Discover Dundee's Record Shops this Record Store Day

Vinyl is having a comeback and there's no better time to explore the vibrant vinyl scene of Dundee than with Record Store Day just around the corner on 20th April. While the iconic Groucho’s is sadly missed in Dundee’s music community, there’s still a fantastic trio of record shops to peruse. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or a dedicated collector, these stores boast an array of modern releases, secondhand treasures, and special editions.

Assai Records on Union Street

Assai Records

Assai Records is my go-to for new releases. A bright and welcoming space with more of a contemporary vibe where it’s quite easy to find what you’re looking for without too much distraction. They also host in-store performances and signings (priority entry with pre-order). It also gets bonus points for smelling amazing, I’m not sure what scent the diffuser on the counter was but I want one.

Record Store Day specials: breakfast rolls from Soo Delicious + giveaways including slipmats. Check out the special edition records here.
Where: 34 Union Street, DD1 4BS
https://assai.co.uk/

Thirteen Records on Union Street

Thirteen Records

Just up the road from Assai, you’ll find Thirteen Records which has a very different feel - much more old school and reminiscent of Groucho’s, which makes sense as this shop was set up by former staff members. Alongside vinyl, you’ll find second-hand CDs and cassettes here. I love that there’s such an eclectic range and how it feels like you could find anything in this sunshine yellow shop.

Where: 13 Union Street, DD1 4BN
https://www.thirteenrecords.co.uk/

Le Freak Records in the West End of Dundee

Le Freak Records

This quirky shop is over in the West End (just along from one of our favourite coffee spots; EH9 Espresso). Le Freak Records’ aesthetic is so much fun, with vinyl adorning the ceiling, bold colours, and a mish mash of lego and circuit board details on the display units - this maximalist shop invites you to settle in for a good browse while you soak up the atmosphere.

Record Store Day specials editions: https://www.lefreakrecords.co.uk/record-store-day
Where: 159 Perth Road, Dundee, DD2 1AR
https://www.lefreakrecords.co.uk/

Other Second-Hand Vinyl Shopping in Dundee

If you enjoy browsing for a bargain (and are willing to look past a lot of traditional Scottish dance records), many of Dundee’s charity shops still have the odd box of vinyl on sale. Oxfam Bookshop on Reform Street has a small dedicated section worth checking out too. If you’re up for a challenge then Errol Sunday Market & carboot sale often has treasure to be found, it’s a huge market so make sure to get there early.

Record Fairs in Dundee

We also have a semi-regular record fair here in Dundee. Coming up on the 16th June and the 25th August, you’ll find an array of traders at the Marryat Hall in Caird Hall from 10am-4pm. Find more info here.

Whether you're looking to grow your collection or start one, there are plenty of options for record shopping in Dundee. I'd love to know where your favourite place to shop is!