With an unparalleled selection of vinyl and DJ toys, Seismic has grown to become one of the best…read morerecord shops in the whole country - even the Observer says so! Situated sneakily above Kong, a lovely fashion store in its own right, staff are always friendly and extremely knowledgeable. As it is mail order too there is an almost exhaustive selection of DnB, Breaks, House, Hip Hop etc vinyl with loads of rareties and white labels to discover! The shop itself is bright, comfortable and the perfect way to waste away an afternoon. Unmissable for DJ's

Fantastic selection of records, the owner is extremely friendly and helpful. If there is a record…read moreyou want that isn't in stock, he will order it in for you. Pricing is also very competitive.

Rock A Boom is my favourite independent music shop in Leicester. It is located in ST. Martin's…read moresquare which is about 5 minutes away from Highcross shopping centre - Firebug bar and McDonalds are nearby. Rock A Boom is only a small shop and can't compete with HMV for sheer physical space. What it can offer though is very good value on cd's and a small selection of vinyl. They cater to alternative music fans, so you can find some right gems searching through the racks on everything from punk rock to drum 'n' bass. The reason I come back here is because the staff are incredibly friendly and chatty. I don't just come here to buy a record, I come here to have a natter. The attendant will often talk to me about what he's been listening to and recommend things to try. This is the sort of banter and experience you just can't get at bigger corporate record stores.

A Leicester institution, and rightly so. For those looking away from the mainstream for their…read moremusical thrills, this is the best little shop in the city, jam packed with musical obscurities and latest releases. The staff know their stuff, and you can get gig tickets for anything that's going on in Leicester, which is extremely handy. Prices were a little on the steep side before, but I have been informed that they're now extremely competitive. Plus, with certain albums, they occasionally give away free posters and stuff too. Lovely.

This is probably one of the best music shops inthe UK never mind in the area. Not only does it…read moreoffer an amazing array of instruments they also offer music tuition. The staff are superbly helpful and can offer a thoroughly professional service. As well as their bricks and mortar shop here in Kettering they have an internet store for those of you unlucky enough to be able to pop in.

this shop is and has to be the best in kettering i agree with the other quote, i have ordered…read morenumerous amounts of items on the internet and in store and not had any problems at all. low priced or if not they are happy to work something out for you, i love this shop and as i am very much into music i shop in here all the time. VERY PROFESSIONAL AND FREINDLY!! :)

Whether a serious record collector or just a music fan The Diskery is well worth a visit if you…read morewant to see a real old fashioned record shop before they become extinct. Seemingly dedicated to the analogue format, VHS tapes are also on offer out front with a rotation of weekly Vinyl specials on offer for the keen eyed passer by. Inside is a treasure chest of music memorabilia without an inch of the interior space left uncovered by music posters, think of the bedroom of a teenage music obsessive and your close to the dedication that's gone into this place. And no High Fidelity bad altitude here at least not on my visit, it was all smiles as regulars traded banter with the owner across the counter. Something of a legend in Birmingham music circles and even receiving an endorsement from Birmingham rapper Maleek of MD7, The Diskery is an essential destination for anyone who wishes to see a genuine bit of Birmingham.

The only way to describe this place is VINYL HEAVEN…read more When people bemoan the apparent death of the record shop, it is places like this that are called to mind. Not so much a shop as a museum of wax and a lifetime labour of love for the proprietor, this is a must-visit if you love music, and records in particular. The selection is huge and varied. Jazz, Blues, Rock and Pop, Classical....all arranged according to genre and/or value - bargain records tend to be in boxes on the floor, normally priced stock at a more comfortable hip level. What is on display is really only the half of it. Glance up at the walls, or peer around the corners into the groaning shelves of the storerooms, and you will see boxes - lots of boxes - all labelled with artist names, or genres. A whole box of Queen or Madonna 7"s. Boxes of Bluegrass, or Swing....anything you can think of, chances are it's there. Years ago you used to be able to smoke in the shop. Along every second heaving rack of old vinyl was an ashtray. They didn't just tolerate smoking in the shop, they encouraged it. Those days are long gone, unfortunately. Even if you don't buy vinyl, you should go to this place to have a look. One day places like this will only exist in the memory of sad, old vinyl heads like me.

