Location Nottingham Founded 1997 Country of origin United Kingdom | Official website www.gringorecords.com Distributor Cargo Records | |
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Genre Experimental Rock, DIY music Albums Mountain Language, Souvaris Souvaris | ||
Founded in 1996, Gringo Records is a long-running independent record label based in Nottingham, England. It is known for releasing experimental rock music and its DIY ethic.
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History
The label formed in Colchester in 1996 from involvements in the Damn You! and No Pictures fanzines, and inspired by the International Pop Underground Convention. Its first release was a Lando/Teebo split 7″ which was given to Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai (his former band Eska later released on Gringo Records). The label's second release, Hirameka Hi-Fi's ‘Munchin’, received radio air play from both BBC Radio 1's John Peel and Steve Lamacq which importantly saw the label gain distribution for releases. Following this San Lorenzo and Reynolds released singles on the label and the three acts regularly played live shows together as a Gringo package. With their second release on Gringo Records entitled the "Play Hard" EP Hirameka Hi-Fi received further national airplay and press coverage prompting professional interest from the music industry. Later Hirameka Hi-Fi recorded a "Session Unsigned" session for the Evening Session. The bands Wolves! (Of Greece), Reynolds and Hirameka Hi-Fi performed live for Radio 1 in 2002, and in 2003 Bilge Pump were invited to play a Peel Session. Gringo Records artists have also received mainstream press attention, such as Hookworms' album Pearl Mystic, and the label continues to be important regionally. Gringo Record's lengthy regional importance and influence was recognised with its nomination in 2013 for Best Small Label at the national AIM Independent Music Awards. Both Yannis of Foals and Bloc Party have named themselves as fans of Gringo. Gringo's That Fucking Tank toured with the Foals in 2014.