Part Two of a review of last weekend’s festival from Brighton and Hove News
Category: News
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Another Mutations Festival Review
Part One of a review of last weekend’s festival from Brighton and Hove News
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Music Venue Properties raises target £1.5M to help save more music venues
In the second phase of crowdfunding and with hours to spare on it’s deadline, Music Venue Properties hit it’s target of raising £1.5million. This will now be used to help save some more music venues that were struggling to afford their leases.
The following venues are hoped to be now purchased by MVP:
- Esquires, Bedford
- The Joiners, Southampton **ALREADY SAVED**
- Peggy’s Skylight, Nottingham
- The Croft, Bristol **ALREADY SAVED**
- The Sugarmill, Stoke
- The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle
- The Pipeline, Brighton
Let’s hope all the venues can be saved.
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The Fight to Keep Grassroots Venues Alive
Where Great Music Grows: The Fight to Keep Grassroots Venues Alive
From The Badger, the student’s newspaper of the University of Sussex:
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Inside Scottish Nightlife: A Panel on Culture, Community & Change – Episode 10, The Last Safe Space
The Last Safe Space a straight-talking, data-driven podcast from Music Venue Trust. Each episode breaks down the biggest news affecting the UK’s grassroots music venues – from government policy to local wins, campaigns, crisis cases, and how you can take action to support live music.
In this episode: Arusa Qureshi hosts a panel discussion at EXIT Club in Glasgow, co-produced with Glasgow Life, NTIA Scotland, and the Association for Electronic Music. Together, they explore the heartbeat of Scottish nightlife – its unique culture, challenges, and the collective action needed to ensure a thriving future for live music across Scotland.
Disclaimer: All data is correct on the date of filming 16/10/2025
Join the Supporters Circle: https://save-our-venues.backstreetmerch.com/collections/membership
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:01 — 41.3MB)
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Sam Fender donates his £25,000 cash prize to the Music Venue Trust.
Sam Fender has donated his £25,000 cash prize to the Music Venue Trust.
Fender said: “I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out,” he said. “These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.”
Mark Davyd, CEO and founder of the MVT, said: “This is an incredible gesture by Sam, demonstrating once again that artists absolutely understand how vital grassroots music venues are to their careers and to their communities. We are honoured to accept this donation and will ensure every penny of it makes a direct difference to the campaign to keep live music at the heart of our towns and cities.”
Fender performing at the Southside Festival in June 2025 as part of the People Watching Tour.
By Schwabenmodel – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
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Review of Mutations Festival 2025
Review from “When The Horn Blows”:
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Janelle from GENN and Andy Crowley discuss Johnny Marr, Grassroots Venues and the MVT
Instagram post from Andy Crowley discussing Johnny Marr, Grassroots Venues and the MVT with Janelle from GENN. Plus a longer YouTube video showing Janelle teaching guitar with a violin bow!
View this post on Instagram
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Chris Sherrington from Music Venue Properties talks to BBC News about buying The Croft and The Joiners
Chris Sherrington from Music Venue Properties talks to BBC News about buying The Croft and The Joiners.
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In Conversation with Music Venue Properties – Episode 9, The Last Safe Space
The Last Safe Space a straight-talking, data-driven podcast from Music Venue Trust. Each episode breaks down the biggest news affecting the UK’s grassroots music venues – from government policy to local wins, campaigns, crisis cases, and how you can take action to support live music.
In this episode: Toni speaks with Chris Sherrington from Music Venue Properties about the Own Our Venues campaign, exploring how community ownership is protecting grassroots venues, the impact so far, and what the future holds for the movement.
Disclaimer: All data is correct on the date of filming 16/10/2025
Join the Supporters Circle: https://save-our-venues.backstreetmerch.com/collections/membership
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:28 — 13.5MB)
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The Croft and The Joiners purchased by Music Venue Properties
Latest News from the Crowdfunder
Music Venue Properties are thrilled to share the news that both The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol have now been purchased and brought into community ownership, thanks to their supporters.
