Welcome to May's edition of the Wax and Beans Newsletter - we have a bumper showing this month. Our usual pre-order recommendation, Luna's pick of the month and upcoming info on Record Store Day 2021.

With the lifting of further restrictions, we're delighted to have the shop open again 7 days a week. The tables are back in and the kitchen is open - we're getting back to the community hub environment that was the initial dream! Having massively expanded our stock recently, we have been pimping ourselves out online and making lots of new friends from all over planet earth.

It's great to be back!

As always, we've included our favourite pre-order for the month below, but you can always check out our full list of pre-orders here. We suggest you bookmark it for easy access... don't want you missing out on a banger ;)

Just a word of warning... they do move quick!

We do want to hear from you too! If you've got any suggestions for a pre-order we don't have listed, message us here. You can also chat to us about anything else using that same link.

Our most anticipated pre-order this month is:

Viola Beach - Viola Beach

(Limited Edition Rainbow Coloured Picture Disc)

First time on vinyl, released for the fifth anniversary of the original debut. Released on Fuller Bean Records, the label set up by the band and their manager.

The vinyl is specially designed with a rainbow coloured picture disc, paying homage to the rainbow umbrellas that the band were once photographed with and became symbolic of them in the wake of their tragic accident in 2016. This poignant vinyl edition release has been welcomed by the families as a fitting celebration of what the band mates and their manager did best together, make and perform wonderful music."

Viola Beach - Viola Beach (Limited Edition Rainbow Coloured Picture Disc) - £18.99

SHOP NOW

The doors are fully open, the tables are back, the kitchen is in full swing and the racks are bursting to the brim (Ben won't stop ordering records!) Back to our usual opening times:

Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm

Saturday 9am - 6pm

Sunday (and Bank Holidays) 10am - 4pm

For the rest of the time, you can find us answering all your emails, texts, Insta messages, Tweets, Facebook messages etc... the list is endless but we love it. If that's not enough, we'll also be picking, packing and shipping orders both near and far, with our local contactless doorstep delivery still in operation too.

As well as racks full of new records, we are also introducing over 1,000 pre-loved items to the collection in mid June. Pre-loved are super popular and there's a good chance that you'll find something that you didn't realise you even needed in your collection!

Next up, BIG news in the world of records - Record Store Day!

We have a dedicated RSD section on our website (HERE), showcasing all the special edition releases and if you've not yet had chance to take a look what's on offer, have a browse online, there are some incredible titles again this year.

It's less than two weeks until the first of the two big days!

Drop 1 (12th June): There will still be social distancing rules in place, so we will need to enforce a socially distanced queue and limits on the number of people in store. Anything not sold on the day, will go online at 6pm that night.

Our doors open at 8am and everything will be sold on a first come, first served basis, as quickly as our hands will allow us to pick and pack.

(Please remember: no saves allowed for any of these RSD titles, and only one copy per customer so we can fairly share the goodies around).

In addition to the usual RSD (organised) chaos, we are delighted to have partnered with two brands supporting the day: Oatly and Meantime Brewing Company.

Oatly have provided us with a couple of limited edition Wow No Cow 7” singles to give away free. Plus we have some badges and stickers too!

We will also be stocking the first ever RSDUK collab beer:

33:45 – Turn-table IPA

Style: Table Beer/West Coast IPA aka Turn-Table IPA / ABV: 3.5% / Hops: Cascade, Chinook, Simcoe / Malt: Pale, Crystal

“33:45 – Turn-table IPA” is a brand new beer launched exclusively for music lovers and fans of Record Store Day. It is the third beer to be launched as part of Meantime’s new, “Off-the-Clock” Series which is a range of small batch brews, created to showcase the pioneering spirit that runs through the UK’s original craft brewery which was founded by Alistair Hook in 1999. 33:45 is a playful mashup of 2 beer styles a table beer which is a lower ABV style and a West Coast IPA, a classic US craft beer style that has a beautiful bright amber colour and aromas of grapefruit, lime and citrus from the hops. We hope you like it!

The guys from Blackberry Smoke took some time out to say hello to the good people at Wax and Beans. Click on the photo below to watch the short clip - I suggest you keep an eye on the guy with the hat, he certainly tickled me!

