The co-owner of a record shop in Bury says a national day in celebration of independent music retailers was a "huge success".

Ben Soothill, who co-owns Wax and Beans record shop and café on Market Street, said hundreds of people turned out to get their hands on exclusive vinyl releases on Saturday as part of Record Store Day, an annual event in support of independent record shops across the UK.

Music fans from Bury and beyond braved the rain to queue round the block outside the shop to make sure they didn’t miss out on exclusive titles that bands and artists had released for the occasion.

Bury Times: Music fans wait in the rain for Record Store Day 2023 at Wax and Beans in BuryMusic fans wait in the rain for Record Store Day 2023 at Wax and Beans in Bury (Image: Ben Soothill)

Ahead of the event, Ben said that the aim of Record Store Day was to help support independent retailers as well as artists thrive in the age of streaming.

He said the event had "more than done it’s job" helping to keep the music scene alive.

He added: “Record Store Day was a huge success, with almost 300 people queueing for exclusive titles.

“Despite the ran the folk embraced the spirit of Record Store Day and the vibe and the energy was great.”

Bury Times: Almost three hundred people turned out to support Wax and Beans on Record Store DayAlmost three hundred people turned out to support Wax and Beans on Record Store Day (Image: Ben Southill)

Dedicated fans began queueing outside the store at 7am on Friday morning, more than 24 hours before the event began, to ensure they did not miss out on releases from their favourite fans and artists.

The shop sold out of many of their exclusive releases throughout the day, including music by Madonna, Bob Marley, Taylor Swift and even a soundtrack from children’s animation, Bluey.

Bury Times: Fans began queueing at 7am on the morning before Record Store Day to get their hands on exclusive releases Fans began queueing at 7am on the morning before Record Store Day to get their hands on exclusive releases (Image: Ben Soothill)

Ben added that the store sold around 3,000 records on Saturday with the most in demand artists being Taylor Swift, and this year's Record Store Day ambassadors, The 1975. 

Wax and Beans has been trading in Bury town centre since 2019 and sells food and drink as well as vinyl.

It also holds live sessions from talented local artists.

Bury Times: Wax and Beans sold more than 3,000 vinyl records on Record Store Day last SaturdayWax and Beans sold more than 3,000 vinyl records on Record Store Day last Saturday (Image: Ben Southill)

Remaining Record Store Day 2023 stock is now on sale online.