These venues were among the very first to join the potential new pipeline after the first share offer, with the venues getting in touch well before they had even started to plan this campaign. The threats they were facing meant they had to act fast.
The press release from MVP doesn’t say what is going to happen to the other venues on this second campaign:
- Esquires – Bedford
- Peggy’s Skylight – Nottingham
- The Pipeline – Brighton
- The Sugarmill – Stoke-on-Trent
- Northern Guitars – Leeds
- Gut Level – Sheffield
- Little Buildings – Newcastle
If you want to invest some of your own cash into supporting venues such as this, for as little as £100 then go to the Crowdfunder page HERE.
I suggest you watch the video first.
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Marshall x Music Venue Trust
Marshall has partnered with the Music Venue Trust to support grassroots music venues
‘Marshall Nights’, will feature emerging artists at a series of gigs at various independent venues, such as Green Door Store in Brighton.
“Grassroots Music Venues are the lifeblood of the UK’s music ecosystem, they are where artists take their first steps, and where fans fall in love with live music. We’re proud to partner with Marshall, a brand that embodies the sound and spirit of live performance, to keep these vital spaces alive.”
“Marshall was born from the live stage, and that’s where we belong. Grassroots venues are where every great band starts, and we’re proud to help keep those stages alive for the next generation of artists and fans. This isn’t just about sound, it’s about community, creativity, and giving back to the music that made us.”
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Mutations 2025 Lineup Announced
Back to Mutations Festival again next weekend. My 5th time. This time it’s just two days. Once again there are bands I want to see playing until 2am. Fuck that shit! I’m sick of promoters putting on gigs that are after the last public transport home. People that do not live in the city cannot attend those events. Not good enough.
Clashfinder is here: https://clashfinder.com/s/mutationsfestival2025
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In Conversation with the Venue Support Team for England – Episode 8, The Last Safe Space
The Last Safe Space a straight-talking, data-driven podcast from Music Venue Trust. Each episode breaks down the biggest news affecting the UK’s grassroots music venues – from government policy to local wins, campaigns, crisis cases, and how you can take action to support live music.
In this episode: Toni speaks with Lloyd and Jay about the latest trends, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping grassroots venues across England – from rising costs to local government support and policy innovation.
Disclaimer: All data is correct on the date of filming 16/10/2025
Join the Supporters Circle: https://save-our-venues.backstreetmerch.com/collections/membership
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:03 — 18.0MB)
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New MVT patron Goc O’Callaghan from the Arc TanGent Festival talks about MVT
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£250,000 fund launched to protect and let Manchester’s grassroots music venues thrive
To ensure support reaches the right places quickly, the fund will be administered by Music Venue Trust, the UK charity championing grassroots spaces. They’ll use their tried-and-tested systems to distribute grants of up to £20,000 or 35% of a venue’s business rates bill.
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Sunderland’s “Independent” music venue saved after planning refused
The MVY and the “Agent of Change” principle again works in favour of an Grassroots Music Venue in Sunderland.
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Night Boat to Cairo by Mark Davyd
Quite apposite this post as I endured a 90 minute delay at Brighton station last Sunday. I’m always on the lookout to check if the train I was planning to get has been cancelled because of “Trespassers on the line”, “Points failure at Victoria” or “Staff Shortage”. It’s £60 to get a taxi home if it all goes wrong!
A transport policy built for commuters not communities. Yet another factor crippling live music.
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German Grassroots Music Scheme
The Live Music Fund Germany, which is inspired by the British model of a concert ticket solidarity contribution, will come into effect on 1 January 2026 and is based on the principle that “everyone who benefits from the economic power of live music makes a small contribution to ensure that live music has a future.
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Licensing Reform – Episode 7, The Last Safe Space
The Last Safe Space a straight-talking, data-driven podcast from Music Venue Trust. Each episode breaks down the biggest news affecting the UK’s grassroots music venues – from government policy to local wins, campaigns, crisis cases, and how you can take action to support live music.
