Once the quiet sanctuaries of crate-diggers and sleeve-flippers, UK record shops are now roaring with live music—and not just between the shelves. In a seismic shift that’s turning high streets into hotbeds of sonic energy, record stores are staging over 4,000 gigs this year, carving out a new identity as grassroots gig-makers and cultural curators.

According to the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), these in-store and “out-store” performances now account for one in every 40 live gigs across the UK. That’s some statistic.

A decade ago, catching a live act in your local record shop was as rare as finding a mint-condition Joy Division pressing. Fast forward to 2025, and it’s become a daily ritual. Whether it’s CMAT serenading fans in a snug corner of Rough Trade or Nova Twins tearing it up in a pop-up venue next door, record shops are no longer just selling music—they’re staging it.

HMV alone has hosted over 7,000 grassroots gigs since 2022, with Managing Director Phill Halliday championing the open-door ethos: “Sometimes it’s as simple as speaking to the store manager and playing on a Saturday afternoon.” From impromptu acoustic sets to major artist signings, these events offer fans something traditional venues can’t—intimacy, spontaneity, and a chance to meet their heroes face-to-face.

It’s not just about squeezing amps between racks of vinyl. Shops like Crash Records in Leeds are taking the gig outside, partnering with venues, laundrettes, hotels, and even restaurants to host larger-scale out-store events. “These events represent a little bottle of magic that only an indie shop can provide,” says Crash’s Scott Gamble, who’s already clocked over 50 events this year with 60 more on the books.

This hyper-local approach is creating a ripple effect—bringing music into unexpected spaces and embedding it deeper into the fabric of community life. It’s DIY meets high fidelity, and it’s working.

Labels are taking note. Cooking Vinyl’s Tom Newman credits in-store and out-store performances with driving over 6,000 album sales for Shed Seven’s latest campaign—enough to clinch a #1 spot. “Our artists love performing in these intimate settings, and fans relish the chance to see them up close,” he says.

It’s a win-win: artists get direct access to fans, fans get unforgettable experiences, and shops become more than retail—they become ritual.

As ERA CEO Kim Bayley puts it, “In-store performances are no replacement for a gig in a proper live music venue, but they are an important addition to the music landscape.” They’re helping emerging artists climb the ladder, giving fans new ways to connect, and reinforcing record shops as cultural hubs—not just commercial ones.

In an age of algorithmic playlists and faceless streaming, this resurgence of physical spaces and face-to-face music feels like a rebellion. It’s tactile, it’s local, and it’s loud.

So next time you walk past your local record shop, don’t just peer through the window—step inside. You might just catch the next big thing tuning up between the vinyl racks.

IN-STORES & OUT-STORES taking place this week:

Leeds
02/09 – Chartreuse Instore Session and Signing at Crash Records
Liverpool
02/09 – Jacaranda Presents: Kingfshr: Album Launch Show at Jacaranda Baltic
Brighton
03/09 – CMAT: Album Launch Show at Resident Music
London
05/09 – Shame: Live at Rough Trade East