Welcome back dear customers - we have a packed Newsletter this month. First and foremost, we're delighted to announce that our doors will re-open on 12th April. From then, you'll be able to browse and purchase records in store, as well as pick up takeaway drinks and snacks. These are the first steps in what will be a gradual opening process followed by the re-opening of our kitchen and indoor seating from 17th May, subject to government updates.

We continue to welcome online purchases and will still be providing our free doorstep delivery service for those of you living locally to the shop.

Here at Wax and Beans we like to stay one step ahead of the game and have our fingers on the pulse when it comes to upcoming releases. We've included our favourite for this month below, but you can check out our full list of pre-orders here.

Just a word of warning, they move quick, so don't miss out!

As always, we do want to hear from you! 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 favourite pre-order this month is:

Jungle - Living in stereo

The British producer duo have created a huge disco record for the post-social distancing age, with a life-affirming, dancefloor-igniting, sun-kissed celebration of all the things that make music irresistibly joyful.

Both their Mercury Prize-nominated, Gold-certified debut and 2018’s follow-up ‘For Ever’ landed in the UK Top 10 & charted globally.

Both of Jungle's previous albums are house favourites at Wax and Beans and lead single Keep Moving has us ready to go for round three.

Jungle - Living In Stereo (Indie Blue Vinyl) - £19.99

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RSD is back for 2021 and similar to 2020, the day has been split, this time over two dates. Write them down now, June 12th and July 17th. Keep an eye out on our website and future newsletters for further information.

We're making some changes to our website folks. Giving it a bit of a spring clean, adding some new features and our event calendar is soon to make a resurgence too, so keep an eye out for great live music on the horizon.

In the meantime, you can check out last month's feature blog writer Grace Gillan's own music with her brilliant band Psychadelephant. Their video for their new track Dirty Tactics can be watched here.

It's a little known fact that dogs have a eclectic music taste. It's true I tell ya!

Here at Wax and Beans, not only are we champions of great music but we're innovators when it comes to equality. Step aside Ben, your record of the month slot has now been taken by our very own Luna.

Luna's musical knowledge has been likened to that of Paul Gambaccini so we'd be foolish not to take advantage of her wealth of musical judgement.

Luna's choice this month is "From here on out" by South. An alternative rock and post Brit-pop band from London. This double LP marks the 20th anniversary of their cult classic debut album.

South - From Here On Out (20th Anniversary Edition 2LP) - £29.99

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This month we invited our pal Stuart Niven (aka nivenstuart) to answer a few questions about his musical memories and loves.

What is your earliest musical memory?

 The earliest memory I have of actively listening to music would be anywhere from 4-8 years of age on car journeys across Scotland. We’d regularly be travelling across the country to visit family or holiday with friends/family. I’d travel with my mum and dad, aunt and uncle or with family friends (when my parents needed peace) and they all had differing musical tastes - some more questionable than others. Gloria Estefan, The Carpenters, Paul Young, George Michael, Fleetwood Mac, The Doors, Barry White and Dire Straits amongst many, many others seem to always be the ones that I can vividly recall though. Thirty odd years later I still occasionally find myself whistling a few bars of ‘Rhythm Is Gonna Get You’ before catching myself.

What were your first and most recent live shows?

 First gig was, I think, East 17 circa 94/95 but let’s not talk about that! The first one I remember buying a ticket for myself was Oasis at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh in 2000. The support of Doves - who had just released ‘Lost Souls’ months before - and The Happy Mondays - who were in fine form - before the Gallagher brothers took to the stage made for an absolutely tremendous Saturday in the rare Scottish sun. Oasis had walked off stage at a gig in Switzerland earlier that week which made all the papers run the usual rumours about their impending split. It was also the final gig of the ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’ tour and they just went for it. 56,000 happy punters! Some day, that had me well and truly hooked on live music from that point on.

My last gigs were both at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh in the first week of March 2020. Just making it in before lockdown. Jon Hopkins provided an absolutely incredible and somewhat surreal setlist for a Wednesday evening. It was the first night of his ‘Polarity’ tour which was, of course, was then suspended. It began with the audience seated as he treated us to his more delicate and contemplative pieces - just Jon and his piano. Beautiful to listen to but before anybody knew it we were all out our seats and in the middle of a live DJ set. Event stewards had words with the first few brave souls to let the music take over and stand, but as Hopkins upped the ante they stood no chance as the entire 2,000 venue was up! Incredible night.

