Seattle-area record stores to visit for Record Store Day 2024

How to Seattle

On Saturday, April 20, the Bellevue record store Silver Platters will likely have a long line out front before opening, with 100 or so vinyl lovers waiting outside the building, said store manager Jeremiah Smith. That’s the norm for the shop on Record Store Day, an annual celebration that brings special new releases and some live events to record stores around the United States and beyond. 

“Every [record] store has their regulars and typically, they’ll all show up for Record Store Day,” Smith said. “It’s usually our busiest day of the year.” 

This year’s special RSD releases — many of which will be available at local participating stores on the 20th — include David Bowie’s “Waiting in the Sky,” Pearl Jam’s latest album, “Dark Matter,” several Beatles releases and hundreds more. In the comments of a February Silver Platters Instagram post about Record Store Day, followers shouted out titles they’re hoping to snag this year: “Ready to line up for Maisie [Peters], Paramore, Noah [Kahan] & Olivia [Rodrigo] and Laufey” and “Fingers crossed that you’ll have the holly humberstone/ MUNA 7.” 

Some Seattle-area stores will also mark the holiday by opening early, serving up free food or hosting special events. Here are just some of the participating stores to check out this year.

Royal Records — Uptown Seattle

For Royal Records, this April 20 will double — or triple, if you count the cannabis-centric 420 Day — as both RSD and the grand opening of its new uptown space. In addition to special releases, the celebratory day will feature live music by WIZDUMB, Mugs and Pockets and more. 2 W. Roy St., Seattle

Sonic Boom Records — Ballard

Earlier this year, Sonic Boom announced its annual RSD T-shirt design contest, and the winning, customer-designed shirt will be available on April 20, along with plenty of special releases, other vinyl and doughnuts. Like usual, Sonic Boom will open at 11 a.m. 2209 N.W. Market St., Seattle

Easy Street Records & Cafe — Genesee, West Seattle

The self-proclaimed “best little record store, coffee, bar and diner in West Seattle” will open at 7 a.m. for RSD, serving free bacon and coffee to the early birds who make it in. If you miss the free bacon, Easy Street has its own attached cafe where you can grab breakfast burritos, sandwiches, burgers and other tasty bites to fuel your perusal. 4559 California Ave. S.W., Seattle

Hi-Voltage Records — Tacoma

This Tacoma music dealer will open three hours early at 7 a.m. to start selling its RSD releases, which you can view on its website now (options range from the Buena Vista Social Club’s 25th anniversary gold limited edition 2LP to Lil Wayne and Beatles titles). Once the line of RSD shoppers has passed through, the rest of the store will open, with 20% off all used items. 2714 Sixth Ave., Tacoma

Silver Platters — Seattle, Bellevue and Lynnwood

All three Silver Platters locations — in Seattle’s SoDo, Bellevue and Lynnwood — will offer special RSD releases. On Instagram, Silver Platters staff explained that, before fully opening, those lined up early at any of the locations will receive lists of the available releases and be called in one by one to place their orders, noting that “people usually start lining up the night before.” 2930 First Ave. S., Seattle; 2616 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue; 3715 196th St. S.W., Suite 131, Lynnwood

Holy Cow Records — Downtown Seattle

Located in the bustling Pike Place Market, Holy Cow Records is normally busy on a Saturday anyway — and even more so on Record Store Day. Stop by to browse its special RSD releases from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m., and then make a day of it in the Market. 1501 Pike Place, #325, Seattle

Spin Cycle Records — Capitol Hill, Seattle

Tucked between a used clothing store and a barber shop on Broadway East, Spin Cycle sells movies and video games as well as records and cassettes. It will open early at 8 a.m. for the music lovers’ holiday with “tons of RSD Exclusive releases,” according to the RSD website. 321 Broadway E., Seattle

Porchlight Coffee & Records — Capitol Hill, Seattle

Starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, come by Porchlight for used and new vinyl — its list of RSD releases with titles by Death Cab for Cutie, Grateful Dead, Olivia Rodrigo and more, is posted on its website — plus Herkimer Coffee and pastries. For RSD shoppers: “As always, some of these titles are limited to just a few copies so show up early!” the website notes. 1517 14th Ave., Seattle

Fat Cat Records — Wallingford, Seattle

Use Record Store Day as your excuse to check out this Wallingford shop’s new location on Stone Way North. The store will sell special RSD releases during regular hours. 4206 Stone Way N., Seattle

Jive Time Records — Fremont, Seattle

With a mission to “make shopping for music as much fun as listening to it,” this Fremont store sells vinyl, CDs, cassettes, music magazines and other memorabilia, with popular bargain bins in store and coupons available on its website. On April 20, Jive Time will be open during regular hours (10 a.m.-9 p.m.) with special releases and plenty of used vinyl to go around for RSD shoppers, too. 3506 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle

Georgetown Records — Georgetown, Seattle

Located in one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, this shop hosts live music, book signings and art events as well as buying and selling records. It’ll be open regular hours on April 20 this year, with some special RSD titles available. 1201 S. Vale St., Seattle

Backstreet Beat — Bainbridge Island

This used books and vintage vinyl store is just a 10-minute walk from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal those coming from Seattle will arrive at. RSD is pretty low-key here, with the shop opening at its regular 11 a.m., but there will be about 40 to 45 titles available. 265 Winslow Way E., #102, Bainbridge Island

As many great options as lie above, this list still isn’t comprehensive. Head to recordstoreday.com for more info on the holiday and participating stores.