Cherry Red signs The Polyphonic Spree, Cream’s Jack Bruce, Luke Haines and Ken Hensley

As independent UK record label Cherry Red celebrates its 35th anniversary, it has signed several names to its roster amongst a host of other activity to mark the occasion.

In addition to a busy release schedule (that follows the 2012 tally of 623 CD albums) the label has signed Jack Bruce, Luke Haines, The Polyphonic Spree and Uriah Heep’s Ken Hensley, all of whom will deliver new studio albums in due course.

In May this year, the label announced a partnership with Alan McGee to create a new imprint – 359 Music. Cherry Red will run the day-to-day operations, with McGee handling the overall vision and A&R. The new label has now received over 2,000 submissions all of which Alan McGee is listening to personally. The first releases are expected to be out this September.

Notable forthcoming releases for Cherry Red include Nitin Sawhney’s OneZero: a career respective recorded live without autotune or overdubs, direct to vinyl at Metropolis Studios, as a deluxe boxset, as well as Scared to Get Happy – A Story of Indie Pop 1980-89, a luxurious five-disc box – both out on June 24.

Adam Velasco, managing director of Cherry Red said: “Despite all the doom and gloom of the digital era, it is no surprise that a label with such a pure commitment to music as Cherry Red should endure for 35 years and beyond. I’m proud to be part of its continuing legacy of signing great artists, releasing both incredible new albums and treasured catalogue for fans of real music.”

Cherry Red founder and chairman Iain McNay commented: “We may be 35 years old but sometimes I feel the adventure is still just beginning for us. There is just so much diverse and exciting music out there to release, both catalogue and new recordings. We see nothing but opportunity.”

Source: Music Week