Promoters & labels
ART SCARE RECORDS
Email: artscarerecords@hotmail.com, web: www.myspace.com/artscarerecords • Art Scare Records isn’t really that scary at all, unless you’re alarmed by weird and wonderful, genre-spanning, boundary-phobic up-and-coming talent. Their second compilation can be downloaded for free via their MySpace, and features the likes of Billy Bloodaxe, The Dagger Brothers, Tasha Fights Tigers and The Hysterical Injury. OK, it is a little bit scary.
BIG PINK CAKE
Web: www.myspace.com/bigpinkcake • A colourful, shiny, kitsch indie pop adventure based at The Lanes and Mother’s Ruin. Their nights have seen The Parallelograms, Cocoanut Groove, Francois, Santa Dog and Arctic Circle play, amongst many others.
BRISTOLBANDS.COM
Web: www.bristolbands.com • Principally buddied up with The Fleece, bristolbands.com has put on more bands in this fair city than could fairly be expected of a hardworking promoter. The range is wide, though mainly falls in the guitar-based arena, and they guarantee at least one local band on every bill.
CLEVERHEAD
Web: www.cleverhead.co.uk, www.myspace.com/cleverheadevents • New promoters in town with regular slots at Mr Wolf’s and Cosies, who promise to put on “interesting, different or just plain über cool” bands in “interesting, different or just plain über cool” venues, and not to nick all the cash at the end.
DB RECORDS
PO Box 19318, Bath, BA1 6ZS, tel: 01225 782322, email: demo@dbrecords.co.uk, web: www.dbrecords.co.uk • Promoting forward-thinking, interesting artists rather than artists who fall into a particular genre, db has released the debuts from the Electric Soft Parade and the Mercury-nominated Tom McRae.
DEADPUNK PROMOTIONS
Web: www.myspace.com/deadpunkpromotions • No prizes for guessing the main thrust of this independent promoter. Deadpunk draws in real heavyweights of the international punk scene, mainly to The Croft - upcoming gigs include The Lawrence Arms, Sick Of It All and RX Bandits.
DEATH$UCKER RECORDS
Email: info@deathsucker.org, web: www.deathsucker.org • The personal label of Parasite, who also runs the DSWAT web store, focusing on bat shit crazy experimental dance.
DECORUM RECORDS
Web: www.myspace.com/decorumrecords • Kooky little boutique label and DIY show promoters, with the emphasis on the unusual and rather noisy. Have previously worked with Puttin on the Ritz, The Wailingest Cats and, most recently, An Axe.
DHP CONCERTS
Web: www.dhpgroup.co.uk • Owners of that musical mecca on water, the Thekla, national promoters DHP also run Nottingham Rock City and organise the smashing Dot to Dot Festival.
EYES WIDE SHUT RECORDINGS
Email: info@eyeswideshutrecordings.com, web: www.eyeswideshutrecordings.com • Part of Extreme Music Production (see also Managers), EWS has released a slew of live material from maudlin goth-rockers The Mission as well as Specimen and Jimmy Copley.
FEAR OF FICTION
Web: www.myspace.com/fearoffiction • A not-for-profit label and showcase promoter that mainly books bands for Start the Bus, but also bowling-diner-bar-venue The Lanes. Their first compilation features, amongst others, On Off Switch, Call the Doctor and Roxy’s Wardrobe.
GIMME SHELTER
Web: www.myspace.com/gimmeshelterclubbristol • Promoters of local acts with DJs spinning 60s psych and garage, northern soul and dirty rock ’n’ roll, now based at The Lanes.
GLAIVE CONCERTS
Web: www.glaiveconcerts.net • After a bit of a hiatus, Glaive Concerts have recently returned to the fold, dragging artsy Canadian post-rock types Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra over for a show at the Fleece. They have previously put on the likes of No Age, Holy Fuck, Dirty Projectors and Animal Collective.
ILLEGAL SEAGULL
Web: www.myspace.com/sryslylol • You’ve probably seen their gloriously gaudy posters dotted around, and their music policy is just as eccentric. These days most likely to be found tearing apart the Mother’s Ruin.
INGUE RECORDS
Email: info@inguerecords.com, web: www.inguerecords.com • Independent label and promoters. Have most recently released a 7” from instrumental post-rockers Hreda, and put on Shield Your Eyes, Boutros Bubba and Dai the Move.
