Love Record Stores announces 2021 edition

Second LRS takes place on September 4

Love Record Stores have announced details of their 2021 edition, taking place in September.

Love Record Stores was launched as a high-profile, global social media campaign to help independent record shops stay open and thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the recent crisis, many of these shops have experienced a catastrophic drop-off in footfall, with a number of them having already closed their doors.

After a successful starting year in 2020, LRS now continue for their 2021 day-long event on September 4 (venue TBA), which will feature exclusive vinyl releases from Sharon Van Etten, Sonic Youth & The Pastels, shame, Angel Olsen, Bicep, and Soulwax. 

Over 220 independent record stores across the UK will be participating by setting up their own popup stalls. Participating stores will include Phonica Records, Boomkat, Flashback, Mr Bongo, and Sounds of the Universe, and music curation will be handled by labels including Ninja Tune, Beggars Group, Heavenly Recordings and Mute.

In 2020, the initiative took the form of a pledging scheme, with many other major music companies committing their support for the shops. The movement has been given the Twitter hashtag #loverecordstores.

High-profile supporters include Elton John, Paul Weller and Kate Tempest, all of whom have urged the wider community to continue shopping online while shops remained closed during the pandemic.

2020 saw a large-scale day event in June, which featured a market with stalls set up by over 130 independent record shops, pushing new and reissued vinyl releases from their stock, and generating over £1m in revenue. With The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess as its ambassador, the event also showcased DJ sets, live sets, interviews, and readings. 

For more information, visit: https://www.loverecordstores.com/about