Rough Trade, the iconic record store and label founded in 1976, has announced ambitious celebrations for its 50th anniversary in 2026. The plans include reunion concerts, limited-edition vinyl releases, and a new subscription service. Highlights feature a rare performance by Life Without Buildings after nearly 25 years.
Rough Trade opened its first store in West London in 1976 and is marking its Golden Jubilee with a series of events and releases. Partnering with promoters Bird On The Wire, the label will host special concerts throughout the year.
One standout event is a reunion show by Glaswegian art-rock band Life Without Buildings at London's KOKO on November 20, 2026. This marks their first performance in nearly 25 years. Tickets go on sale January 16 at 10am. The announcement follows singer Sue Tompkins' collaboration with Sleaford Mods on the single 'No Touch,' released last December and featured on their upcoming album 'The Demise of Planet X,' out January 16 via Rough Trade.
Another highlight is an experimental performance by Jim O’Rourke and Eiko Ishibashi at Union Chapel on April 13, 2026, with tickets also available from January 16. Additional events are expected to be revealed soon.
Complementing the live shows, Rough Trade is launching exclusive vinyl editions of 50 essential albums spanning 1976 to 2025. Curated by the Rough Trade team, the list includes works by Patti Smith, Aphex Twin, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Björk, The xx, Rina Sawayama, and Pulp. Starting in February, five drops of ten titles each will represent different decades. These can be bought individually or through the new 'Rough Trade Club: Essential' subscription.
Priced at £395 and limited to 500 subscribers, the year-long subscription delivers 12 exclusive vinyls from the essentials list, plus a hand-picked album monthly. It includes benefits like free online shipping, in-store discounts, priority event access, and anniversary merchandise. Each vinyl features liner notes from artists or key figures.
This follows last June's 'Rough Trade 45s: Volume 1' box set, which collected early indie releases from 1978-1980 by artists such as Augustus Pablo, The Raincoats, Cabaret Voltaire, and Swell Maps. The set included an interview with co-managing directors Jeannette Lee and Geoff Travis, archive photos, and artist quotes.
Rough Trade has expanded recently with new stores at New York’s Rockefeller Center, London’s Denmark Street, and its largest UK location in Liverpool.