7th March 2020 I watched King Creosote perform his album score ‘From Scotland with Love’ whilst the accompanying film was played alongside. If anybody is not familiar, the film is clips and snippets of life in Scotland throughout the 20th century. It’s a beautiful piece of film to enjoy and KC’s score alongside it, is really great. It works as a standalone album but is just elevated when paired with the film it was originally created for. The whole thing is available to watch on YouTube and I would thoroughly recommend it. The complete other end of the spectrum to the Jon Hopkins gig days before, but a really nice evening all the same.

What's your favourite genre and what band/artist or album cemented your love of that genre?

 Growing up in the 90’s brit pop was huge. Primal Scream, Supergrass, Kula Shaker, Stone Roses, Bluetones, Seahorses, Ocean Colour Scene, The Manics, The Verve, Doves, Stereophonics, Blur, Charlatans, Oasis... where do you stop?! Whilst that was my first real defining genre, I would consistently dip into other areas also. My uncle introduced me to acts like Neneh Cherry and Massive Attack. I shared a strange fascination with a mate at school for ‘80s music (we both owned the eight CD box sets you’d see in HMV) so always had Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, Dead or Alive, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and the like on too. It was impossible to ignore the huge amount of dance/trance/house music at that time also. Such a good era for such a variety of strong music. Now I really like a mix across all genres. There’s just too much out there to deprive yourself of. Today was Arab Strap to Olafur Arnalds to Working Mens’ Club, to Matt Berninger to RTJ amongst others.

What would be your dream 5 person band line up?

 I never got to see David Bowie and will forever be disappointed at that. For that purpose, he’d be in my band. I was lucky enough to see Peter Green, in his latter days, play Edinburgh and cannot get enough of early Fleetwood Mac. A troubled but truly talented musician. A must for my group. Another nailed on certainty, Prince at the SSE Hydro, Glasgow in 2014 will forever stay in the memory. For a man of his physical stature to project and carry himself the way he did and to have such control over the audience as he did... just wow! Goosebumps thinking about it. I’d have Jeff Buckley - another genius in my eyes - in the band. His voice, his writing, his ability with a guitar... To complete the band I’d have another musician sadly taken from us way before her time - Amy Winehouse. Back to Black is an incredibly well crafted album and will stand the test of time for many years to come. The soul and emotion in her voice is chilling and joyous at the same time. She’d also be able to keep the four lads in check, I’m sure. What a question this is! I’m sure I could overthink it and change it a million times but I’m happy with that lineup.

If you could travel back in time, what single historical concert would you attend?

 I’m torn between two here and they’re far from obvious. I saw Frightened Rabbit celebrate 10 years of ‘Midnight Organ Fight’ in March 2018 at the Ritz, Manchester. I’d opted for the Manchester date as it meant I could go to another gig in Glasgow the night frabbits were playing there. In hindsight, if I’d known that would be my last Frightened Rabbit gig I’d have been at every one on the tour. Glasgow especially! Any fans of the band don’t need me to tell them how much you invest personally in that album and it’s got me and family and friends through some times - good and bad. The emotions of the night were unreal. Tears, smiles, laughs, sore throats and just a huge sense of every single person in that room being on the exact same page and in the exact same state of mind. It was very, very special and whilst I’m sad I will never see the band again, that night will long live with me.

This month we're delighted to hand over our blog page to our friend, Mary Fogg. An avid music lover and record collector. Mary wows the vinyl community on her Instagram page showcasing her fantastic collection.

"Music is always at the forefront of my mind and when I was asked if I would like to contribute on a post to talk about that very subject, I jumped at the opportunity. Being a creative person who loved to tread the boards, I was always up on stage performing in one musical production or another when I was younger. Music soon became my go-to arena in many ways, there were singing lessons (I’m pretty sure I sent a video off to join a certain girl band back in the mid 90s) and lots of dancing.

I grew up in Wales and entered the solo disco dancing competition in The Eisteddfod (a welsh festival with adjudicated competitions for poets, musicians and others) and also where my love of sequins began! I remember being in the local paper ‘protesting’ about the local disco being closed down, for me music and dancing often go hand in hand. I have always been very passionate about tunes and thankfully the passion has lived on to this day and has in fact grown." 

Find Mary's complete post on our blog page.