Sink and Stove Records

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Sink and Stove Records is an independent record label based in Bristol, founded in 2000 by Benjamin Shillabeer and Stuart Bell.

Working in a variety of ways, with strong DIY principles, the label has provided a platform for numerous bands and artists. Initially the label established itself by working closely with local bands to Bristol. Successes include Chikinki (who signed to Island Universal then Kitty-Yo), first spotted by Ben in the backroom of a Bristol boozer, Gravenhurst (now signed to Warp Records) whose 2003 album 'Flashlight Seasons' was a critic's wet-dream, and Benjamin's own band The Playwrights; who anticipated the current art-rock/post-punk renaissance, but set themselves apart by having top-quality songs with lyrical zeal and musical depth. Many of these early releases are now out of stock and very collectable; having since been re-released in different forms by larger labels.

Other early highlights include Mooz's 'Mixing It' concert broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, a label showcase at the ICA in London in conjunction with Careless Talk Costs Lives magazine (now Plan B), Sink and Stove band members joining John Parish on tour and his Thrill Jockey released album, and a reputation that has seen much larger labels and taste-makers turning to Sink and Stove for tips and information on the new bands scene.

2004 saw Sink and Stove broaden its scope by working with artists from further afield. The second volume of 'The Hospital Radio Request List' compilation series saw contributions from The National (Brooklyn, USA), Deloris (Victoria, Australia), Chris Brokaw (Boston, USA), Lomax (London, UK), 31 Knots (Portland, USA) and Billy Mahonie (London, UK). Connections with the USA and Canada set the agenda for spring 2005, with debut releases from New York's The Vibration ('Ear To The Ground' EP), Vancouver's The Organ ('Sinking Hearts' EP) and Toronto's Controller.Controller ('History' mini-album). London 3-piece Querelle provided a noisy soundtrack to the summer with their self-titled mini-lp and autumn 2005 saw debut releases from two new bands back home in Bristol, with a 7" single and an EP from You & The Atom Bomb and Leave Land For Water respectively.

2006 started with a label sampler called 'A Flash In The Pan', featuring 8 songs from the label's roster and retailing at £1.00 per CD, and the coming year sees a mini-album - 'English Self Storage' from The Playwrights (March), The Vibration's full-length lp 'Amarilla' (May) and a mini-album from You & The Atom Bomb (July), with possibly some new signings, limited edition and download-only releases along the way. Sink and Stove is still primarily run by Benjamin, along with Hector from The Playwrights and webmaster Justin, with invaluable input from collaborators who illustrate and design sleeves and posters, assist at live events and spread the word.