INVADA RECORDS
Web: www.invada-records.blogspot.com, www.invadarecords.bigcartel.com • Imprint half-owned by Geoff Barrow and half-owned by Fat Paul, set up to “lose money and friends” in the pursuit of showcasing experimental music. Home to the likes of Beak>, Julian Cope and Blood Island Raiders.
JELLI RECORDS
Web: www.myspace.com/jellirecords • Label owned by BCFM’s Steve Parkhouse, host of The Bristol Music Show, showcasing local acoustic and folk talent. They also promote gigs and manage artists.
LET THE BASTARDS, GRIND!
Web: www.myspace.com/letthebastardsgrind • Brilliantly named promoters of angular, noisy, scary sounds who have hosted lots of acts with equally inventive monikers: Fuck Buttons, Attack! Vipers!, BBBlood, Concrete Belly - the list goes on.
LOCAL KID
PO Box 2543, Bristol, email: localkidgang@yahoo.co.uk, web: www.localkid.co.uk • A self-styled “DIY feminist punk kid collective” that promotes and releases in Bristol. Have previously put on Le Tigre and anti-folkster Kimya Dawson.
LOFI HIFI
Web: www.myspace.com/lofihifi • Prolific promoters in and around the area. Expect to catch electronic or indie sounds at the likes of the Louisiana, Cooler, Thekla and Start the Bus.
OFFBEAT PROMOTIONS
Web: www.myspace.com/offbeatpromotions • Putting on gigs of the indie, rock and alternative variety in Bath, Bristol and Cardiff, Offbeat has recently seen Xiu Xiu, Violet Violet and Ice, Sea, Dead People take to the stage.
PURR
email: info@purr.org.uk, web: www.purr.org.uk • Buzzsaw guitar-encouraging influential Bath label, whose catalogue includes The Age of Reason, Ivory Springer and The A-Lines. Also known to put on the odd gig or two.
QU JUNCTIONS
Web: www.qujunktions.com • Top-notch DIY promotion and booking outfit that has recently put on such fine acts as Efterklang and Four Tet, alongside showcasing the best local talent like Zun Zun Egui. They encourage “quality not quantity”.
SINK & STOVE
Email: info@sinkandstove.co.uk, web: www.sinkandstove.co.uk • Influential Bristol label that has been a little quiet of late, but still has a mighty impressive back catalogue, with releases from the likes of Gravenhurst, Secret Lake and People of Water.
SONGSMITH
Web: www.myspace.com/jumpingjoint • Affiliated with the Jumping Joint imprint and Songsmith Studios, Songsmith puts on regular nights at both Mr Wolf’s and the Mayor’s Arms to promote mainly acoustic, singer-songwriter acts.
SOUND MUSIC PROMOTION
37 Radley Rd, Fishponds, Bristol, tel: 07506 121644, email: soundmusic@hotmail.com, web: www.soundmusicpromotion.com • Run by musicians for musicians, Sound Music Promotion stages showcases and PR campaigns for signed and unsigned artists, particularly those that shun powered instrumentation in favour of acoustic, and can also offer paid gigs.
STITCH STITCH
79 Cromwell Rd, St Andrews, Bristol, web: www.stitchstitchrecords.co.uk • DIY, Bristol-based label focusing on the acoustic and nu-folk end of the market. Have released vinyl and CD-Rs from the likes of I Know I Have No Colour, Ray Rumours, Frànçois and Arctic Circle.
SUGAR SHACK RECORDS
Tel: 01179 855092, web: www.sugarshackrecords.co.uk • Veteran label that favours big guitar riffery and thunderous drums. Latest release is an EP from Dark Horse, a Bath quartet offering “riffs, attitude and low slung guitars”. Also home to Left Side Brain and Full Scream Ahead.
SUPERFI RECORDS
Email: superfirecords@gmail.com, web: www.superfirecords.co.uk • With a shameless intent to bring the rock, Superfi has released albums, singles and EPs from Agents of Abhorrence, Aguirre and Agoraphobic Nosebleed amongst many, many others - that’s just a few of the As. Ten years in, it’s still super-prolific and super-heavy.
TIN HUT
Web: www.myspace.com/tinhut • Also acting as management for The Cedar and Babel, Tin Hit promote acoustic and folk at venues such as St George’s, the Folk House and Fiddlers.
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