Big Wreck Named 2025 Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors

Big Wreck is proud to be announced as the Record Store Day Canada 2025 Canadian Ambassadors, releasing an exclusive deluxe edition of their renowned album Albatross on vinyl for the first time. The 18th annual global celebration of the culture of independent record stores takes place this year on April 12th, 2025. For a list of participating stores, click here. See below for upcoming Big Wreck tour dates.

Big Wreck frontman Ian Thornley states:

“It’s a great honour for Big Wreck to be Record Store Day Ambassadors. We grew up going to record stores and building our vinyl collections and it means a lot to us to continue the tradition. It’s especially exciting to be putting Albatross out into the world for the first time on vinyl. That record holds a special place.”

The Albatross (Anniversary Edition) is exclusive to Record Store Day and features a Deluxe 2xLP die-cut widespine with silver inner sleeves. The vinyl is pressed with a striking colour-in-colour effect, with black translucent on the outside and silver on the inside. The Anniversary Edition is based on the original album concept art and is limited to 2,500 copies. A Deluxe CD with silverfoil will also be available for purchase, limited to 1,000 copies.

To celebrate its first-ever vinyl pressing, the collection features a previously unreleased bonus track, “Fade Away,” three new alternate versions created by award-winning producer and engineer Eric Ratz alongside Ian Thornley, and an exceptional live recording of Albatross, performed Live at Suhr Guitar Factory.

The critically acclaimed 2012 album, Albatross (Anthem Records), made a powerful impact upon release, debuting at #5 on Canada’s Top 200 SoundScan chart and reaching #25 on the U.S. Billboard HeatSeekers chart. The title track, “Albatross,” dominated Canadian airwaves as the most-played radio song of the year, holding the #1 spot for six consecutive weeks and becoming the band’s first-ever #1 radio single. Follow-up hits “Wolves” and “A Million Days” also soared up the charts, with “Wolves” breaking into the Top 5 and both tracks landing in the Top 10.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Alex Lifeson says:

“Albatross is a collection of beautifully crafted songs showcasing the enormously diverse songwriting and stunning guitar arrangements from Ian Thornley. He is one of the most innovative guitarists I have ever heard and clearly a dynamic vocalist of extraordinary power. I love this album.”

Record Store Day Canada’s Ryan Kerr comments:

“The Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors for 2025 are Big Wreck and to say we are excited would be an understatement. We are working with the band to release the deluxe version of Albatross, featuring live and unreleased music exclusive to Record Store Day. It’s an unbelievable honour being able to collaborate with this iconic Canadian band – fans will be super thrilled with this one!”

Albatross (Anniversary Edition) Track Listing:

SIDE A:
01. Head Together
02. A Million Days
03. Wolves
04. Albatross

SIDE B:
05. Glass Room
06. All is Fair
07. Control
08. Rest of the World

SIDE C:
9. You Caught My Eye
10. Do What You Will
11. Time
12. Wolves (Alternate Version)

SIDE D:
13. Albatross (Alternate Version)
14. A Million Days (Alternate Version)
15. Fade Away (Bonus Track)
16. Albatross (Live at Suhr Guitar Factory)

Tour Dates:

03/07 – Niagara, ON – OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
03/08 – Windsor, ON – The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
04/04 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
04/05 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
04/07 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
04/09 to 04/13 – Miami-Bahamas – Creed Cruise ’99
05/31 – Fergus, ON – Meadows Music Festival