The next Debt event is in Liverpool, running a stage at the wonderful @ThresholdFest on 11th Feb. Details here: http://t.co/Yla1OZOQ
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DEBT Records is a label born out of troubled times, a label nurse-fed on the understanding that current music industry practices are failing both artists and listeners. DEBT IS A LABEL THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO THAT INDUSTRY
January 2010's Articles
serious feather shoots mother
30 January 2010
Principle photography is now well underway for the music video of Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six’s song “Mother” directed by Brett Gregory and produced by Serious Feather films.
The first day of filming took place on a closed set at a secret location in Manchester’s Northern Quarter - a space previously used by the likes of Ray Winstone, Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. The seven musicians entered a Dickensian nightmare-land of mist, masochism, gallows humour and soft-shoe shuffles to bring Louis Barabbas’s tale of filial anxiety to life.
Some behind the scenes pictures from day one of the shoot can be viewed on the Bedlam Six’s blog. More to follow…
Monkey Poet swings into studio
26 January 2010
Monkey Poet Matt Panesh has begun recording his much-anticipated debut album.
But it’s not going to be just any album…
Joined by a cast of incomparable actors at Manchester’s oldest surviving building Slade Hall (parts of which date back to the 12th Century), script read-throughs and recording tests marked the beginning of what is set to be an extraordinary undertaking that features a staggering salmagundi of poetry, drama, music and comedy.
The project is entitled Welcome to the UK, a radio-play written by Panesh and spiked throughout with live excerpts from his award-winning show of the same name.
Filled with Monkey Poet’s distinctive caustic poetry and enduring humour, the album looks set to redefine the recorded poetry genre whilst at the same time putting a lot of smiles on faces and questions in heads.
It will be available in the Spring.
Alabaster Abroad
20 January 2010
Debt’s resident absurdist wordsmith Alabaster Deplume, last seen buried in his home studio with Homelife’s Paddy Steer and members of Honeyfeet, has skipped town to play sax with Liz Green on her tour of Continental Europe. Below is a selection of their dates:
- 19 Jan - Fokus @ Jöngköping Bibliothek, Jöngköping (Sweden);
- 21 Jan - Fingerböllet, Kopenhagen (Denmark);
- 22 Jan - West Germany, Berlin (Germany);
- 23 Jan - Paris Syndrom, Leipzig (Germany);
- 24 Jan - Werkstatt, Chur (Switzerland);
- 25 Jan - better2gether, Reutlingen (Germany);
- 26 Jan - Graf Hugo, Feldkirch (Austria);
- 27 Jan - Rocking Chair, Vevey (Switzerland);
- 28 Jan - Papiersaal, Zurich (Switzerland);
- 29 Jan - Kohi, Karlsruhe (Germany);
- 30 Jan - Salle Ockegheim, Tours (France);
- 31 Jan - Mofo Festival, Saint-Quen (France).
Bedlam Break
15 January 2010
Debt’s in-house band The Bedlam Six will be taking two months off from playing live shows while they work on their second album.
After three years of near solid gigging they’re eager to recharge batteries, make plans and work on new material. Louis Barabbas, the songwriter, says “we’ve been playing the same set for months, it’s becoming slightly robotic. There are tons of songs ready to go, we just need to rehearse them. Also we’re determined that the next album won’t take two years to release (like the last one did) so we need to get going on that - it won’t record itself!”
Their last show before the hiatus is at the Dancehouse Theatre on Saturday 16th January.
We will, however, keep you updated with news and photographs from the studio, fresh recordings and upcoming live dates.
The Bedlam Six will return in March to play their first and second albums live - back to back!
Bardsley Puts Down His Bass
15 January 2010
Jay Bardsley, one of Manchester’s busiest and most beloved bass players has announced that he is to retire from the music industry while he’s still at the top of his game.
Instantly recognisable for his high energy performances in ensembles all across the genre spectrum, Jay was one of the founding members of The Black Velvet Band (that later became The Bedlam Six) and Al Baker’s backing group The Dole Queue. He first reached notoriety as one fifth of the sublime tongue-in-cheek metal outfit FIGMO (under the alias of Captain Beef) then later worked with Robert John’s Keystone Band, Delayed Promise and most infamously the Anglo-Norwegian rock-pop sensation that is Daddy’s Milk.
Debt Records would like to wish Jay the best of luck in whatever projects he chooses to lend his considerable bounce to next. His exuberance and drive will be sorely missed among the musical community.
Photograph © Steve Thorley
Debt On The Net
10 January 2010
The brand new Debt Records website is now fully operational. Amongst its virtual pages you will find the particulars of our principal signings, links to venerable contemporaries and doffed caps towards our collaborators.
At Debt we are all achingly aware of the fearsome oscillations buzzing up from the very nucleus of the music industry and, with that in mind, we intend for this website (our primary hub) to reflect this ever-changing environment. Though the fundamentals of our creed remain stolidly unyielding we do not intend to remain static in anything we do. Consequently the news page of this site will be regularly updated with reports of our artists’ releases, collaborations, tours and deals; we will also upload any interesting industry mutterings that come our way from the various schmoozy events we’re obliged to attend. The music player will also be perpetually fed with whatever new material our people are putting out.
If you’d like to contact us then be assured that is checked daily (including weekends) so feel free to get in touch for more information about anything we or our affiliates are up to.
COMING SOON: A magazine edited by the Debt Set with content contributed by writers from across the world as well as diaries written by our touring artists and poetry from the finest scribes we come across. Plus… no record label would be complete without an online shop containing physical records as well as downloads, plus assorted merchandise. Watch this space…
Louis Barabbas commissioned to write the soundtrack for major motion picture
10 January 2010
Jog On Son and Boom Productions have asked Debt co-founder Louis Barabbas to write the music for their upcoming feature film biopic of BKB World Champion Paddy Monaghan.
This will be a major cinema release charting the childhood and professional career of the only undefeated bare knuckle boxer the world has ever seen. Paddy also reached international attention outside of the sport when he spear-headed the campaign to reinstate Mohammed Ali’s fight license after it was revoked following his refusal to go to Vietnam.
Louis is assembling a special team of musicians for the project including members of The Bedlam Six, Honey Feet and The Broken Biscuits. Pre-Production begins in March 2010. The working title is “The Rough Diamond”.
The Bedlam Six release first album
10 January 2010
After sitting on the recordings for nearly two years (occasionally flogging a few CDRs hastily wrapped in clingfilm at gigs) Debt’s in-house band The Bedlam Six will finally release their first album Found Drowned. The release will perversely coincide with Valentine’s Day 2010. The group are currently in the studio working on the follow up Love & Other Demons.
Debt comes to Mexico
10 January 2010
David Rybka, the enigmatic and unpredictable frontman of The Victorian Dad Band (currently performing in North Spain) is to be the latest member of the Debt Set to attempt to break into the Mexican music scene.
The tour has been organized by Debt Records affiliate and arts promoter Jonathan Bonfiglio (founder of the Spanish acoustic festival Kuiperfest). Bonfiglio organized a similar tour for Louis Barabbas in late 2009 and will be doing the same for John Fairhurst in April 2010.
John Fairhurst is the new sound of charity
10 January 2010
Music by Debt’s wildest signing has been used in a documentary about Traditional Heathcare, a charity set up in Australia to build and run sustainable healthcare facilities in India, Broom and Alice springs for very disadvantaged communities. www.thc.org.au.
Signed
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