Yep Roc Records turns 20 this year, and it's throwing a party to celebrate.
Label artists Nick Lowe, Dave and Phil Alvin, Los Straitjackets, Tony Joe White and the Stray Birds are the first announced performers for a series of concerts taking place Oct. 19-21 at the Cat's Cradle and Cat's Cradle Backroom in Carrboro, N.C. Tickets -- individual and two- and three-night passes as well as a VIP Premium Package -- go on sale Friday (June 23). More performers will be announced for the event in the near future, while other events will be taking place in Hillsborough, N.C., Yep Roc's current home.
"We're always excited for reasons to celebrate. This provides an opportunity," Yep Roc General Manager Billy Maupin tells Billboard. "Twenty years is a testament to the slow and steady approach. We're excited to celebrate our 20th anniversary because with all the changes in the music business it's nice to celebrate the kind of creativity coming from the artists we work with. It's nice to rally them together in one event."
Maupin says Yep Roc has been buoyed this year with successes by Chuck Prophet and Tift Merritt and their new albums, as well as the durability of Lowe's collaborations with Los Straitjackets -- including the latter's instrumental tribute album to Lowe that also came out this year. "We've always gone with the idea that we wanted to find creative artists who we felt had something to say but who we also felt we could add value to what they're doing," Maupin explains. "I think the longevity of some of the artists, like (the Alvins) and Nick Lowe specifically, we've worked with those guys for so many years over so many different types of projects, and that's appealing to us."
Maupin says Yep Roc is looking forward to announcing its events for Hillsborough, where Yep Roc settled during December of 2012, shortly after celebrating its 15th anniversary. "With this festival we're trying to really celebrate and elevate our local community, which we've been proud to be part of for a while now," he says.
Yep Roc was founded in 1997 by Glenn Dicker and Tor Hansen as "the artist-driven label that refused to be labeled." In addition to the five announced Yep Roc 20 artists, the company's roster also includes Robyn Hitchcock, Chris Stamey, Josh Rouse, Sloan, the Autumn Defense, the Apples in Stereo, the Minus 5, Wesley Stace, the Sadies, Young Fresh Fellows, Kim Richey, Liam Finn, Grant-Lee Phillips, Fountains of Wayne, Mandolin Orange, the late Ian McLagan and more.
Yep Roc 20 updates will be posted regularly on yeproc.com.
