Success Stories: Brew

Thomas Bellhouse graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in the summer of 2007, with a Bachelor of Science in Creative Music and Sound Technology. The experience Thomas gained from his degree course was invaluable to the starting-up of record label company, Brew. The company has been trading as a partnership, just over a year now, having started trading in late June 2008, with Thomas and Simon Glacken firmly at the helm.

Brew is a community based record label specialising in the release of CD’s, vinyl in the form of compilations, split record releases and split label releases. The purpose of the project is to document the music that is coming out of Leeds and the surrounding area. The project has already proved beneficial to many Leeds based bands and music venues, like the Brudenell social club, through the increase in exposure.

Kong, I Concur, Chickenhawk and Castrovalva are just some of the bands that are signed to the company. Kong have recently burst onto the music retail scene with their official debut album, Snake Magnet, and the future looks bright for the band. Recent reviews describe the band as “One of the best live bands in the UK right now” – Dan Carter BBC Radio 1, and with national accolades like this, the band looks set to go from strength-to-strength.

With the music industry dramatically evolving in the last few years, people are continually looking for a fresh and exciting sound. Brew has recognised this, and the artists and bands promoted through the company all have an innovative approach to music, proving them to stand out from the current Leeds roster.

In March 2008, Thomas and Simon were awarded a sum of money from the Business Start-Up Proof of Concept fund to test the feasibility of their idea. The funding predominantly helped with their marketing costs, and proved to be very helpful. Thomas said;

“The support, resources and advice from Leeds Met Business Start-up was the real catalyst to take the label forward, transforming it from a hobby into a fully functional business. Having the confidence to take on Albums has made the label grow on a larger scale than ever before. Seeing positive reviews in major music publications around the globe is a real vindication, thus proving you can still maintain many form of DIY ethics and still be recognised and acknowledged by the mainstream music industry.”

For more information on Brew, browse their website – www.brewrecords.net, and read a recent NME review.

For more information on the Proof of Concept grant, book an appointment with a business advisor, or any other start-up advice, please call 0113 812 1752.