Wales’ best independent record shops

A treasure trove of music of new and used vinyl and CDs, Moonlight Records is the place to go whether you’re looking for the latest Taylor Swift or that obscure 70’s prog album you need to complete your collection. The shop is hub for a thriving local community of music fans, promoting local record fairs and music events and getting involved with wider celebrations like National Album Day.

Local listen: Mowbird

These long-running Wrecsam fuzz-pop merchants know how to keep fans waiting. Their first album ‘Islander’ was released in 2014. Despite recording most of the follow-up just a year later, second LP ‘Quest’ didn’t emerge until 2024. Luckily, it was worth the wait, with the BBC’s Adam Walton describing it as ‘surf twang gone so wrong, it’s right’. Since their re-emergence, the band have played at events like Focus Wales and join a who’s-who of Welsh talent at Transnewid Festival in Aberystwyth in 2026.

With a name that stands for ‘Vinyl On Deck’ VOD Music was established in 2004. As well as a shop stocked with new and vintage releases VOD is heavily involved with record fairs. These fairs used to travel to towns in North Wales which didn’t have their own record stores, though they are now based in Mold full time. Despite its massive stock, VOD was named the ‘smallest independent record store in the UK’ in 2015. Following a recent move to new premises, the shop now has much more space to show off its selection (while the former location now stocks high-end audio equipment).

Local listen: The Joy Formidable

Formed in Mold in 2007, The Joy Formidable’s potent, high-energy rock has taken them all over the world. First album ‘The Big Roar’ – featuring indie anthem ‘Whirring’ – was recorded in London and mixed in LA (by knob-twiddler to the stars Rich Costey). Spots on Hollywood movie soundtracks and tours with the likes of Foo Fighters followed. Latest album ‘Into the Blue’ was recorded in Utah, with the band returning to Mold to kick off their world tour. In 2026, The Joy Formidable support The Cure at their massive Caerdydd shows ­– hand-picked by frontman Robert Smith (a huge fan of the band).

Sat close to the sea on our north west coast, Cob Records is one of Wales’ most famous independent record shops. Trading since the late sixties, it got ahead of today’s online shopping trends and was shipping as many 7,500 records a week to customers all over the world by 1971. Today. It’s a browsers’ paradise, with a cosy interior packed floor-to-ceiling with just about any record you can imagine. Don’t be overwhelmed, just give yourself enough time for a proper look around and you’re sure to emerge with some great finds under your arm.

Local listen: H.Hawkline

You might speculate that Huw Evans’ indie-folk wonky-pop sound was influenced by the formative years he spent growing up on the coastline of North Wales. Listen for yourself. He’s received multiple nominations for the Welsh Music Prize, most recently in 2023 for his latest album Milk for Flowers. He’s also collaborated with artists like Cate le Bon (another Welsh Music Prize nominee) and Aldous Harding.

Andy's Records has been a fixture on Aberystwyth’s music scene since 1985. The lively university town of Aberystwyth has an unquenchable thirst for great tunes, which Andy’s is more than happy to satisfy. Have a dig through the bins and you’ll discover sought-after rarities, new releases and banging bargains. As well as rare, big-ticket vinyl, there’s plenty of affordable discs you won’t mind getting out at a student party. Genre-wise, expect plenty of rock – alongside a varied selection electronic, pop, hip-hop and folk.

Local listen: Georgia Ruth

Born in Aberystwyth, Georgia Ruth is a modern folk artist who sings in both Cymraeg and English who won the 2013 Welsh Music Prize in 2013 for her debut album ‘Week of Pines’. Her latest album ‘Cool Head’ features a who’s-who of Welsh collaborators including Sweet Baboo, Euros Childs and Iwan Huws of Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog – and was nominated for the WMP in 2024.

Owned by former punk Matt Davies, Tangled Parrot is an award-winning record shop well known for supporting local artists and Welsh language acts. Living up to its idiosyncratic name, Tangled Parrot is something of an industry maverick. While you will find plenty of mainstream releases on its shelves, expect to also discover more out-there artists from music’s more extreme fringes – plus an impressive choice of rare, second-hand discs. As well as the main Caerfyrddin shop, you’ll find Tangled Parrot shops in Abertawe (Swansea) and in Y Gelli Gandryll (Hay-on-Wye).

Local listen: Adwaith

Carmarthenshire-born, three-piece Adwaith have already landed two Welsh Music Prize wins in 2019 and 2022 for their albums ‘Melyn’ and ‘Bato Mato’. They also snagged a nomination in the 2025 competition for their latest ‘Solas’, an ambitious double-LP - described as ‘empowered, atmospheric and celebratory’ by ‘Mojo’ magazine. Singing in Welsh, Adwaith’s unique style of spiky but danceable poppy post-rock has seen them sell out shows across the country, as well as heading out on tour with fellow Welsh legends Manic Street Preachers.

Music fan? Then it’s time to plan your pilgrimage to Spillers. Founded in 1894, it’s famously the oldest record shop in the world and an integral part of Caerdydd's buzzing music scene. It’s a major supporter of local acts and labels and a hub for both fans and artists – countless bands have got together thanks to ‘musician wanted’ ads on the shop’s noticeboard. Originally located on the Hayes, Spillers moved to larger premises in Morgan Arcade in 2010 and now hosts instore performances from visiting artists alongside its stellar selection of vinyl and CDs.

Local listen: Gwenno

With stints in both girl-group The Pipettes and as a touring musician with Elton John, no one could accuse Caerdydd-born Gwenno of a lack of eclecticism. Her solo work is just as varied. Singing in both Cymraeg and Cornish, her ethereal synth pop has won the hearts of fans and critics alike. Her 2022 album ‘Tresor’ was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, while she marks the release of her latest LP ‘Utopia’ with an instore performance and signing at (where else?) Spillers Records.

Cardiff Record Exchange is an essential stop off for any crate diggers visiting our capital. Regularly restocked with a stellar selection of vintage vinyl, it’s the place to go for those in the know. You’ll find rare records by everyone from ABC to ZZ Top, so collectors can happily lose a few hours rifling through the racks.

Local listen: Don Leisure

As well as winning the 2025 Welsh Music Prize for his album ‘Tyrchu Sain’, musician/producer Don Leisure can sometimes be found browsing for rare cuts at Cardiff Record Exchange. Building his tracks from obscure samples, his WMP-winning record was constructed entirely with sounds sourced from the back catalogue of Sain, Cymru's oldest independent record label.

Diverse is something of a haven for audiophiles. As well as selling an impressive collection of new and second-hand releases on CD and vinyl, the shop specialises in high-definition releases for the more discerning listener. You can take your pick from high-quality reissues on heavy-duty, crackle-free vinyl, crystal clear Blu-Ray audio discs and CDs in super-crisp SACD and SHM-CD formats. The shop even has it’s own, vinyl-only record label and stocks a range of cleaning and maintenance products to help keep your turntable and record collection on pristine condition.

Local listen: L E M F R E C K

The Casnewydd rapper won the Welsh Music Prize in 2024 for his album ‘Blood, Sweat and Fears’. The underground artist drew inspiration from his local community to create a dense and soulful blend of hip-hop and R&B, building on a profile that saw him featured on BBC’s Ones to Watch list in 2021 and being named Introducing Artist of the Year 2023 by BBC Radio Wales.

For more contemporary music from Cymru check out Creative Wales' monthly music playlists, with fresh sounds from emerging and established artists across Cymru – both in Cymraeg and English.