NEWPORT Now Business Improvement District is supporting Record Store Day UK for the third successive year.

Last year the BID joined forces with Newport independent record store Diverse Vinyl to produce a free music and spoken word festival in the city centre.

The event was so successful that we are repeating it next month.

Newport’s Record Store Day festival on Saturday, April 13, is funded by Newport Now and curated by Charles Street-based Diverse Vinyl.

The festival takes place across five city centre venues and all performances, mainly from Welsh acts, are free of charge.

Prior to the live shows, Record Store Day will kick off at Diverse Vinyl’s shop from 9.30am until 4pm. Limited edition vinyl releases from top artists will be available to buy.

The vinyl rarities are the basis of Record Store Day, encouraging people to use their local independent record store.

Last year, music lovers began queueing outside Diverse Vinyl from 4am with around 70 people waiting outside the store when it opened.

This year’s live music and spoken word performances start at 4.30pm and go on until late and performers will offer something for all musical tastes.

The festival takes place across five High Street venues – Le Pub, McCann’s Rock n Ale Bar, Slipping Jimmy’s Bar & Grill, Tiny Rebel’s Urban Tap House and Ye Olde Murenger.

The first wave of acts has been confirmed, with more to be announced closer to the date.

Acts appearing at Record Store Day so far are Adwaith, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, Eitha Da, Emily Gwyrdd, Francesca’s Word Salad, Gemini Anderson, The Hard Aches, Joe Kelly, Los Blancos, Oxygen Thief, Rainbow Maniac, Red Telephone and Richard Milward.

More acts will be announced via Diverse Vinyl and Newport Now’s social media feeds.