ALBUM OF THE MONTH: DERMOT KENNEDY - THE WEIGHT OF THE WOODS

Record Store Day UK is proud to announce Olivia Dean as the Official UK Ambassador for 2026. Olivia has been awarded the role as a champion for the culture of independent record shops and the vital role they play within their local communities. Joining the ranks of iconic past ambassadors including Sam Fender, Kate Bush, Taylor Swift, the 1975, Noel Gallagher and Elton John, Olivia is ready to bring her love of vinyl and record shop culture to the 2026 event. Speaking of her ambassador role, Olivia said: “It’s such an honour to be the Record Store Day Ambassador for 2026. Independent record stores are such special spaces to discover and share music - to actually touch it and feel it. I’ve found so much inspiration in the records I’ve collected over the years and am so grateful for all the hidden gems I’ve found. I want to thank the record stores around the world for all the support you’ve given me over the years. It’s so important we continue to support them and keep them alive!”

2026 rolls on with the next chapter from Mumford & Sons - their sixth studio album, Prizefighter. Just seven months after their number one album Rushmere, the band teamed up again with Aaron Dessner of The National to co-write and co-produce a collection written in just ten days. The 14 tracks capture highs, lows, and everything in between - the perfect record to spin as we say goodbye to January. Marcus Mumford’s lyrics explore resilience and pushing forward. The songs came to life during long days writing in Hudson cafés and late nights around Long Pond’s kitchen table, full of first takes and the joy of making music together again. “We’re putting everything we have into this now, and we’re using everything about our experience so far to embrace exactly who we are. Prizefighter is serious and playful, sometimes bruised and always hopeful.” - Marcus Mumford Prizefighter features collaborations with Hozier, Gracie Abrams, Gigi Perez and Chris Stapleton, reflecting the band’s ongoing focus on community. Pick up your copy from your local indie record shop when it drops on 20th February. For collectors, the Indies Exclusive edition is a 140g ‘Icarus’ Amber Vinyl, housed in a gatefold jacket with lyric sheet and printed inner sleeve. Spin it, enjoy it, and support the indie record shops that make our culture thrive! Tracklist: 1. Here (with Chris Stapleton) 2. Rubber Band Man (with Hozier) 3. The Banjo Song 4. Run Together 5. Conversation With My Son 6. Alleycat 7. Prizefighter 8. Begin Again 9. Icarus (with Gigi Perez) 10. Stay 11. Badlands (with Gracie Abrams) 12. Shadow Of A Man 13. I’ll Tell You Everything 14. Clover