Rewind a few weeks and I was at Things Happen Here in Dartington and Ed mentioned something about them setting up a record label, I looked at him in shock, who in their right mind would decide to start a record label in 2025? But you know what, if anyone can do it. Ed can! We chatted a bit more about how the idea came about and what he hopes to get out of the project.
To kick things off, please take a moment to tell the readers who you are, how you're involved with the new label and a bit about your background that qualifies you to get involved with it?
I’m Ed one of the owners of Things Happen Here, a taproom and venue in Dartington, Devon which has now also become a record label.
Qualifications for running a label include having immaculate taste in music and money to burn!!!!!
Things Happen Here has built a reputation for championing raw, genre-defying acts — what inspired the leap from venue to label, and why now?
Part of our ethos is encouraging people to do creative and exciting things and providing an inspiring environment for good things to happen. One of the many things we do to try and facilitate that is live music and we always seek out local, south west based artists to play.
We have hosted so many great bands that we wanted to take things a step further, so the next logical thing to help push those bands was to release music by them, hence the jump to the label and the first release being a compilation.
We are lucky that we have the space to put gigs on, get to see and hear a lot of new music and joking aside, can afford to put our money into doing something like this. Basically, we have access to the music and the cash to do it, so why not start a label?
‘New Noise From The South West Underground Scene’ is a powerful subtitle — what does that phrase mean to you, and what kind of energy are you hoping this compilation captures?
The best compilations always capture what’s happening as it’s happening. There is so much great music around locally on the alt/indie/punk/hardcore and metal scenes and hopefully this compilation is a good representation of what going on right here, right now.
The subtitle is a joke. A lot of detractors see the genres above as ‘noise’ both musically and mentally and don’t understand either the music or the people who like the music. We put it in the title as both a statement of fact (the comp IS new noise from the South West underground scene) but also making a point that ‘noise’ is good and here’s the proof - a document of open minded, progressive and positive music for open minded progressive and positive people.
The track list is a wild ride through hardcore, post-punk, metal and alternative — how did you go about selecting the twelve bands, and what story does this lineup tell?
Choosing the line up was easy: these are the south west bands in the genres that we wanted to document that have played at THH that have really stood out. Taste is subjective and there have been plenty of other good local bands, but to us, these are the exceptional ones. The genres you mentioned are broadly the genres that the three of us who run Things Happen Here all have common ground in, so the first release is going to reflect that. We didn’t want to get bogged down in musical differences so early in the label story!
Was there a particular moment or gig that made you think, “This scene needs to be documented — and pressed to vinyl”?
A few actually. Hearing the first, exceptionally good Colour TV EP a few years ago and realising this was made by a bunch of local kids, then putting Bramwell on in their early days and just smiling at their brilliant Fall influenced racket. Again, young local kids doing great things. Those bands were the inspiration for seeking out live shows from the local scene as they were proof that good things were happening. Also hearing the current wave of brilliant hardcore bands like Death Roll was really motivating.
The title How To Lose Friends And Irritate People is brilliantly provocative — what’s the story behind it, and how does it reflect the spirit of the South West underground?
The name is the title of a book written by Justin Pearson, singer with the US grindcore band Deaf Club. They played at THH last year on a freezing cold, snowy night when really no one in their right mind would venture out for a gig. People did though and they were amazing. I saw the book and knew it was the title for the album, I asked Justin if we could use it and he said yes. What does it mean? This music is not easy music. Putting gigs in is not easy. Drawing an audience is not easy. Dealing with issues around putting gigs on is not easy. You have to see the bigger picture and be dedicated to the cause. Doing that though brings problems and conflicts you have to deal with. Draw your own conclusions on the title from that explanation.
The spirit of the South West underground? I’m not sure I’m qualified to go there but for THH it’s keep on keeping on, be true to your principles and damn the consequences.
With only 250 individually numbered copies, this feels like a collector’s item — how important was it to make the physical release feel special and tactile?
We have no interest in a digital or CD release-both feel kind of worthless. Vinyl for all its collector nerd faults adds a certain cache to the music. These bands have put a lot of work in, so vinyl felt like the best way to represent that work and yes, vinyl is special and tactile. Listen to the music, marvel at the sleeve art, read the insert and if you like it figure a way you can do it yourself.
From VxHxS’s feral energy to Colour TV’s literary nods, the compilation spans a huge emotional and sonic range — were you aiming for contrast, cohesion, or pure chaos?
Genuinely all of the above.
The lyric/info insert adds a layer of intimacy — what kind of stories or messages are these bands bringing to the table that you felt needed to be heard?
Get inspired to go see the bands. Take a chance on a gig by a band you might not be familiar with. Support new music.
Do you see this label as a one-off passion project or the beginning of a longer-term platform for South West artists?
The second release is already at the pressing plant. It’s a vinyl version of the brilliant debut album by Bristol band Lifter. Very different to the compilation in that they’re a left field indie/folk band. We are talking to a band about a third release, but after that we have to recoup some costs before releasing anything else whatever that may be (if we even get to that point). If we do, we aren’t limiting our output to SW bands. If it’s good it’s good wherever it comes from.
If someone picks up this record having never heard of Things Happen Here or the Dartington scene — what do you hope they feel, think, or do after listening?
Enjoy the music as much as we do. We REALLY think it’s good or wouldn’t be putting the effort in to getting it out there. Put the record on, sit back and lose yourself for half an hour or so.
Finally, you teased me with news of an album launch party, please tell me when this is taking place and which bands will be performing?
Saturday September 27th at Things Happen Here. Bands playing are Colour TV, Tendrils, Leonard And The Zombies and Hellwigs. There’s also a live interview/Q&A on why we are doing the label and an album playback. The comp is available on the night for the first time. Come along and have a good time…
Tickets available HERE
Preorder the compilation and learn more about THH’s ‘gig club’ HERE
If you want to learn more about the amazing things that THH do, the socials are below.
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Meadowbrook, Dartington, Devon, TQ9 6JD
