Local Bands

James Brown is a terrific name to have if you're going to be part of the record industry - it's a name that sticks in the memory, although James Brown from On The Bone Records might disagree after a lifetime's mickey-taking!

James together with Tom Goodhand and Fran Rodgers has launched On The Bone onto the Leeds scene and beyond, quickly establishing themselves as an indie label with drive and ambition.

After gigging with their own outfits and promoting gigs at The Pack Horse and The Brudenell, it was decided that a label was the logical next step to promote the bands and artists that they were involved with as well as any other act who they took a liking to.

On The Bone's debut release

"We all chip in equally to make the label a success. Fran looks after the website, Tom does all the bookings and I take care of marketing - making sure that promotional material goes to people who are genuinely interested. There's nothing worse than sending out a band's material for it to end up on a thousand desks unheard."

The label's first release was a compilation of 19 local bands that retailed for a fiver, and consequently was a great success and got OTB on the right road. Pretty soon they were ready to release singles by Mother Vulpine, Samsa and Fran Rodgers herself.

"We don't really have a sound that defines the label. Mother Vulpine are quite rocky, Samsa more of an indie feel while Fran's stuff has a definite nu-folk feel. We're always looking out for more bands/artists that we like to add to the roster."

Mother Vulpine

"We're a real business, now - not a hobby. People may think it's a laugh or really cool to run your own label but if you're gonna do it properly it's a lot of hard work. Luckily I hit a point where I was between jobs, so I was able to work pretty much full-time on the label."

At the moment On The Bone releases are available on vinyl and to download on mp3, but as the label grows they're thinking about putting stuff out on CD if the demand's there.

The label's DIY ethic seems to chime with the current trends within the music scene:
"A lot of bands have no trust in the major labels, that has probably always been the case but now people realise that they can do it for themselves and not rely on the mainstream for their entertainment. Most of the music I'm listening to at the moment is local. There's that much of it that's great quality that I don't need to spend my cash on a major's latest 'next big thing'"

On The Bone have only been operating for a short time but are quickly making a name for themselves. So if your band is looking for a label with passion, get in touch or you could do what they did....do it yourself!