Manitoba Music
Go West, Young Label
One of Manitoba's most popular independent record labels is opening up a second office out west. Ska and reggae label Bacteria Buffet Records will now have contacts in both Winnipeg and Victoria. Matt Henderson (pictured left, performing with JFK & The Conspirators) has already set-up shop in Victoria after running Bacteria Buffet out of his Winnipeg home for several years. Mike Reis - who also fronts ska band The Afterbeat - will continue to run the Winnipeg contingent of the label, which includes local acts The Barrymores, Greg Milka Crowe, The Afterbeat, JFK & The Conspirators, and The R.W.P.O.
"I moved to Victoria [because] Mike and I thought we needed someone in BC," explains Henderson. "Victoria and Vancouver have a great reggae and ska industry and we want to be able to get our hand in that. We recently signed a band from Vancouer, The Furios, so we also want to make sure that we are giving them the hands-on attention they deserve."
Bacteria Buffet has a number of things planned for the coming months, including releasing The Furios' and The Afterbeat's latest albums, distributed through 'Nuff Entertainment. The label will also be releasing new work by King Django in September while The Barrymores have recently finished recording a new video which should be released in the early fall.
While many may miss Henderson's dynamic presence in the local scene, Henderson says that he intends to be back in Winnipeg once a month and promises that he "will still be hangin' around."
Bacteria Buffet isn't the only local label on the move. Endearing Records is also heading west, making its new home in Vancouver. Endearing is home to releases from such local acts as Paper Moon and Projektor, as well as Julie Doiron, The Heavy Blinkers, and Radiogram. Formed in 1995 by Blair Purda, Endearing has established itself as one of the most prominent indie labels in Manitoba, having released albums by 2005 Juno nominated outfit The Waking Eyes, Novillero, Christine Fellows, The Bonaduces, and b'ehl. Endearing also created the Intercontinental Pop Exchange, a series of split CD-EPs. Conceived while traveling overseas, Endearing started the IPX series to introduce music fans to great artists from different countries, scenes, and even continents. Every IPX CD features two bands from different parts of the world contributing three or four songs each. To date, Endearing has release seven IPX CDs.
"I moved to Victoria [because] Mike and I thought we needed someone in BC," explains Henderson. "Victoria and Vancouver have a great reggae and ska industry and we want to be able to get our hand in that. We recently signed a band from Vancouer, The Furios, so we also want to make sure that we are giving them the hands-on attention they deserve."
Bacteria Buffet has a number of things planned for the coming months, including releasing The Furios' and The Afterbeat's latest albums, distributed through 'Nuff Entertainment. The label will also be releasing new work by King Django in September while The Barrymores have recently finished recording a new video which should be released in the early fall.
While many may miss Henderson's dynamic presence in the local scene, Henderson says that he intends to be back in Winnipeg once a month and promises that he "will still be hangin' around."
Bacteria Buffet isn't the only local label on the move. Endearing Records is also heading west, making its new home in Vancouver. Endearing is home to releases from such local acts as Paper Moon and Projektor, as well as Julie Doiron, The Heavy Blinkers, and Radiogram. Formed in 1995 by Blair Purda, Endearing has established itself as one of the most prominent indie labels in Manitoba, having released albums by 2005 Juno nominated outfit The Waking Eyes, Novillero, Christine Fellows, The Bonaduces, and b'ehl. Endearing also created the Intercontinental Pop Exchange, a series of split CD-EPs. Conceived while traveling overseas, Endearing started the IPX series to introduce music fans to great artists from different countries, scenes, and even continents. Every IPX CD features two bands from different parts of the world contributing three or four songs each. To date, Endearing has release seven IPX CDs.