esme Bridie at Arc later in the week. We then heard Woo, another local band keeping the vibes up and getting the packed crowd moving. Grunge band Courds were up next, who are also playing Arc this coming April 26th supporting Ambedo Blue, adding to the names of the up and coming talent on display for Record Store Day. 

Carrying into the later hours we had Credits, playing their first show under the name before their headline show at Arc on the 17th May and their debut single out 2nd May, making way for an exciting month for the band. Finnlay K was the final act of the night, rounding up a jam packed day of live music with a variety of new tunes and some unreleased ahead of his EP ‘Remedy’ releasing 24th April. 

Photo Credit: @Johnsysshots

We saw a variety of performances from acts with upcoming gigs and music releases that highlight a promising future for Liverpool performers and Record Store Days to come, and  we can’t wait to see what’s next. 

Words by Bella Moore

Rough Trade

Rough Trade Liverpool’s celebrations for Record Store Day 2025 may have been unexpectedly cut short due to a city-wide power outage, but it’s safe to say that this new venue on the block pulled out all the stops to provide an afternoon jam-packed with up-and-coming local talent.

The vinyl haven on Hanover Street recently joined the city’s ever-growing roster of record stores back in April 2024. Rough Trade Liverpool boasts an incredible 1970s-esque performance space above an impressive shop floor, which was teeming with eager buyers on the morning of Record Store Day this year.

The intimacy of the venue certainly sparked excitement as the afternoon kicked off with live performances from Toy Car, The Molotovs, Remée and Cruush. Sparkling disco balls and shoppers hauling their exclusive records upstairs made for an electrifying atmosphere that reverberated around the room as fan-favourites Hank Bee took to the stage.

The five-piece ensemble were a Record Store Day highlight, offering up a unique melodic cocktail of Mid Western tones and mellow yet funky Folk inspired harmonies. Hank Bee’s heartfelt lyrical stints on tracks reflecting on childhood nostalgia and lost time crafted an easy listening soundtrack to the day, whilst providing eccentric Surf Rock inspired guitar licks to keep listeners on their toes.

Singer-songwriter Hughzy provided a gentle acoustic set to close out Rough Trade’s celebrations for the year, which were abruptly brought to a halt by an unforeseen power cut. His string work was effortlessly executed, supported by powerful vocals and sentimental lyrical efforts.

Rough Trade’s combination of live music and some incredible Record Store Day picks were enough to please the stream of vinyl-lovers queuing around the venue from the early morning. The sense of eagerness in the air was celebrated exceptionally well as they marked another well-renowned day in a music-lover’s calendar.

Words by Michaela Roper