Fruits de Mer Records
British indie label for psychedelic music and festivals.
Fruits de Mer Records is a British independent record label based in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, founded in 2008 by Keith Jones and Andy Bracken. It specializes in psychedelic rock, psychedelic folk, folk rock, space rock, and krautrock, releasing music primarily on vinyl but also on compact disc and cassette. The label is known for its annual psychedelic music festival and its multiple imprints, including Regal Crabomophone, Strange Fish, Friends of the Fish, Head Cleaner, and Tiny.
Quick Facts
- Parent
- Bracken Records (2008–2010)
- Founded
- 2008
- Founder
- Keith Jones, Andy Bracken
- Distributor
- Clear Spot International; Heyday Mail Order
- Genre
- Psychedelic rock
- psychedelic folk
- folk rock
- space rock
- krautrock
- Country
- England
- Location
- Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
Facts from the source article.
History
In early 2008, he and Keith Jones founded Fruits de Mer Records as an imprint of Bracken Records, remaining so until the parent company closed in late 2010. Early releases featured cover versions of classic songs by modern bands. In 2011, the imprint Regal Crabomophone was created for original songs by modern bands; Fruits de Mer releases have catalog numbers starting with 'crustacean', while Regal Crabomophone releases start with 'winkle'. Bracken left the partnership in 2012 after moving to Virginia, United States, and Jones took full ownership, occasionally aided by family and musical collaborators. In 2013, Jones established the imprint Strange Fish for more experimental or hard-to-categorize artists, with catalog numbers starting with 'strange fish'. In 2014, Jones founded Friends of the Fish, which issues limited-edition lathe cut vinyls, free compilation albums for club members and events, and band-financed releases; its catalog numbers start with 'friends of the fish'. In 2015, the imprint Head Cleaner was created for cassette tape albums, with catalog numbers starting with 'head cleaner'.
Festivals
Fruits de Mer Records' first showcase concert, the Summer Fruits de Mer All-Dayer, took place at The Borderline in Central London on 10 August 2013, sponsored by Record Collector magazine and headlined by England's Pretty Things, with performances by Sendelica, Jack Ellister, Stay, and The Luck of Eden Hall. Its success led to four spin-off multi-city events in 2014 under the name Crabstock: The Fruits de Mer Records Festival of Psychedelia. The main Crabstock was held at The Cellar Bar and Art Gallery in Cardigan, Wales on 26 April 2014, featuring Sendelica, Earthling Society, Crystal Jacqueline, James McKeown, Jack Ellister, and Wally Stagg; Sendelica's performance was released as Friends of the Fish's first release. A final event, Crabstock on Ice, took place at Club Darkside in Helsinki, Finland on 3 May 2014 with Sendelica, Octopus Syng, Us and Them, The Legendary Flower Punk, Jack Ellister, and DJ Astro. In 2015, Fruits de Mer Records partnered with Sendelica to launch the three-day festival The 13th Dream of Dr. Sardonicus: A Festival of Psychedelia, named after Spirit's album, held from 7 to 9 August at The Cellar Bar and Art Gallery in Cardigan, Wales, with performances by The Bevis Frond, Earthling Society, Astralasia, Sendelica, Soft Hearted Scientists, Schnauser, The Luck of Eden Hall, Magic Bus, The Honey Pot, Spurious Transients, Jack Ellister, Steve Kelly, The Telephones, Paradise 9, and DJ Wally Stagg.
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