The big day is April 18th. Here's your guide to all things iNDIEPLAZA & Record Store Day.
We're so excited for our 5th annual iNDIEPLAZA festival, co-presented by Rockefeller Center. This year, indie rockers Superchunk close out the night, with performances throughout the day by Incendiary, Hotline TNT, Momma (Duo), & more.
With tens of thousands of people expected across the day, iNDIEPLAZA has become the defining live expression of Record Store Day culture, bringing together artists, fans, labels, and independent retail at a scale unmatched globally.
There's lots of fun to be had on Record Store Day, so we've put together this short guide. Read on to check out the schedule, food vendors, signings, giveaways, and more.
“Record Store Day has always been about more than records, it’s about community, discovery, and the shared experience of music. What makes iNDIEPLAZA so special is the breadth of people it brings together, all ages, all backgrounds, all tastes, coming into one space to celebrate music in its many forms."
See you on the plaza!
🎵 Live Music
Which artist are you most excited to see live? At iNDIEPLAZA fest, the musical performances will begin midday at 12 PM with the fuzzy power pop of Weird Nightmare and culminate in a special headlining set from indie rock legends Superchunk. From the italo-disco vibes of Nuovo Testamento, to the dreamy sounds of Winter, to the hardcore punk of Incendiary, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
All of our live performances will have DJ sets in-between from the likes of Saint Virgil, Soul in the Horn, and Avalon Emerson.
Full schedule and map below!
Coming to Rockefeller Center by train, bus, or Citi bike? Get directions here.
✍ Meet your faves - Avalon Emerson Signing on the Plaza @ 5PM
BONUS SIGNING! Avalon Emerson will stop by the artist merch tent at 5 PM for a special short signing of her new album Written Into Changes. Dice RSVP required.
🧑🎨 Kids & Family Activities with Tiny Indie
Join Rockefeller Center and Space Club for family & kids activities. In this hands-on workshop, children will design and craft play-doh records, tie-dye iNDIEPLAZA merch, and listen to music. On the Center Plaza from 9:30am-12pm.
Find more information HERE and reserve your spot HERE.
👕 Artist Merch Booth
While you’re here, don’t forget to grab a shirt from your fav band at the Artist Merch Booth!
🍺🍗 Food & Drinks
Thirsty? Sit in the outdoor space at City Winery in the North Plaza and sip away, or grab a sweet treat and a beverage at the Wafels & Dinges truck on the North Esplanade.
Enjoy a bite at Del Friscos, Limani, & Le Roc, serving up their standard faire in the North Plaza, or grab some tacos at the La Puya truck on the North Esplanade.
Your iNDIEPLAZA wristband also gets you 15% at Cafe Grumpy, Under 30 in Rockefeller Center.
💿 Rough Trade Storefront
Record Store Day will happen for the second year at Rough Trade Below. Rough Trade Above will be open for regular shopping all day! You can browse records above from 10 AM-8 PM.
🏆 DICE Check-In
We’ll be partnering once again with DICE for your free RSVP. Once you've checked in at the DICE tent, your iNDIEPLAZA wristband will get you special deals at Rockefeller businesses, including free notebook embossing from Moleskin on the plaza, discounts at Cafe Grumpy, & more.
Free RSVPs from DICE available HERE.
RSD 2026 Shopping Guidelines
RSD will be held at Rough Trade Below once again this year, located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Concourse Level. The line will still form upstairs at street level, on 6th Ave. outside of Rough Trade Above. We open at 9 AM on Saturday- line up early for your best chance at the titles you want.
As usual, one copy per person of each title. For fairness sake, we have to prohibit multiple buys of the same release.
Strictly first come, first served - no customer holds.
We will be providing a ‘personal shopping service’ for Record Store Day releases. A wishlist will be provided to you in line to fill out, and the Rough Trade staff will collect your selections for you at checkout. Please keep in mind that you may not get everything on your list, and that the titles on the list are subject to change.
To help us manage the safe capacity of the store, we kindly ask that you are prompt with your purchase, helping us ensure everyone receives service, as fast as possible.
As it will be a busy day, we kindly ask that you are patient and courteous to all our staff members.
Enjoy! This is a day to celebrate great music and great record shops, so even with all the guidelines, we hope you’ll find the release(s) you’ve been patiently waiting for, and as with all record purchases, they deliver a joy for decades to come!
Please Note: Any leftover titles will be available to buy online the following day, Sunday 4/19 at 8:00 AM EST.
About iNDIEPLAZA
A celebration of independent music, merchandise, and workshops in the center of New York City, co-hosted by Rockefeller Center & indie pioneers Rough Trade. Featuring a thoughtfully curated lineup of artists, a band merchandise market, hands-on workshops, plus favorites of the food and drink scenes - iNDIEPLAZA is accessible, inclusive, all-ages, and free for all New Yorkers.
The inaugural iNDIEPLAZA festival was held on September 17th and 18th, 2022. The weekend-long music event was headlined by Ali Shaheed Muhammad of the pioneering and hugely influential hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, while highlighting the most exciting up & coming artists including new wave trio Automatic, lo-fi singer-songwriter Claud, teenage garage-punks Horsegirl, R&B artist Yaya Bey, Brazilian singer and guitarist Sessa, harpist and composer Mary Lattimore, and more.
The second iNDIEPLAZA festival was held on September 9th 2023 in partnership with Dr. Martens. Nation of Language headlined in advance of their highly anticipated third album Strange Disciple. iNDIEPLAZA also spotlighted some of the buzziest, up and coming artists in music today including shoegaze punks Narrow Head, indie- rock & pop duo Video Age, Cali garage rockers Death Valley Girls, Long Island hardcore band Crime In Stereo, electronic pop chameleon DEBBY FRIDAY, and many more.
2024 was the first year iNDIEPLAZA was held on Record Store Day. It featured Dehd, Armand Hammer, Cloud Nothings, Glitterer, Snooper, and more.
Last year's festival braved the rain to bring twee-pop band Slippers, noise-rock punks Lifeguard, experimental neo-soul artist Zsela, dub reggae artist Pachyman, alternative hip-hop group Clipping., and grunge punks Scowl, headlined by high-energy Swedish superstars The Hives.
Since Rough Trade’s relocation from Brooklyn to Rockefeller Center in the summer of 2021, they have unlocked a wider, counterculture revival of midtown Manhattan, and been a milestone in the Center’s re-imagination of its campus. In Fall 2021, Rough Trade and Rockefeller Center also launched acclaimed concert series indieballroom at the historic Rainbow Room, a key example of the ongoing revitalization of the Center which aims to bring the city’s most compelling and creative independent talent to the iconic landmark.
Free to the public and inclusive to all New Yorkers from Saturday morning to evening, iNDIEPLAZA celebrates the freedom of independent thinking and creative practice at the world-famous Rockefeller Center, in the heart of New York City.