Music lovers and collectible hunters, Record Store Day Australia returns this month.
The annual, global celebration of independent record stores that originally started in 2008 when Metallica launched the debut event at Rasputin Music in Mountain View, California, will land on Saturday 18 April.
As the resurgence in physical formats of music offering tactile experiences blooms further, Record Store Day (RSD) continues to support music communities, labels, emerging and established artists, while highlighting local indie record stores and their unique role as cultural hubs and community spaces.
A prime example of this ethos is Relove Oxley. Nestled in a leafy corner of Oxley (near the local train station) in inner-southwest Brisbane, and formerly a FoodWorks store, Relove Oxley is an oasis for lovers of nostalgia, offering an expansive collection of vinyl, CDs, DVDs, toys and collectibles as well as vintage furniture.
Relove Oxley's vinyl section
Relove has partaken in RSD dating back to 2018, each year the surge of interest only growing stronger as the cool factor of collecting vinyl has only intensified – from both the core group of collectors as well as a new brigade of fans who often buy records without having a record player at home.
For these new vinyl enthusiasts, it's just as important to have the physical copy of the album in their lives, even if they don't have the means to play it.
A quick look at Relove's website dedicated to 2026 RSD sees titles from a diverse collection of bands-artists. We're talking Diplo, Bruno Mars, Paramore, Taylor Swift, KPop Demon Hunters, Carly Rae Jepsen, Laufey, and Charli XCX to Crosby, Stills & Nash, A-ha, David Bowie, Blur, Madonna, The Cure, Sonic Youth, and Jeff Buckley.
A reminder that RSD stores are not allowed to open for trade prior to 8am (local time), are not allowed to take pre-orders or reservations for customers who are not able to come into the shop to make their purchase, and are not allowed to hold back product to sell at a later date, either in shop or online.
Relove Oxley's music section
With this year's Record Store Day Australia quickly approaching, we visited with Relove owners Jason and James to get the lowdown: "This year lots of people are asking for Taylor Swift, Jeff Buckley, Wicked soundtrack, Olivia Dean, Bluey records."
Can you give me a brief history of the store?
Opened in August 2014. Was at Blunder Road for just over ten years. Moved to a better location to be closer to the train station in Oxley.
How important is Record Store Day to the store in general as well as the broader music community?
We have been doing RSD since 2018 and we have watched it grow and grow. It's a great day for not only our regular vinyl collectors, but for the new collectors just starting out with their collection.
You mentioned that you try and make sure everyone who queues for RSD at the store on the day will at least get one of the items their chasing (even if it's not their first or second choice); that no one can walk away with multiple records of the same release. That obviously feeds into the community aspect of RSD?
As we have quite the following in the vinyl collecting community, everyone that comes to RSD (even if it’s their first time) has a great time talking about their favourite albums while waiting in the queue.
Once the doors open, people rush to get their choices and the idea is they get at least something they were chasing.
The changing face of vinyl enthusiasts; it's not just the older generation who is collecting records these days, right?
There's definitely a broad mix of collectors these days.
There are the traditional vinyl collectors that have been collecting since the first release of The Beatles' 'White Album', right through to first time vinyl collectors that have set up their music space at home, to the fans that follow their favourite artists and buy their records even though they might not even have a record player. The vinyl collecting community is alive and thriving.
You don't just offer vinyl and other music formats; what else can people shop for at Relove Oxley?
We are Brisbane's go-to place for all things awesome. Come and browse for vintage items, diecast cars and trading cards. Grab a coffee and spend a few hours browsing the aisles. There is literally something for everyone. We call it #reinventingnostalgia
In your opinion, has the number of reality-styled collector's shows broadened the market/ appetite for collecting in Australia?
Streaming shows, TikTok and YouTube channels are certainly helping to showcase collecting in general.
Aside from the nostalgia feels, why do you think people continue to collect analogue items in a digital age?
There is a real sense of having something tangible in their collection.
People are rediscovering DVDs and cassettes along with vinyl records and other ways of getting their favourite artist, this in turn complements their music experience both at home and while out and about.
Record Store Day takes place on 18 April. Relove Oxley is located at Shop 1 / 113 Oxley Station Road, Oxley (Brisbane).
