New record label from Things Happen Here – a craft beer taproom
By our friends the PRSD
Vibrant, happening community hub craft beer taproom – Things Happen Here – have set up a new record label. And you thought pubs brewing their own beer was out there.
The Dartington venue is dropping the needle on Things Happen Here Records, with a wonderfully fitting first release, How To Lose Friends and Irritate People, made up of their fave-est South West bands.
The release, on white vinyl no less, features 12 tracks from the South West’s sharpest, hottest, memorable bands, who have played at the venue.
why wouldn’t we do it?
Live performances
The launch night will feature a handful, with Tendrils, Hellwigs, Leonard And The Zombies and Colour TV sharing their charisma with live performances. There will also be a Q&A with Things Happen Here and the PRSD about why a craft beer taproom would create its own record label, and how the venue supports the indie music scene.
And it’s not just South West music. Things Happen Here attracts top top acts from around the UK (and world), who they have also baggsied for the record label. Look out for the second release coming in October.
It’s been two and a half years since Things Happen Here has opened its doors.
Support local
“We’ve had tons of bands come through,” Ed tells the PRSD. That turnover is aided and abetted by them getting local support for whatever genre of music is headlining. Which is coupled with some South West bands headlining themselves, and the venue has hosted a few all-dayer showcases.
“The way the business has been going, we’re in a position where we can actually put money into doing something with those bands, and the first release is this comp,” says Ed. It was all a bit of a no-brainer. “The best compilations document stuff as it’s happening, when it’s happening, and we’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.”
Experience
In terms of choice of music, of course, the THH team’s personal taste of punky, post-punky, indie, DIY grit comes into it to some degree. And that’s coupled with some experience of running a record label back in the day. And it absolutely fits in with the ethos behind Things Happen Here – to see things happen, to support things to happen, and to inspire things to happen. “We do offer a bit of a haven for people and creative endeavours and things like that – we’ve got the space to do that, so why wouldn’t we do it?” he says.
“For us, it’s part of the vibrancy that you can see happening around the venue, and a confidence that grows from knowing there are things happening. People socialise, connect and those connections get wider.”
“Whether you come to a gig, whether you come to Bridge Club, whether you come to wine tasting. We provide a space where it inspires people, and then people can then perhaps go off and do interesting things themselves,” says Ed.
Gig club
The album launch also marks the one year anniversary of Things Happen Here’s Gig Club. A deal which sees members support live music, get free entry to all Things Happen Here promoted gigs, and receive a free copy of their Things Happen Here Records vinyl compilation album ‘How To Lose Friends And Irritate People‘.
There’s also some mention of discounted drinks. Oh, and last we looked there were only 50 places available, with single, duo and group memberships on offer, so get a shimmy on.
THINGS HAPPEN HERE RECORDS ALBUM LAUNCH SHOW
Things Happen Here Records Album Launch Show with performances Colour TV, Tendrils, Leonard And The Zombies & Hellwigs (and a PRSD live interview) takes place on Saturday 27 September. Get your tickets.