THE sound of music filled Newport city centre on the 10th annual Record Store Day – an event held to support independent music stores around the country.

Music fans queued up from the early hours of the morning to get their hands on the latest record releases at Diverse Records, before bands played live along Charles Street.

Newport musicians, including Joe Kelly and three-piece band PARCS, performed alongside other acts on Commercial Street, with shoppers taking a moment to stop and listen.

Graham the Bear, an employee at Diverse Music and member of Newport’s Goldie Lookin’ Chain, said it has been a great celebration of music.

“It’s been a wonderful day – we’ve been very busy and we had people queuing up outside the shop at about 6am in the morning,” he said.

“But there was a lovely spirit among the customers in the queue – they all seemed in happy and chatting away to one another waiting to get their hands on the exclusive releases.”

Each year musicians use Record Store Day to either release new material or publish previously unreleased tracks, and the music shop employee believed that 2017 was all about one artist.

“I think this year was all about Bowie and he was one of the first records out of door,” he added.

“He had a number of big releases out and they were chomping at the bit for the Bowie promo and live album that came out.

“The Cure also flew out the door with their picture disks and the Beatles are back, perhaps getting back together or what’s left of them.”

The Charles Street store has supported Record Store Day since its creation, and over recent years, vinyl has increased in popularity among the public.

“Diverse Music has been supporting Record Store Day since it started 10 years ago. The shop itself is in its 28th year and it’s been flying really,” said the GLC member.

“Diverse is one of the more established of the independents and one of the better stores in my opinion.

“There’s still quite a bit of interest in vinyl again.

“We get a lot of people coming in and saying they have just bought a record player again and re-buying all their vinyl after they got rid of it in the 90s.

“They are gutted that they did it but they are buying it all back and it does sound better I think.”

The store also held a raffle to support Velindre, and the star prize was a guitar signed by Blackwood’s the Manic Street Preachers.

“The Manics donated a guitar and signed it, and all the money from that raffle will go to Velindre. I think it’s a cause which is very close to the guys’ hearts as it may have helped their family members,” added the musician and shop assistant.

There was one sale in particular which pleased Graham the Bear.

“Someone’s even bought some GLC which is great to see,” he said.

Mr Kelly, the second act to perform on the stage at the end of Charles Street, said it was great to have the chance to play live music on Record Store Day.

“I’ve played a couple of times on Record Store Day – I played the first time it really came to Newport – and it’s great to still be involved and asked to do things like this,” said the Newport musician.

“Being in the middle of town, it’s lovely to have people just walking through who may not always go to gigs or see live music.

“We had some little kids just having a dance around and it is their introduction to live music.

“People need to appreciate that music comes from small venues and events tied into Record Store Day is perfect to put live music front and centre in people’s minds.”

Later this evening, other musical acts will perform at the Riverfront Theatre – starting at 7pm.

For more information about Record Store Day, visit recordstoreday.co.uk.