Bloodshot Records Celebrates Eighteen Years

By Eric Hehr in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 20, 2012 3:40PM

In a day in age when many independent record labels are going out of business, struggling to find their footing in a plethora of marketing experiments and unstable digital outlets, Chicago’s own Bloodshot Records is celebrating it’s eighteenth anniversary with hopeful prospects for the future of it’s ever expanding roster.

Bloodshot was founded in 1994 by co-owners Rob Miller and Nan Warshaw, who saw a need to find a home for the fledging punk-country bands that were coming out of Chicago and the greater Midwest. As a small midwest label, Bloodshot’s mission was to “champion the music that lurks between genres…the good stuff nestled in the dark, nebulous cracks where punk, country, soul, pop, bluegrass, blues and rock mix and mingle and mutate.”

Much like Kansas City’s infamous Titan Records, which provided a home for local power-pop acts, Bloodshot sought to build a sense of community in Chicago, and establish a very pertinent—and very Midwestern—music scene.

Bloodshot began by releasing For a Life of Sin, an eclectic compilation which featured notables from the developing roster such as Robbie Fulks, Freakwater, The Handsome Family, John Langford, and The Bottle Rockets.

Eighteen years after For a Life of Sin, Bloodshot Records has had over two hundred releases, producing albums such as Ryan Adam’s solo breakout, Heartbreaker, as well as seminal cuts from artists such as Neko Case and Old 97’s. Today, Bloodshot has grown it’s scope of artist with a flavorful roster that includes the traditional Americana craftsmanship of Justin Town Earles, the unapologetic country-punk of Lydia Loveless, the soulful funk of JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound, and the whiskey fueled rock of Murder By Death.

To celebrate it’s anniversary, Bloodshot is teaming up with 93XRT and Lagunitas Brewery and hosting it’s own birthday party, dubbed “Barely Bloodshot: The 18th Birthday Party.”

The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. at The Mayne Stage, and will feature Lagunitas beer tastings and live performances from The Bloodshot artists such as Lydia Loveless, John Langford & Skull Orchard, The Dex Romweber Duo, and Deadstring Brothers.

And while a $12 ticket provides you with a night of raucous music and delicious Lagunitas beer tasting. (Smuggling in your own whiskey flask is up to you.)

Get advance tickets here.