From Record Store Day Highs to a Summer Packed with Music

We’re still recovering (just about…) from what was officially our biggest Record Store Day EVER 😅

RSD 2026 absolutely blew the roof off, and honestly, we’re still blown away by the support. The queues were longer, the atmosphere louder, and the sense of community stronger than ever. We even had our earliest queue record broken this year with some dedicated souls setting up camp from 9pm the night before! Twelve hours later, faith was rewarded.

But that’s what makes Record Store Day special. It’s not just about the releases, it’s the camaraderie. The chats in the queue. The shared excitement over long-awaited reissues. The collectors comparing lists at 4am with a coffee in hand. One customer summed it up perfectly:

“Great morning (queuing since 4am!) - great camaraderie amongst several fellow ‘more mature age’ collectors whilst we waited… this is what record collecting is all about…”

That spirit is exactly why we love doing this. Seeing so many of you turn out to celebrate independent music culture with us, after 40 years of Badlands, it means the world. Thank you for making it such a mega day once again ❤️

And now… somehow… we roll straight into a stacked summer of events, releases and brilliant nights out.

The Stones Are Back 👅

One of the biggest announcements to land recently is the brand new Rolling Stones album Foreign Tongues, arriving 10th July.

The incomparable Stones are back with a new record, and we’ve got plenty of formats available to pre-order now. Including CD, black vinyl, indies exclusive green vinyl, plus some very tasty limited edition CD and vinyl box sets.

Pre-order Rolling Stones – Foreign Tongues here

Or the single 'In The Stars' here!

And if you fancy diving into everything else heading our way over the next few months, our forthcoming releases page is packed with gems:

Browse New & Forthcoming Releases

A Special Night in London with Warren Zanes

On 21st June, we’re heading to London for what promises to be a pretty unforgettable evening with Warren Zanes, author of The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska.

If you’re obsessed with Nebraska,  and honestly, who isn’t? This is going to be a fascinating deep dive into one of Bruce’s most haunting and mythic records. Expect stories, insight, discussion and plenty of Springsteen magic along the way.

Grab tickets and browse upcoming Badlands events here

Bob Dylan Songs at Smokey Joe’s 🎸

And if that wasn’t enough, our good friend Gordon Wood is putting together a lovely free-entry live music night at Smokey Joe’s Cafe Bar, Diner & Venue, featuring artists performing the songs of Bob Dylan.

A room full of Dylan songs played live? Sounds pretty perfect to us.

Keep an eye on our socials for more details as we get closer to the night.

Come and Be Part of It

Whether you joined us for Record Store Day, you’re lining up for the new Stones record, or you’re heading along to one of the upcoming events — thank you for continuing to make Badlands what it is.

It’s never just about records. It’s about the people, the stories, the discoveries, the queues, the conversations and the music that connects all of us.

And honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way 🎶