RECORD Store Day has been the highlight of the year for crate diggers and record collectors since its inauguration in 2008.

Instigated to support and promote independent record stores throughout the world which were being squeezed out of business by supermarkets, multinational stores and online retailers, its success can be put down to the massive growth in interest in collecting vinyl records and support for new artists and bands.

Film and reports of long queues forming outside of independent record stores from the crack of dawn on RSD have become familiar sights and the list of new collectables and limited editions published in advance of RSD is highly anticipated.

But this year because of the pandemic RSD has been postponed twice due to changing government advice.

RSD 2020 will now be staggered over three days (or drops) on August 29, September 26 and October 24. Measures are in place including bookable time slots (which will be available one week in advance on a first-come, first-served basis) and socially distanced queues. For this year only, RSD will relax online sales so that products can be made available on participating shop websites or over the phone from 6pm on the evening of each day.

More than 230 indie record shops in Britain faced uncertainty due to the lockdown and the cancellation of RSD.

But record stores are now hoping that the three “RSD drops” will provide a sales boost to get them back on the road to recovery and keep up the progress that has been made over the past dozen years.

Natasha Youngs, owner of Resident Music in Brighton, said: “We may not be partying this year but we’re still determined to make sure we celebrate the artists and labels that have made special releases available for our event. Getting them into the hands of the fans safely and sensibly is our top priority this year.”

Among the choice releases and collectors items this year are vinyl albums, seven inch singles, EPs, box sets and CDs from classic rock artists such as The Who, Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, The Allman Brothers Band, Hawkwind, The Doors; R&B from Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, desert rock from Calexico; country from Hank Williams; jazz from Sun Ra and Charlie Parker, plus film soundtracks and live shows.

For a full listing of what will be on available, store locator, unsigned bands competition and other details of RSD go to recordstoreday.co.uk