Record Store Day in Newcastle, Australia
Two dates to know: Record Store Day Black Friday is Friday, November 29, 2026, and the next main Record Store Day is Saturday, April 17, 2027.
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day is an annual event built around independent record stores. The main event traditionally lands on the third Saturday of April each year; Record Store Day Black Friday is traditionally held the day after US Thanksgiving. Both days bring exclusive, limited-run vinyl and CD releases sold only at participating independent shops — not big-box retailers, and not mail order until the in-store exclusives sell through. Because pressings are limited, popular titles can sell out within the first hour, which is why a line-early culture has grown up around the day even at shops that are otherwise quiet on a weekday morning.
Tips for the day
- Arrive early. At busy shops, lines for popular titles can start well before opening.
- Bring cash. A cash line often moves faster than card on a shop's highest-volume day of the year.
- Check each shop's own site or Instagram in the week before the date — participating shops post their own opening time, line policy, and which exclusive titles they've ordered in.
- Release lists are first-come, first-served and vary store to store. A title in stock at one shop may not show up at another, even across town.
- Expect one-per-customer or per-household limits on the most in-demand titles.
- Not every independent record store participates every year, and allocations vary shop to shop — confirm directly with the shop rather than assuming based on a past year.
Shops to check in Newcastle, Australia
Independent record shops open in Newcastle, Australia right now. We don't yet track which specific shops participate in Record Store Day or what they've ordered in for a given year — check each shop's own site or Instagram close to the date for their exclusive-release list, opening time, and line policy.
- Abicus
Darby Street (Cooks Hill) icon since 2000 - an independently curated destination for new vinyl alongside footwear and apparel (Blundstone, Birkenstock and more).
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- Cooks Hill Books & Records
Secondhand books and records shop in Cooks Hill, established 1985, with pre-loved vinyl arriving regularly across a wide range of genres.
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- Famous Rock Shop
Newcastle institution buying and selling vinyl for over 40 years, alongside alternative/skate fashion, footwear, CDs and concert tickets. Previously traded as The Rock Shop at the same Hunter Street address.
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- Hiss & Crackle Records
Newcastle music emporium in Wallsend since 2019: new and pre-loved vinyl sourced globally, plus vintage clothing, band merch, books and zines, with an in-store stage for free live music. Merged with Rudderless Records (Newcastle West) in late 2025.
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- Maru Hi-Fi
Listening bar and restaurant in Newcastle West's Midtown Precinct, built around a 10,000-strong vinyl collection and hi-fi sound system. Live jazz/soul Wed, BYO-record night Thu, all-vinyl Fri, guest-selector Sat. Open Wed-Sun into the late evening.
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- Snafu Records
Record store in Newcastle West, on the Stewart Avenue end of Hunter Street next to Sourdough Baker.
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See the full record store listing for Newcastle, Australia.