October 18, 7:30 PM
Geoff Travis, Founder and A&R Director of Rough Trade Records, will talk about the past, present and intriguing future of his legendary indie label, which has become a prominent symbol of the independent music scene. Geoff will also discuss the process of discovering new artists and enabling them to reach their target audiences within the current era of digital technologies and streaming. The story of Rough Trade Records begins in 1976, with a record store opened by Geoff Travis in West London. Almost 50 years later, Rough Trade is one of the most renowned music stores in the world, with branches in Bristol, Nottingham and New York Most importantly, the Rough Trade has emerged as a world-famous independent label that continually discovers new talent as well as supporting the release of countless albums that have influenced the evolution of 20th century indie music.
Admission is free, places are limited. Please register in advance (link in Russian).
About Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records grew out of the Rough Trade Record Shop, which Geoff Travis opened in Ladbroke Grove, 1976. One year on, the Rough Trade Shop became an epicentre of the ever-growing punk and DIY culture, acting as a hub for various bands and labels, destined to make history. In the first decade of its existence, the label released records with artists who later became international icons: The Fall, Scritti Politti, Robert Wyatt, Aztec Camera, Cabaret Voltaire, The Raincoats, Swell Maps, Go Betweens and The Smiths.
In 1999, a few years after the collapse of the Rough Trade large-scale distribution network, Geoff Travis resurrected the label in partnership with Jeannette Lee, with whom he had collaborated since 1987. From then on, the label's catalogue featured a new generation of artists who set the tone for independent music of the next century: The Strokes, The Libertines, Sufjan Stevens, Antony & The Johnsons, The Hold Steady, Arcade Fire, The Decemberists and British Sea Power and many others.
The Rough Trade Records headquarters remain in Ladbroke Grove where the label was born, but new offices have opened in London and New York, with Geoff and Jeannette keen to keep helping their favourite music and artists gain maximum recognition. New heroes of the Rough Trade label include Amyl and the Sniffers, black midi, JARV IS ..., Girl Band, Goat Girl, Lankum, Parquet Courts, Starcrawler, Josienne Clarke amongst others.
This lecture is part of the UK—Russia Year of Music 2019, a programme which celebrates the UK and Russia’s rich musical cultures and our profound respect for each other’s musical traditions and achievements. The UK—Russia Year of Music programme is conducted by the British Embassy in Moscow with the support of the British Council.
