Unbowed by the coronavirus, the fantastic Independent Label market has taken itself online this year, announcing a whole advent calendar of virtual events and indie label showcases.
Every day in December, ILM will be revealing a different indie label to focus on. You can keep up to speed by following the hashtag #ILMAdventCalendar on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for treats, including exclusive artist and label mixtapes, vinyl only mixes, festive discount codes and flash sales. This playlist of Heavenly Recordings classics from Robin Turner, author of the essential recent book about the label Believe In Magic, is just one of those treats.
In addition to the advent calendar, ILM has organised a huge raffle in aid of anti-homelesness charity Crisis, running until the end of December, which features a host of extremely rare prizes.
Among over 100 items up for grabs are:
• A collection of The Fall test pressings from Cherry Red’s recent reissue campaign: Levitate, Dragnet and Imperial Wax Solvent.
• A signed Cate Le Bon test pressing and long sleeve t-shirt.
• Three The National vinyl test pressings: The National, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers and The Cherry Tree EP, which are currently all out of print and due for reissue next February.
• A surprise 2 track 7" vinyl from Big Thief, only ever available to UK buyers of the band’s 2019 album U.F.O.F.
• Deluxe Box Set of Radiohead’s OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997-2017, featuring 12" vinyl LPs, B-sides, artwork, sketchbooks, and a C90 cassette mix tape.
• Björk – Vulnicura Live. A rare vinyl picture disc limited edition of Björk’s 2015 Vulnicura Live.
• A Leaf Label bundle of test pressings from Keeley Forsyth, Craven Faults, Snapped Ankles and Domenique Dumont.
Tickets for the raffle cost just £2. You can find the full list of prizes, and details of how to enter, here. Winners will be picked in January 2021.
Labels taking part in the ILM Advent Calendar include XL; 4AD; Young Turks; Ninja Tune; Fire; Erased Tapes; Heavenly; Hospital; Secretly Canadian; PIAS; Partisan; Mexican Summer; Ignition Records and associated labels Big Brother Recordings and Sour Mash; One Little Independent; Cherry Red; LEX; Lucky Number; Memphis Industries; Sonic Cathedral; Batty Bass; Be With; Clue; Deep Medi; Dead Oceans; Far Out; Jagjaguwar; Sad Club; Swing Ting; and The Leaf Label.
