A CELEBRATION of local independent record stores in the city centre is shaping up to be one of the biggest days on music fans’ calendars.

Staff at Rise in CrownGate are preparing to make a big deal of Record Store Day on Saturday, April 21 thanks to a packed schedule of limited edition releases, live music and freebies.

More than 25 years after forming in Stourbridge The Wonder Stuff will be the main attraction live in-store at 2.15pm.

The alternative rock act has 13 top-40 singles, three top-five albums and are perhaps best known for topping the charts when they covered Tommy Roe’s Dizzy with Vic Reeves in 1991.

Doors will open slightly earlier than usual at 8am, when shoppers can get their hands on some of the exclusive records as well as free cakes and mixtapes selected by members of staff.

Senior sales assistant Emily Johnston said: “This is a huge day for us, last year we had people queuing outside each store from 5am to get their hands on the limited vinyl.

“Every single member of staff is incredibly excited because we are essentially the same as everyone who will be queuing, just huge vinyl fans.

“We describe it as Christmas in April, not only for the releases or the bands but for the sheer excitement shared by staff and customers alike.”

She added: “People should come and show their support because a indie record shop is a corner stone in a community.

“We are very lucky in that people really appreciate our store and feel lucky to have a record shop in town because sadly it is a rare sight today.”

Plenty more entertainment can be found outside the Huntingdon Hall from noon, with alternative rock four-piece Poetry in Numbers getting the ball rolling with their combination of raw energy and dreamy ambience.

They will be followed by Our Mutual Friend who describe themselves as the glamorous sound of middle England, the indie-country sounds of The May Dolls, Kidderminster’s indie poppers The OneTwos and the shop’s very own Lewis Spelt Backwards.