Barabbas' Stocking (and suspenders) Filler

07 December 2010

Free Music giveaway on 7th December 2010

Now that the bleak mid-winter is fully upon us Debt Records feels compelled to add to your chills with this free download of Louis Barabbas’ Christmas Single from 2008. Gawd Bless Us, Every One!

Today marks the eleventh year since The Recording Industry Association of America filed a lawsuit against the Napster file-sharing client alleging copyright infringement. What better way to mark the dawn of this most controversial of musical epochs than with some free music at Christmas time, a season famous for its generosity (though characterized by its greed).

The song was originally commissioned in 2007 by a London label called “Old School House Recordings” for a Christmas album featuring, among others, The Broken Family Band’s Steve Adams and Humble Soul’s Aidan Smith. Louis was working as a Christmas elf in Manchester’s German Market at the time (see photo right) and wrote the song “Writing My List” in a typical post-shift rage during the bus journey back to Withington. The Bedlam Six (then known as The Black Velvet Band), recorded it the following day with the haunting cello part provided by The Moulettes’ Hannah Miller (who was living with Barabbas at the time).

Unfortunately the label folded and the album never reached the shops. The band were thus left with a song that was rapidly approaching its use-by-date. In the end they decided to self-release (or should that be “elf” release) the record the following year accompanied by a creepy music video directed by Joseph Mannion (who recently shot Becca & The Broken Biscuits’ “Train Driver” promo) with animation from Plastic Zoo’s Sam Alder (who later worked on the Bedlam Six’s celebrated “Tell-Tale Hound” video).

Anyway, we forget what the Christmas Number One was in 2008 but it certainly wasn’t “Writing My List”.

So here it is, a Christmas gift from Debt Records to you with all the festive cheer we can muster - available for free download from www.debtrecords.net/shop. Humbug!

2008 BBC coverage can be found here

Here is the Music Video:

The song will be available to download free from the Debt Records shop on 7th December 2010 and will remain there until epiphany. Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six’s next record “Get Religion!” is released on Debt Records on 31st January 2011. They then embark on a UK and Europe-wide tour.

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Here Come The Moulettes!

06 December 2010

Debt friends The Moulettes are midway through their WInter Wanderings tour and will reach Debt’s home town of Manchester by the end of the week, playing The Ruby Lounge on Friday 10th December.

We love The Moulettes, they’ve worked (and sometimes even cohabited) with many of our artists in the past. They provided a haunting string section to The Bedlam Six’s debut album “Found Drowned” and featured a number of our artists (including Honeyfeet) on the B-Side to their recent “Horses For Hearses” single. Anyone who was at October’s Debt At The Dancehouse showcase will remember lead singer Hannah Moulette wow the crowd with her captivating solo set featuring collaborations with Alabaster Deplume and Louis Barabbas.

Main support on Friday comes from another friend of Debt, none other than Liz Green (who will be appearing on Louis Barabbas’ solo album “Gentle Songs Of Ceaseless Horror” next year).

If you are in Manchester on Friday then we urge you to attend what promises to be a show to remember.

Facebook Event Page for the gig is here

More information here:

www.myspace.com/moulettes
www.myspace.com/lizgreenmusic
www.therubylounge.org

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Message from Future Artists

02 December 2010

Here is a message from arts co-op Future Artists…

Dec 4th we plant the seeds…

Grow your own Arts and Film council? One step ahead of the proposed northern creative hub!

The ‘Big Society’ is happening with out the need for Prime minister David Cameron as businesses from the big to the small from across the creative sectors are coming together to form a new way forward with co-operative Future Artists Live and are already to work with Channel 4.

In the face of government cuts companies have come together to cut costs, improve opportunities and access to talent and are announcing the launch event and networking party on the 4th December in Manchester at Fac251.

So far on board are both UK and international companies including Renderyard, Mofilm’s President Andy Baker, co-founder of Unconvention Jeff Thompson, innovative visual directory The Chook, West End theatre producers Hartshorn and Hook and the media content producers best friend DNA actors resource.

The co-operative is intended as an informal trade network, knowledge sharing platform with the ability to provide training for members as well as an education resource, due to work with Channel 4’s 4 Talent and the UK’s most successful Twitter Journalist Ian Aspin in 2011.

‘We are really pleased to have both large multimillion companies right down to freelancers on board. Its a meeting of minds with the great, the good, the old and the new, and the condem government can’t CUT it!!’ Mark Ashmore of Future Artists Live explained.

The Night starts at 7.30pm at FAC251 in Manchester, UK, with the evening kicking off with a Introduction by founder members Mark Ashmore, Jenny Inchbald and Jeff Thompson to the creative co-operative its aims and objectives, the stage will then be open for 6 of the co-operative’s members to take to the stage and give a short 6 minute presentation.

6 minute talks from 8.15pm

Mofilm.com president Andy Baker on new ways of getting exposure as an artist via brands. Manchester based, London west end theatre producers Harts and Hook productions on theatre. Jeff Thomson talks un-convention http://www.unconventionhub.org/ Rebecca Evans producer of ‘The Dinner Party’ talks film, fresh from her world premiere in London this week! Niko Paterakis talks about his debut musical, the ambitious, Ano Throsko: Musical for the 21st Century. Jenny Inchbald talks on behalf of Rederyard a social media platform for film and audience members, http://www.Renderyard.com

Music from Debt Records’ RICHARD BARRY

Plus: A showreel of members work playing throughout the night, a free myebook and live music all night till 2am! As we carry on the party with FAC251.

If you want to have Dinner with Future Artists founders before the event, join us for dinner on Oxford Road, at 4.30pm, Saturday 4th Dec, tickets priced at £25 via the links below.

Tickets are priced at £7 or £10 on the door, and are available from www.futureartists.co.uk with all profits going to the co-operative. For more information go to www.meetup.com/futureartists or search Future Artists Live on line.

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