A week on from naming its first crop of ambassadors for 2017, Record Store Day organisers have added more names to the list in celebrated Indigenous rappers A.B. Original and country-music star Catherine Britt, as well as veteran industry man Tim Dalton and former deputy prime minister Anthony Albanese.
A.B. Original (individually, Briggs and Trials), Britt and Dalton join previously announced ambassadors Robert Forster, Mark Gable and Steve Kouta in flying the flag for the annual celebration of independent record stores.
It's an especially fitting role for A.B. Original, as they are among the artists releasing special-edition works to commemorate the 10th Record Store Day: their acclaimed album, Reclaim Australia, will be reissued on vinyl pressed in the colours of the Indigenous flag. That re-release comes on the heels of a period of almost-total acclaim (we see you, The Australian) for winning this year's Australian Music Prize with the album, not to mention placing in the triple j Hottest 100 with their breakthrough track January 26.
Britt's career has taken her all over the world — she even nabbed the honour of becoming the youngest Australian to perform at iconic venue the Grand Ole Opry, in Nashville, at the age of 17, and has won a veritable pile of awards and nominations, including six finalist nods at the ARIA Awards for Best Country Album, as well as being named the 2010 CMA Global Artist Of The Year.
The Melbourne-based Dalton has spent nearly four decades in the music industry, having filled a diversity of roles that include audio engineer, tour manager, producer, manager and record-label employee. His broad experience has seen him work with the likes of Faith No More, Beastie Boys, Primus, Run DMC, Public Enemy and a tonne of other impressive acts. He's not just flying the ambassador flag for Record Store Day, either, but England as well, having been recently named a European cultural ambassador for his home town of Hull.
Meanwhile, Albanese — 'Albo', if you'd prefer — has established himself as a bona fide music fan in addition to his political career. He is the proud owner of an extensive record collection, is a champion of live music, has hosted Rage, and even performs as DJ Albo, largely in a fund-raising capacity with industry charity Reclink.
It's all part of the wider Record Store Day celebrations, organised locally by the Australian Music Retailers Association (AMRA) and held worldwide in 2017 on Saturday 22 April.
For more information about the specials, parties and other attractions and activities on the horizon for this year's Record Store Day, see the event's website.
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