The Art Is Hard 5th Birthday Bash

Art Is Hard Records may only just be old enough to start primary school but they've had a pretty busy last five years. From humble beginnings releasing purely south west based bands to becoming one of the UK's most influential DIY record labels. It is no surprise then, that last Saturday's fifth birthday party, hosted over three stages at the Exchange and the Stag and Hound in Bristol, had everything.

The afternoon began in the cosy, and perhaps fittingly modest, bar of the Stag and Hound where Exeter's Skeleton Frames drenched the room in a spectacularly dark and dingy shoe gaze. After a quick nip round the corner to the Exchange it was time to see Caramel, a band I'd heard about but not listened to before the gig. Featuring members from the brilliant Joanna Gruesome, including Owen Williams (also of Grubs), the Cardiff and Bristol based band really impressed with their lively punk riffs and shouty vocals.

Sadly an awkward hotel check-in time meant we missed a few bands sets. Luckily however we were back in time for Manchester's brilliant Fruit Bomb. The four-piece treated the growing Exchange crowd to tracks like 'Normcore Girlfriend', released as part of Art Is Hard's Family Portrait compilation, and recent single 'Goin' Home'. 

Fruit Bomb where not the only Family Portrait artists to bring their rowdy sounds to the party. Abattoir Blues and Bruising also made appearances at the Exchange, the latter of whom proving just why they are one of the most talked about DIY bands around at the moment despite a slight delay due to new guitar troubles.

Grubs, who are set to release their debut album on September 11th, were next on. Despite some troubles remembering their own songs the band whistled through a set that had all the charm we've come to expect from the trio and which was finished off in style with a raucous rendition of 'Gym Shame'.

Soon afterwards we found ourselves upstairs in the Stag and Hound awaiting a second set from Roxy of Grubs this time however as her own project Two White Cranes. It was a set to remember as every song was met with what seemed like endless woops from friends and fans alike. The set contained great tracks from both her debut and recently released second album and was described as her "favourite ever set" on Two White Cranes' Facebook.

After a quick ear rest it was time for the noise to really start with a string of heavy bands all in quick succession. First Birdskulls unleashed their ever darkening sound on the Stag and Hound with tracks from their imminent debut Trickle. Soon after being involved in Birdskull's very rough and sweaty mosh, Bloody Knees exploded into action in the Exchange swamping the room with the sludgy pop punk sound that has made them favourites with the likes of the NME and DIY magazine.

In a day of amazing sets it was the next that would really take my breath away. Nai Harvest, the night's special guests began with an empty looking room as people slowly stumbled in from the pummelling of Bloody Knees. That soon changed. A set that featured tune after tune from debut album Hairball and a cover of Teenage Fanclub's 'Ain't That Enough' that even got me singing along; strong praise indeed I assure you. The mesmerising set ended with a rapturous singalong to 'Buttercups' before singer Ben Thompson leapt onto bandmate Lew Currie's bass drum, taking in the crowd's sticky excitment as he flung his guitar to the ground.

As the night drew to a close there was just one question on everyone's lips: Trust Fund or The Black Tambourines? We decided to compromise, Trust Fund first then catch the end of The Black Tambs'. 

A crowded Exchange eagerly awaited the much hyped Trust Fund and he didn't let his home crowd down. Shapes were thrown and lyrics were sung by a buzzing crowd. It seemed as though there was not a person in the room who wasn't loving the icon of Bristols DIY scene. A hypnotic rendition of 'Cut Me Out' glued us to the Exchange until the end of the set.

As the final bars echoed out we were on the run around the corner for The Black Tambourines. Total chaos awaited. Bodies flew around the small room. Feet swooped past heads. As the set came to an end a microphone disappeared into the crowd, then another before guitarist Josh Spencer-Fletcher was dragged above the crowd, still slashing at the strings of his guitar. The finale proved too much for bassist Jake Willbourne who found himself disappearing over the drum kit and onto the floor. And they say punk is dead!

From mellow beginnings to dazzling glory, the Art Is Hard 5th Birthday Party pretty much summed up the label's short history. It was brilliant.

An Interview With... Art Is Hard Records

I've been pouring my musical heart out onto this blog for a little while now and while I try to keep things diverse one name seems to keep popping up. Art Is Hard Records was, until fairly recently, my local label. Set up by two friends, David and Richard, The label's love of local bands and links with the UK's extensive DIY scene helped introduce me to a whole new world of noisy pleasure. 

I spoke to co-founder David about the past, present and future of Art Is Hard.

How and why did you start Art Is Hard?

The how feels sort of fuzzy thinking back, it just sort of happened. Me and Richard had been talking about doing it for ages. We used to put on gigs in our hometown of Weymouth, mainly just because we wanted to put our tiny seaside town on the map as decent place for music. Starting a label was what we decided to do when we realised no one was going to come to our shows. 

You recently sold the last copies of The Black Tambourines/New Years Evil split EP, your first release. how did that feel?

We were incredibly naive and had no idea what we were doing when we put out two tiny bands from the South West on 7". When 250 copies turned up in my tiny bedroom I rather quickly resigned myself to taking them to my grave, so it's with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. 

What's it been like building up a record label in the South West?

It was originally our plan to only release bands from the South West but it didn't take us long to release most the bands we would of wanted to. We then started getting exciting people from further afield asking us to release them, so we had to break our own rules. I love the south west though, bands seem quite happy just making great stuff without getting really hyped and fizzling out like they might do in other places.