Hmv in Stratford is easy to find and as usual as with all their stores they sell music,games, dvds…read moreand other bits and bobs. This store is very very narrow which is for the size of other stores a bit dissappointing. But never the less it still holds up quite well. Being narrow means if two people want to pas each other you quite literally have to turn sideways to pass its that small. Once past that problem its clear the store requires more room. The tills are set back to aid with room on the left of the store on the way in. Recent releases of cd etc are at the fron of the store. And as you go further back you find more music, dvds and the game section. Right at the back of the store you will find an area which sells headphones and speakers from makes such as Bose, Sony and philips. I pod accessories are also available too. The store gets 4 out of 5 as the staff being helpful and the amazing amount of stock they cram in makes up for the store being stupidly small.

excellent `music instruments` shop…read more NOT A RECORD STORE!!

Untrustworthy, incompetent, stay away from them. Purchased a…read morerecord on eBay from chalkys and they sent me a damaged item (outer packaging fine). Sent item back using instructions sent from chalkys and reordered from them as time sensitive present (paid via PayPal for second item as wanted more buyer protection) Second item also damaged. Again sent second item back and opened resolution for money back. Chalkys refusing to refund me for 1st item as they say PayPal case open for it. EBay struggle to help as no tracking number ms on chalkys returns method. Exceptionally incompetent and or ?underhand behaviour going on. All I wanted was a record, all I got were damaged items and an awful lot of hassle, I am still nearly £50 out of pocket and having to place a claim with my credit card company. Never again!

Not at all happy as I ordered From Elvis In Nashville on CD on Chalkys eBay page. They sent the LP…read moreversion which I can't play as I do not have a record player. I have been asked to send the incorrect item back to them which I have done and they will refund me as they do not have any of the CD's in stock! They still advertise the CD on their own website and also their eBay page. The CD is now priced at higher what I had originally paid. Not very good service.

In the age of digital music, internet shopping and supermarkets undercutting everybody there will…read morealways be a place for an independent record store where you can guarantee the staff know there stuff, can make recommendations, get you hard to find Record Store Day vinyl without the need to trek to Rough Trade in London. If you like your Punk, Metal, Emo, Screamo, Hardcore and any other sub-genre of this ilk you can think of then you need to visit this little store tucked away in the Oasis centre. Rich at Ignite has been a long time face on the music scene in Brum. He champions local bands and puts out his own releases through his own indie label Speedowax. As a long time customer from his days working at Tempest before embarking on his own little operation he can soon help you part with your money as he soon gets to know your musical tastes and he caters to his customers. Support your local independent sellers, and sometimes it may cost you a pound more but its a shiny, actual object you can touch and read the lyrics and see pretty artwork and have in your hands there and then, knowing its been stocked with love and attention just for you.

Dropping in to ignite is always a pleasure to have a catch up with Rich and check for any new…read morestock. Having been a regular for many years of both tempest and ignite dealing with Rich is always great, he learns your taste in music and the specific bands you like, from which he will always find a new recommendation for you, specialising in all forms of alternative music. Rich is always happy to try and order those rare to find, limited editions and imports you can't get on the high street. Anything he does have in stock he will happily play for you to get an idea if it's up your street! Vinyl is a speciality at ignite with promising stock for every record day as well, he even recently took part in the first tape day stocking a limited number of new and re-release tape albums and EPs. Rich also runs a local record label Speedowax with which he helps promote and sell new and upcoming talent! I would always recommend shopping here for music over highstreet stores (support your local businesses!) even though some purchases may cost an extra pound or two, you may find some real talent you would otherwise never be exposed to...

Visited this place for the first time last week very impressed. Housed in a beautiful building, it…read morehas been decorated by Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen to a very high standard. Sound quality was excellent, and there was plenty of room for punters. Drink prices were pretty steep over £5 for a pint and a soft drink, a full pound more expensive that the gig I went to in Cambridge 2 days later. One excellent service was provided by the wandering bar staff, collecting empties all evening, so no stray glasses or bottles were ever left on the floor. Plenty of loos in the ladies. Bit of a scrum to try and get out, exit is down a relatively narrow spiral staircase