It’s not every day a record label is born two miles from your doorstep — and even rarer when its arrival feels like a rallying cry for a region’s underground. But that’s exactly what happened on Saturday night in Dartington, as the ever-curious crew at THINGS HAPPEN HERE unveiled their new imprint with a launch party that doubled as a love letter to the South West sonic subculture.
The label — a natural extension of the venue’s curatorial instincts — dropped its first release in style: a 12-track compilation titled How to Lose Friends and Irritate People, pressed on limited edition white vinyl (just 250 copies, for those keeping score). The record features a cross-section of acts who’ve graced the THH stage, including Bramwell, The Maisonettes, Colour TV, Hellwigs, Tendrils, and Leonard and the Zombies. Four of those took the stage for the launch, each bringing their own brand of chaos, catharsis, and community.
At 7:30pm, the tannoy crackled to life with an announcement: the compilation would be played in full before the live sets. Pints were poured, heads nodded, and the room filled with the kind of quiet reverence reserved for records that mean something. By 8pm, Ed — THH’s founder and local scene linchpin — took the stage alongside the main man from PRSD (People’s Republic of South Devon) for a Q&A that peeled back the curtain on the label’s genesis.
What emerged was a portrait of a project built not on whimsy, but on intent. Ed spoke candidly about the motivations behind the label, the challenges of curation, and the first wave of releases slated for 2025. Audience questions flew in from all corners, and Ed fielded them with clarity and charm. If anyone doubted his commitment, they left reassured: this is a man who’s done the maths, read the room, and decided the South West deserves a louder voice.
First to test the foundations were TENDRILS — a Dawlish-based mathcore/hardcore outfit whose sound is equal parts angular and annihilating. Imagine The Dillinger Escape Plan jamming with Converge in a Devon basement, and you’re halfway there. Their set was a masterclass in dissonance and emotional weight, with the vocalist prowling the dance floor like a man possessed, while the crowd moshed and rucked around him.
Tracks like “House of Vultures” (from their LP Long Dead) and cuts from their EP Collapse delivered a visceral punch, amplified by their DIY ethos and sludge-soaked textures. It was a performance that both justified their inclusion on the compilation and demanded that people listen to it.
Next up: LEONARD AND THE ZOMBIES — a band with neither Leonards nor zombies, but plenty of bite. Formed in 2020 and rooted in Totnes, LATZ channel the raw energy of riot grrrl, punk, and grunge with a distinctly grassroots swagger. With Charlie flying solo on guitar (his female counterpart was celebrating her birthday), the band tore through a set that fused Bikini Kill snarl with Breeders melody, all wrapped in a visual aesthetic that’s unapologetically fierce.
Their debut EP Apocalypse and latest single “Convince Me” (15k+ Spotify plays and counting) have cemented their place in the South West’s punk pantheon. Live, they’re a force — snarling, vulnerable, and utterly magnetic.
Then came HELLWIGS — Plymouth’s masked marauders of wrestlepunk, back from hiatus and ready to raise hell. Their set was a glorious mess of attitude, sweat, and sonic muscle, drawing from EPs Load the Spaceship, Raising Hell, and Blood and Guts. Three of the four members stayed masked until the final track, while the vocalist opted for a minimalist look: shorts, socks, trainers, and a whole lot of charisma.
With a rhythm section tight enough to anchor the madness and a canary yellow Steinberger bass that looked like it time-travelled from 1986, Hellwigs delivered a set that was triumphantly raucous. Post-show, I snagged a T-shirt from drummer Steve — a souvenir I’ll wear until it disintegrates.
Closing the night were COLOUR TV — the Plymouth/Liskeard quartet who split, reformed, and returned with a vengeance. Their older material (save for “Billy Pilgrim”) was shelved in favour of new songs that felt deeper, richer, and more considered. Think early Radiohead post-Pablo Honey, when the mop tops gave way to something more cerebral. I’d heard rough demos months ago, but tonight’s set proved they’ve evolved into something special. Their comeback feels less like a reunion and more like a rebirth — one that could, if nurtured, become one of the South West’s defining musical arcs. Catch them at the Nowhere Inn in Plymouth on October 10th. I’ll be there. Mine’s a Campari and soda.
Keep your eyes on the THH events listings page for some of the most incredible live music out there and did you know that you can get free or discounted entry to all THH promoted shows via their ‘Gig Club’? More info can be found HERE
Until the next event, stay safe and make sure that you check out the compilation record, I don’t think there are many physical copies left so why not pop in and pick one up before they all sell out?
Words and Pictures by Steve Muscutt
