It's not often you see queues outside record shops these days — in fact it's not often you see record shops at all. So Record Store Day, which returns on April 20, really is something special.

Since launching in the UK in 2008, it has become a hugely anticipated date in the diary of any music lover and become a celebration of the UK's unique independent music sector.

It's a day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are released exclusively and hundreds of artists make special appearances and performances.

The full list of exclusive releases for this year's Record Store Day has just been revealed. New or previously unreleased or rare records will be made available from artists including David Bowie, Kate Bush, Paul Weller and the White Stripes — ensuring once again that they'll be a huge queue outside shops up and down the country, including Norwich's Soundclash Records on St Benedict's.

Organisers define a Record Store Day participating store as 'a standalone brick-and-mortar retailer whose main primary business focuses on a physical store location…we're dealing with real, live, physical, indie record stores – not online retailers or corporate behemoths'.

UK co-ordinator Spencer Hickman said: 'There's nothing to beat the enthusiasm and atmosphere of a great record shop. The reason great indie stores succeed is that they love music as much as their customers do. Record Store Day is like one huge festival taking place in every part of the UK.'

Currently in the headlines and high in the charts for the first time in a decade, David Bowie will be high the on wish list of many vinyl lovers, with three releases this year, lead by The Stars (Are Out Tonight)/ Where Are We Now collectible 7', taken from Bowie's World-wide chart-topping album The Next Day. There will also be classic re-issues of Drive-In Saturday on a 7' picture disc and his 1965 EP.

Paul Weller will also be joining in the festivities. The Mod legend, whose date at Thetford Forest in June sold out in record time, has recorded two brand new tracks Flame-Out! and The Olde Original for the occasion. He said 'It's great to do a record that's released specifically for Record Store Day. There's so few record shops left that we should all treasure those remaining.'

Kate Bush will release an exclusive limited-edition 10in picture disc of the 2012 remix of Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God), while Pulp with make available a new Soulwax remix of After You.

The full list of exclusive releases is too long to detail here — check out the website — but on it there are some real rarities and must-haves for collectors.

Bob Dylan will sample his forthcoming Bootleg Series Volume 10 with a double-sided single featuring a demo version of Wigwam from 1970's Self Portrait b/w Thirsty Boots, an unreleased track from that album's recording sessions.

John Coltrane's previously unissued 1961 performance at the Newport jazz festival will be available on 12in vinyl. And The Rolling Stones' Five by Five EP will be available on 7in vinyl for the first time since 1964.

Prepare to get queuing…

www.recordstoreday.co.uk