Record Store Day in Australia has announced their second cohort of ambassadors for 2017. In alphabetical order by last name, AMRA is very pleased to welcome the following roster of Australian music identities:
A.B.Original
A.B. Original is the collaboration between Briggs (Album of the Year recipient at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2015) and Trials, ARIA Award winning producer for Drapht, Illy, Hilltop Hoods, Seth Sentry and The Funkoars among others.
A.B. Original was born when the two artists were invited to perform at triple j’s 40 year celebration, Beat The Drum, in January 2015. They produced a short but powerful set which also included the special performance of ‘The Hunt’, a collaboration with Gurrummul performed earlier on triple j’s live at the wireless.
They write songs in the spirit of N.W.A and West Side Connection, while lyrically bringing attention to issues closer to home. Respectively coming from the Yorta Yorta and
Ngarrindjeri tribes, Briggs and Trials are socially conscious outspoken Indigenous artists. They bring a new voice to Australian hip hop as A.B. Original.
Their debut album ‘Reclaim Australia’ recently won the 2017 Australian Music Prize and is available for Record Store Day on red, black and yellow vinyl, representing the colours of the indigenous flag.
Catherine Britt
Catherine Britt’s career to date is nothing short of extraordinary. She released her first recording at 14, took herself to Nashville at 17, is the youngest Australian to perform at the Grand Old Opry (still just 17 years old), has released six albums all of which garnered ARIA Awards nominations for Best Country Album (which is a first for any Australian country artist), has had three singles in the US Billboard Hot Country Song chart, has won three CMAA Awards, been nominated for APRA and CMC awards, and in 2010 was presented with the CMA Global Artist of the Year Award.
Catherine has toured, performed and recorded with artist as diverse as Kasey Chambers and Elton John, Keith Urban and Paul Kelly.
She is a singer, songwriter, television and radio host, magazine owner and editor, and now an ambassador for Record Store Day 2017.
These eminent Australian artists are joined by man about music, Tim Dalton. Tim has been in the music industry for almost forty years, having skived off school to lug road cases for some mates he went on to audio engineer, tour manager, produce, manage and work in record companies including A&R for Sony in the US. He’s worked with Faith No More, Beastie Boys, Primus, Run DMC, Public Enemy, Transvision Vamp, Simple Minds, Elvis Costello, Kirsty McColl and Atomic Kitten, amongst others. He lives in Melbourne but has recently been appointed a European cultural ambassador to his home town of Hull, in the north of England.
This brings to six the ambassadors announced for Record Store Day 2017, as these three join equally illustrious Australian artists Mark Gable (The Choirboys) and Robert Forster (The Go Betweens) and popular Instagrammer Steve Kouta.
Record Store Day is a once-a-year unmissable day for all music lovers. This year it’s celebrating 10 years with a record number of participating indie record stores. Set for Saturday 22 April more than 180 indie music stores around Australia will throw open their doors to live music, DJs spinning the vinyl, treasure hunts, parties, barbecues, coffee carts, face painting and, of course, the legendary vinyl crate digging.
The indie record store is a community hub for music lovers: a place to find new music, reconnect with old and new music from old friends, get great advice and recommendations, hear musicians live, find out what’s happening in the local music scene, and generally hang out with people who love music as much as you do.
Background: Record Store Day is an international event held in over 30 nations around the world, celebrating indie record stores and their place in their local music community. Stores showcase live performances from local and international musicians, throw parties, host DJ sets, throw snags on the barbie, run competitions and draws, raid their vaults for vinyl, CD and memorabilia treasures, open the bar, offer discounts across the store, source special purchase buys often from overseas, and supply the legendary limited edition vinyl which is pressed specially for the day.
In Australia, Record Store Day is organised by AMRA (the Australian Music Retailers Association) with additional funding from the major record companies and like-minded sponsors such as Pro-Ject, which is the official turntable partner.
Information about what is happening in which store is regularly added to the Australian website and social media.
Website: www.recordstoreday.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RecordStoreDayAustralia
Twitter: twitter.com/RSDAustralia
Instagram: www.instagram.com/RSDAustralia