RECORD STORE DAY 2026
Every April, Record Store Day rolls around — and for music lovers, it’s one of the highlights of the year.
At Rockaway Records, we celebrate with a huge lineup of limited-edition vinyl releases, carefully curated for collectors, fans, and anyone who loves the feeling of discovering something special on the shelves.
Whether you’re after that elusive reissue, a live rarity, or just want to soak up the buzz, it’s a day built for digging and connecting over music.
Better Than Christmas!
Record Store Day at Rockaway is about more than what’s in stock — it’s about being part of the community. From the early-morning queue to the chats with fellow fans, giveaways, and that shared love of music, it’s one of our favourite days of the year. We do our best to get in as many official releases as we can, and anything left after the weekend goes live online the following Monday. Keep your eyes (and ears) open — you never know what gem you’ll find.
Vinyl is the real deal. I've always felt like, until you buy the vinyl record, you don't really own the album.
— Jack White
What to Expect on the Day
Our doors at Rockaway Records open at 8am, and yes — the line often starts forming well before that.
We’ll have a full list of what titles we’ve received live on the website roughly 48 hours before the event, and stock will continue to be added right up to the big day.
It's first in, best dressed — so if you’ve got your eye on something rare, we recommend getting in early. We also pop together a few special giveaways, and sometimes there’s an extra surprise or two in-store for our loyal vinyl crew.
Early Bird Info – Where to Line Up
Carindale Shopping Centre is opening early just for us — doors to the centre will open at 5:45am on Record Store Day! If you’re keen to get in early, please line up at the Carindale Street entrance near the Carindale Shopping Centre Interchange. From there, Rockaway’s own Scott (our unofficial Pied Piper of RSD) will lead the way inside, guiding everyone to form the official line at Rockaway Records, ready for our 8:00am start.
We’re all about keeping the day fun, fair, and friendly — so no pushing in, jumping the queue, or sneaky business. We trust everyone to be cool, respectful, and enjoy the vibe. It’s going to be a big morning, and we can’t wait to see you there, coffee in hand and wishlist ready!
Got Questions?
What RSD releases are you getting?
Great question — and one we get a lot! We order every official Record Store Day release we possibly can, and each year we ask for your suggestions on social media to help guide our orders — so yes, we’re listening! That said, the final decision on what stock we actually receive is up to the record companies, who divvy up titles to stores around the country.
We usually don’t know what we’re getting until around 48 hours before the event, when stock starts arriving. As it comes in, we’ll update a live list on our website so you can see exactly what will be available at Rockaway Records on the day. That way, there are no surprises when you line up!
Can I pre-order or hold Record Store Day releases?
No, sorry! One of the official rules of Record Store Day is that we can't take pre-orders or hold items. It’s strictly first come, first served to keep things fair for everyone.
What happens if I miss out on a title?
Anything left after Record Store Day weekend will go up for sale on our website from 9am Monday (the Monday straight after RSD). So there’s still a chance — but once stock is gone, it’s gone!
If you have missed out at Rockaway Records we suggest visiting some of the other amazing independent stores participating on RSD.
What time can we get into Westfield Carindale?
Westfield Carindale is kindly opening their doors early for Record Store Day from 5:45am — but please note: they won’t allow anyone inside before then. If you try to sneak in early, security will ask you to leave and you’ll lose your place in line. We want everyone to have a fair and fun day, so thanks for doing the right thing and waiting until the official opening time!
Can I buy multiple copies of the same title?
Nope — to give as many people as possible a fair shot, it’s one copy per title, per customer.
Do you sell RSD releases online on the day?
No — official Record Store Day rules say we can’t sell any RSD titles online until after the event. Anything left over will be listed online on Monday at 9am.
What payment methods do you accept on the day?
We accept cash, EFTPOS, and most major credit cards. If you're planning a big shop, make sure your bank knows — sometimes big purchases early in the morning can trigger security checks.
Will there be giveaways or special offers?
Absolutely! We love to put together a few goodies for our early birds and loyal customers. Keep an eye on our social media for announcements closer to the day.
