The new album by Richard Barry is now available as a compact disc in gatefold sleeve plus lyric book, available from his online shop.
News Stories about Richard Barry
Richard Barry debut single now on general release
“Breath To A Diver”, the first single from Richard Barry’s upcoming album, is now on general release.
It is available through all the usual digital retailers, but we recommend you buy it direct from Richard’s online shop.
Debt at the Dancehouse
On Saturday 16th October 2010 – as Manchester’s In The City delegates nurse their wine-hangovers and fringe promoters stack up the unused chairs – Debt Records will throw open the doors of the beautiful Dancehouse Theatre for its annual live extravaganza.
For one night only, the Northern Ballet School’s sumptuous art deco headquarters will be transformed into a hub of independent music and performance, brought to you by Manchester’s cooperative imprint Debt Records.
Debt is a label ready to admit that the music industry is currently in a condition whereby live performance is, for the first time since the formation of EMI in 1931, the only dependable way in which a artists can realistically and sustainably ply their trade. What better place then to hold this independent label’s annual party than in the splendour of a 1930s proscenium arch auditorium?
The timing is not insignificant. The three day ITC conference that precedes Debt At The Dancehouse is a world famous music industry event that will facilitate (albeit naively) many local bands being seduced into performing for no pay by fringe promoters promising them the attentive ears of hungry and sympathetic industry representatives (who, in reality, will all be half a mile away in a hotel getting drunk). Debt Records is not opposed to the ITC conference – indeed a number of Debt associates are taking part and Debt’s technical director Dan Watkins is on the team recording the event – but this showcase will be an antidote: an evening of exceptional entertainment free from agenda or artifice.
The Debt Records team believes that no space should be ignored when planning a concert. They have to date performed and organised shows in museums, churches, libraries, olive groves and derelict buildings but, for their yearly label celebration at least, they prefer to be old fashioned: a theatre is the proper place for an evening’s entertainment, especially in a time when the world outside seems so uncertain.
According to BBC Manchester, last year’s Debt At The Dancehouse elicited “a general feeling of bonhomie”. This is precisely the sentiment musical performance should be associated with rather than the commonly accepted posturing of the recorded industry. It is with a spirit of inclusion – as well as independence – that Debt Records is run. Come see for yourself on 16th October 2010.
The line-up is as follows:
John Fairhurst – “As gripping as it is totally different” – The Guardian
Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six – “Excellent in every way” – BBC 6 Music
Becca & The Broken Biscuits – “Thoughtful, emotional music that cuts to your heart and feeds your soul” – BBC Manchester
Red Tides – “Music that sounds like the last day of summer, like shadows creeping across golden fields, like the echoes of a time long past finding their way into modern-day dreams” – Manchester Music
Richard Barry & The Chaps – “A talent that Vivian Stanshall would roll around in flames for” – 3 Weeks Magazine
Alabaster dePlume – “Absolutely stunning, evocative, confusing, tragi-comic. I felt like laughing and crying – I didn’t know whether it was poetry, music or theatre, all I know is that it was wonderful” – Shambala Review
Hannah Miller (from Moulettes) – “Complex & beautiful… Intriguing & unique” – Mojo
Plus a special Debt Supergroup to close the night…
£5 advance; £8 on the door.
Tickets available in person from the box office (0161 237 9753) and online.
We hope to see you there!
Debt at the Museum
It’s Un-Convention time again.
From the amazing team who brought you the public recording of an album in one day (plus a dozen international conferences and showcase events) comes Un-Convention Salford 2010 – number twelve in the Un-Con series – held in the city where it all began.

Debt’s first signing Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six have played at two Un-Conventions so far, and this year our little label has been asked to curate a stage of its own – a Saturday afternoon acoustic showcase in the Edwardian Engine Hall of Manchester’s People’s History Museum.
The Debt Records Stage at the People’s History Museum will be the only Un-Convention event open to the general public as well as to pass-holders (free entry).
In addition to providing music Debt’s own Louis Barabbas will don his “industry cap” and join one of the panels at Sacred Trinity Church. The discussion – entitled “Building A Sustainable Career In Music: 9-5 What A Way To Make A Living” – takes place at 2.30pm on the Saturday.
He will then be playing with The Bedlam Six on the Now Then stage at The Rovers Return at 9pm.
Line-Up for the Debt Records stage is as follows:
12.00 – 12.30 Becca & The Broken Biscuits
12.35 – 13.05 Sarah McQuaid
13.10 – 13.40 Richard Barry & The Chaps
13.45 – 14.30 Honeyfeet
14.40 – 15.10 Kaya & Captain Temper
15.15 – 15.45 Phillious Williams
15.50 – 16.20 Red Tides
16.25 – 17.00 John Fairhurst
Barabbas, Barry and Becca on BBC
BBC Introducing in Manchester will be celebrating BBC Radio Manchester’s 40th anniversary with a song for every one of its 40 years.
The initiative, which showcases under-the-radar talent, has asked 40 local artists to cover famous tracks by past acts that have strong connections to northern city. From the Hollies to 10cc, New Order to Girls Aloud, each song has been hand-picked to denote a year in BBC Manchester’s 40 year broadcasting history.
From Friday 10 September to Sunday 12 September, these 40 recorded tracks will be played out on BBC Radio Manchester’s daytime schedule, giving the next wave of fresh, new northern talent, further opportunities to be heard by a wider audience.
Chris Long, Producer of BBC Introducing in Manchester, says: “We were asked for ideas to celebrate 40 years of BBC Radio Manchester and the idea instantly popped into my head for 40 of the acts that I work with on BBC Introducing to cover 40 Manchester musical moments. We’re trying to showcase the fantastic musical history we’ve got and the brilliant musical future in Greater Manchester.”
Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six will be reinventing Take That & Lulu’s “Relight My Fire”, while Richard Barry & Becca Williams will tackle The Smiths’ “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”.