Record Store Day 2024 is just around the corner and there are some seriously magical Manc music to be picked up this year, including presses of The 1975’s recent charity gig at Gorilla, two limited edition Noel Gallagher demos, an exclusive print of The Charltan’s first-ever song and many more.
The now annual event celebrating and supporting independent record stores all over the UK has become a cultural rite of passage for die-hard music fans and vinyl collectors, and also serves as a bit of a scramble for special editions and hidden gems that people have been looking to get their hands on.
With the official list of Record Store Day exclusives being released this week, people are already feasting their eyes over the selection and putting together their plan of attack ahead of April.
Yes, this is just any old national day, it’s an event that remains so important to the music industry. We know they’re not from around here but Britpop fans are going to go mad for this one.
One of many special anniversary releases for Record Store Day 2024
Given Manchester’s rich music culture, it’s no surprise there is lots of work from local artists named on this year’s list too.
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Including everything from vinyls of The 1975’s aforementioned live show and a 30th-anniversary release of Morrisey and Siouxsie ‘Interlude’, to his former bandmates’ Marr’s Guitars book and an alternative version of A Country On The Click by Preswitch rockers The Fall, there’s plenty to be snatched up.
There’s even a remastered reissue of fellow Manc post-punk band The Durutti Column’s seminal album, Vini Reilly, the band famously first put out copies of their 1980 record The Return Of The Durutti Column in sandpaper sleeve so that it would gradually destroy the records next to it. How punk is that?
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So yeah, safe to say they’re more than familiar with putting out collectors’ items.
.@london_records have released a mesmerising new visualiser for Otis, a timeless track taken from the 1989 album Vini Reilly. The album is being reissued on vinyl on 20th April 2024 exclusively for @RSDUK.
We’re yet to get a full round-up of the local places taking part in Record Store Day 2024 but there are over 270 across the UK and you can expect most if not all of the music shops in and around town to get involved on Saturday, 20 April.
Speaking of which, you can find all the best record stores in Greater Manchester down below and the full list of the Record Store Day releases for 2024 HERE.
Korn announce massive Manchester gig on first UK tour in a decade
Daisy Jackson
Korn have announced a major Manchester gig as part of a new UK tour – their first in more than a decade.
The nu metal legends will be heading to the AO Arena later this year, making a monumental return to British shores.
And they’ve announced very special guests will be joining them on the tour too – support will come from Architects, as well as Youth Code.
Korn burst onto the scene back in 1991 with their seminal self-titled debut album, and have gone on to release a whopping 14 studio albums.
The Californian group have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, collected two Grammy Awards, and headed out on countless world tours.
They’re often cited by newer bands as a major influence and have pushed the limits of the rock, alternative and metal genres.
The Ringer has described Korn as ‘a genuine movement in a way bands cannot be now’.
As well as performing in Manchester, Korn will play at venues across the UK including in Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, and London.
They’ll be joined by Architects, a British metalcore band who have continued to top the charts even after the tragic death of founding member, guitarist, and principal songwriter Tom Searle.
Korn will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday 31 October, with pre-sale tickets available from Tuesday 17 March at 8am, before a general on-sale from Friday 20 March at 8am HERE.
The Pussycat Dolls announce major comeback with huge global arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Global pop icons The Pussycat Dolls have announced a major global tour, with 50+ shows across Europe and North America.
The pop icons will be performing a massive show here in Manchester as part of the tour, which kicks off this summer.
The Pussycat Dolls have been teasing their return this week, plastering hints on venues across the UK – including the Co-op Live, which displayed a pink digital ad reading ‘Don’t cha wish you knew who we’re announcing tomorrow??’
The multi-platinum pop supergroup will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut record, PCD. They’ll be supported on the European leg of the tour, which will bring them to the UK in September and October, by Lil’ Kim.
The PCD Forever tour will span a whopping 53 dates, where they’ll perform their chart-topping hits including the 5x platinum Buttons, plus Don’t Cha, and Stickwitu.
The Pussycat Dolls were pop heavyweights in the 2000s, known for their electrifying choreography and live performances.
The Pussycat Dolls have announced a major global tour with a Manchester date. Credit: Rankin
Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt, and Ashley Roberts will be back together once again this year for what will be their biggest international run in years.
They’ll be releasing a new song for the first time since 2019 – Club Song is produced by Mike Sabbath (RAYE, Jade) and written by Nicole Scherzinger with Sabbath, Caroline Ailin (Dua Lipa) and Solly (Teddy Swims).
General tickets will go on sale from 10am on Friday 20 March, but fans can sign up for pre-sale at pcdforever.com by Monday to access tickets early.
Danny Jones -
20th February 2024 