Hailed as "the reigning heavyweight champions of Southern rock" (No Depression), Atlanta- based quintet Blackberry Smoke celebrates their 20th anniversary with a magnificent tribute to their home: You Hear Georgia. Produced by Dave Cobb (John Prine, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson), the album is inspired by and a celebration of the South and all it has to offer. In true Blackberry Smoke fashion, the band masterfully weaves through genre, with everything from Southern Rock anthems about overcoming preconceived notions to life lessons wrapped in heartfelt Americana. And they bring a few friends along for the ride, with guest features from Jamey Johnson and Warren Hayes (The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule).

With the easing of all restrictions, we can finally get some real, live music on the go. The news is most definitely music to our ears!

We are working hard (as always) to try to bring a range of events to you - listening parties, live music, Tims Turntable Workshop, and much more. Keep an eye out on the events page on our website for more updates, but coming soon are:

18th July - Steve Pilgrim: Steve plays in Paul Weller's band, and was recently at no.1 following the release of Fat Pop. Steve is also a accomplished singer-songwriter. He will be performing an intimate, acoustic gig at Wax and Beans marking 10 years of his studio album 'Pixels and Paper'. This is one not to miss, tickets can be bought here.

8th August - Vertaal: Vertaal, a nu-jazz / neo soul duo featuring Theo Howarth and Ajit Gill recently released their new album ‘Paradigm Shifting’. The band will be playing many of the 12 tracks from their double album that was released in March. We can't wait to welcome them at the shop, if you fancy joining us, you can purchase your tickets here. Check out their sound, we have copies of 'Paradigm Shifting’ available to buy here.

The Oxford dictionary's definition of "a dog's life" reads, "A miserable, wretched existence"

Well, whoever wrote this has never had the pleasure of meeting our Luna (aka Dave). For Luna's day consists of hanging out in the country's coolest independent record and coffee shop, taking naps whenever and wherever she pleases and getting to listen to the most current music releases!

If this is a dog's life, then sign us up!

Luna's pick this month is the 25 anniversary pressing of the Warchild charity "Help" album.

Celebrating twenty-five years of Help - when the cream of the British music industry walked into Abbey Road and studios around the UK and recorded an album for War Child in response to the plight of the thousands of families caught up in the bloody Balkans war.

Get your copy of this incredible album of a generation here.

This months blog post is provided by Rob Nicklin. Instagram regulars will know Rob by his Instagram handle of @cheerful_albums. Posting popular album covers with a smiling twist!

Music and Movement

"I don't give a monkey's arsehole about Mods and Rockers. Underneath, we're all the same, 'n't we?" (Ray Winstone, Quadrophenia)

May Day Bank Holiday, May 1964, Brighton: the sea front is crowded with tens of thousands of youths from London and its surrounding areas.  The reason, to wage war.  Mods in their US fishtail parkas, Italian suits and shoes, Vespa scooters, descended in droves.  Meanwhile, Rockers in their dirty denim, black leather, greasy hair and Norton motorcycles also popped down to the historic seafront.  Neither group was there for the fish, chips and fresh air. The youngsters tore the quiet seaside town to pieces, leaving countless dead and many more injured.  The whole thing would be recorded for posterity by Pete Townshend for his Quadrophenia album, and later, movie.  

Of course, the truth is a bit different.  Only 1000 visitors arrived that weekend.  Yes, there was trouble, but not on the scale described above.  Much of the scandal was whipped up by a media hungry for a good story and eager to demonise the new youth movements that had sprung up since the mid-50's in the wake of the first wave of rock n’ roll.  These two movements come ostensibly from the same place.  Post-war, young people had money in their pockets for the first time and an industry quickly developed to fill take advantage of that fact.  Study the early origins of any of the big names from the 60's and early 70's and you’ll find a list of clothes and records by the same people: Elvis, of course, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Muddy Waters, etc. We’ve all seen the photos of "quiffed" up young Beatles and Stones.  The Rockers had emerged from that era of fifties rock n' roll.  Initially, they might have been Teddy Boys in their Edwardian jackets and crepe shoes, drainpipe trousers and pomade.  Suddenly, how you looked was important.  Dressing like your parents was no longer acceptable.  Fashion was important and what records you clutched under your arm was a key element of that.  What if Keith Richards hadn’t taken that Chuck Berry LP out with him that day?  

Check out Rob's full blog on our Blog page.