One of the great things about art is hard is how you get lesser known bands heard through initiatives like the pizza club and the post card club, can we expect more to come?

Definitely, this time last year me and Rich lived together and Georgie and Jake who help us out were both close by. We've all got less time at this year so we'd agreed it would be a silly idea to do one but then a couple of weeks ago Rich came to stay and we had a couple of drinks and decided we really missed doing a single's club so hopefully we should be launching the 2015 version very soon. We've got some great stuff lined up already including singles from The Red Cords, Trust Fund and Doe as well as lots of completely new bands.

There seems to be a sudden increase in AIH activity involving bands from across the pond, what's it like working with people so far away and how do those intercontinental relationships come about?

We're in a good position where a lot of good stuff now comes to us which is how we've ended up working with people like Shunkan and Blessin'. It's good fun although it can be a bit tricky trying to organise stuff with the time difference. I keep seeming to read important emails, first thing in the morning when I wake up and then completely forget about them.

2015 marks your fifth birthday, will you be celebrating in style?

I hope so, in terms of the wider music world which we exist in it feels like it's going to be a really big year. All the bands we've been releasing over the last couple of years suddenly have their debut albums coming out so it would be fun to get everyone back together for a big party later in the year. Maybe even a festival...should probably start planning!

If you could sign any band or artist, old or new, who would it be?

I'm not too sure on this actually; it's not something I ever really consider. Sort of like how I never really got celebrity crushes, it's just a weird unrealistic thing. It would be nice to carry on working with bands instead of being a stepping-stone for a bigger label but right now we can't really support that.

Is there anything coming up in 2015 that you are particularly excited for?

Tons! Obviously the aforementioned single's club. We're also doing a Record Store Day release with a dream team of other labels, the debut Shunkan album and also the second part of our Family Portrait series.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to start a label?

Start small and simple and be prepared to spend hours emailing people without a response. p.s. try and just have fun.

Visit Art Is Hard's tumblr to brows the archives and get your hands on some epic free music.

An Interview With... The Black Tambourines

It's impossible to deny that the South West is home to some great bands, none greater than The Black Tambourines. Their blistering garage rock sound has made the four piece the poster-boys of Falmouth's thriving music scene. It's crazy to think that their self titled debut album was released as long ago as 2013 as one of Art Is Hard Records first LP releases. I spoke to the band about the fantastic west country scene of which they are an integral part.

Who makes up The Black Tambourines? How did you meet and what made you want to start the band?

The Black Tambourines are a small group of musicians from cornwall. we met at truro college and took it from there. 

Do you think being in the South west has influenced you as a band?

I think the southwest doesn't influence us at all which makes it easier to do your own thing. Being around barely any bands at the start of our career made it easy to do exactly what we wanted to. 

Are there any bands from the South west who you are particularly into at the moment?

We love the Red Cords and Lost Dawn. They're our main bros, but theres a few more sweet bands emerging, like the Golden Dregs, Holiday Ghosts. Were pretty much in all of these bands tho. Spankees. Spankees.

Why do you think Falmouth has suddenly become one of the UK's best places for music?

Is that what people think? Thats really awesome. I'm not sure, theres a lot of good bands here, and a lot of Arty students around to appreciate them. Among locals. 

Do you think outside of Bristol there is a lack of really good venues to attract bands to the area?

Anywhere can be a venue, and people need to realise this and start putting on more shows in random places. 

Could you sum up the South west's music scene in one sentence?

A big family of Rock.

An Interview With... Birdskulls

The other day I asked a slightly drunk Jack from Birdskulls a few questions about his band and the South West's glowing music scene. Here are the results:

Who is in Birdskulls, how did you meet and what made you want to start the band?

Me and Rory are in Birdskulls. We met at Exeter College in 2008 on a stairwell going to lessons and bonded over a mutual love of the Foo Fighters and Smirnoff Ice (blue). We were in different bands before Birdskulls for a few years before, we spent a lot of time in the same friend circles and went to the same shows. I moved to Brighton and Rory went to Bournemouth. I wrote a load of songs in Brighton and decided to start another band; Rory was the first person I thought of to be in it.

Do you think being in the South West has influenced you as a band?

From the South West in the period 2006-2011 we spent a lot of our time at The Cavern in Exeter, which has always provided, from 91 when it opened, an amazing platform for local punk and indie bands. Ok Pilot, The Computers, The Cut Ups, Brothers, Dead City Stereo, New Years Evil, El Diego, The False Arrests and Resonate (old bands).

Are there any bands from the South West who you are particularly into at the moment?

There are some great bands from the south west for sure: Cereal, Muncie Girls, The Fairweather Band, Selfish Son, The Black Tambourines, The Red Cords to name a few!

Do you think outside of Bristol there is a lack of really good venues to attract bands to the area?

I don’t think its a lack of good venues at all, I think that a lot of the bigger bands don’t see a point in coming to the less populated south west when they could just play in London. Also, for the smaller bands it is hard to tour further into Devon and Cornwall because of the costs of getting back! The cavern is one of the most important venues in the UK because of its heritage and some bands don’t even know about it! NME’s fault.

Could you sum up the South West's music scene in one sentence?

Geddon you janner.