SOMETHING MAGICAL happened back in 2004 when Mike and Sarah set up Concrete, made their way to Glastonbury for the festival's unsigned bands' final, and get stuck in God damn traffic on the way back only to become inspired to produce a compilation of all the finalists. The team at Glasto was hugely supportive, The Subways were overall winners and going from strength to strength and the double CD sold like hotcakes at the festie and beyond, giving those unknown bands a bit of attention and making a few quid for The Fair Trade Foundation too. At the same time something was a-brewing a little closer to home. From the coolest corners of our very own City 'Ten From Ten' was in conception. The creator - Steve Adj, ex Tour Manager with The Stone Roses and well-known face of Manchester. The formula - ten new bands performing ten of the city's classics all wrapped up with some John Squire artwork on the sleeve. Names such as Sam Hammond and Blood Red Bird (Simon Aldred of Cherry Ghost) appeared to mark the moment, a good ten years or so from Manchester's last musical high as if to prove that art, like trade, the seasons, and life itself ebbs and flows in booms and slumps in this merry-go-round world in which we live. Released later that September on CD and numbered vinyl it was a collector's dream. So then came Glastonbury again: the double compilation was this time in aid of Shelter and our on site location now included a venue with Oxfam called 'Late N Live' which saw a team of 13 of us work through the rain and mud to bring you the newest of music well into the wee small hours. Overall winners of the competition were The Deadbeats, who graced The Other and The Acoustic stages with their own country rocking charm. So 3 albums down the line a single was born. It seemed fitting that this should be from The Manchester based Deadbeats and true to Concrete foundations the 'Back Door Honey' video saw wrecking ball fun. The next twelve months held regular nights at the traditional music hole of 'Night and Day' as well as Manchester's inaugural Danish 'Kro Bar' where we hosted a New Year to remember as we welcomed in 2006. And who should appear at this but one of a band of 3 not yet known in these parts...it was the beginning of something a little bit amazing. Come March the 3 collectively called 'Orphan Boy' had signed to Concrete and in November the first single 'Trophies of Love' fled off the shelves. In October we teamed up with Blowout for 'That Manchester' -- about 700 of you gathered in The Irish World Heritage Centre, Cheetham Hill with friends and DJ's from High Voltage, Akoustik Anarkhy and loads-a-bands including none other than The Longcut. The 2007 Orphan Boy album is taking shape, next single due April. Keep on watching for more Concretian fun;)

Website URL: http://www.concreterecordings.co.uk