In this episode: Toni and Sophie unpack the government’s new consultation on licensing reform and what it means for grassroots music venues. They also cover this week’s crisis cases, community wins, and sector updates – from The Boileroom’s nineteenth anniversary to The Ferret’s expansion and the rise of the Grassroots Levy.
Disclaimer: All data is correct on the date of filming 16/10/2025
Join the Supporters Circle: https://save-our-venues.backstreetmerch.com/collections/membership
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:37 — 16.3MB)
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Dancefloor launches scheme to support grassroots venues and promoters
Dancefloor, a ticketing platform for EDM fans, announced the launch of its Nightlife Dividend Program.
“Every month, 25% of Dancefloor’s booking fees are pooled and redistributed back to the venues and promoters selling on the platform to provide a new, automatic revenue stream on top of existing ticket sales.”
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Brighton is the UK’s best place for live music
I’m incredibly lucky to be so close to Brighton and all it’s amazing Grassroots Music Venues. I’m not surprised the research shows it’s the best.
Here are just the venues I can name, off the top of my head. This doesn’t include the many bars that also have live music
- The Prince Albert
- The Green Door Store
- Komedia (Studio and Downstairs)
- The Rose Hill
- The Hope and Ruin
- The Rossi Bar
- The Folklore Rooms
- ALPHABET
- Dust
- Chalk
- Patterns (Upstairs and Downstairs)
- Waterbear Music Bar
- Concorde 2
- Revenge
- The Old Market (Hove)
- The Brunswick (Hove)
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Use Spotify to find gigs at your favourite venue
Spotify has just announced that you can now follow your favourite venue, in the same way you can follow artists. The pre-existing linkage to the DICE ticketing app will make purchasing tickets for events at your favourite location even easier.
Of course, Spotify is still a platform that divides a lot of people, with many artists withdrawing their music over the platform’s political stance and the revenue it gives it’s contributors. It’s up to you if you want to use this new feature.
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Scottish Government consulting on planning law changes which could affect Grassroots Music Venues
The Scottish Government are consulting on changes to the Permitted Development Rights (PDRs) to make it easier for developers to convert existing buildings into housing without gaining full planning permission.
I thought the “Agent of Change” principle, which is enshrined in Scottish Law, would prevent against this, but several websites are reporting this today, so it’s a bit worrying.
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Is Live Nation blocking millions for grassroots music venues?
The world’s biggest promoter seems to not be doing its part to protect independent venues in the UK.
Another comment on Live Nation’s inability to implement the grassroots ticket levy.
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Both Sides Now by Mark Davyd
The top end of live music has never been more economically successful and one of the biggest winners in that success is the government itself. The grassroots are providing access, community and culture at prices that haven’t budged in twenty years. The Government is sitting on a huge tax windfall
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Gnarwal Festival Review
I attended the first Gnarnwal festival at The Green Door Store last weekend. Big thanks to Luke and Angel from Gnarly Marmalade & WhattaWally for putting it on. I really enjoyed seeing 19 acts I’d never seen before.Here’s the Brighton and Hove News review:
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LIVE Trust announces how it will give grassroots venues grants
In January 2026 the LIVE Trust will start to award grants to Grassroots Music Venues. This is the money they have received from the voluntary £1 Grassroots levy on arena and Stadium tickets.
In December 2025 grant applications will open. If you are working for a Grassroots Music venue you need to read the document below and work out if you are eligible and what you propose to do with a grant if it awarded.
Link to the document: https://www.livemusic.biz/file/HCxkPekrdRZsuTqSipExe5sFgOPKkdsHpiq8B56K
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Ireland’s basic income scheme for artists made permanent in 2026
The Irish Government’s Basic Income for the Arts scheme was started in 2022. Now it’s been made permanent in October’s budget.The three-year pilot scheme provided 2000 artists and creative arts workers with €325 per week to enable artists to have the time to make creative work. 9000 people applied to the first round in 2022.
The National Campaign for the Arts said the key findings of the recent research report into the scheme found it kept more artists in the sector, promoted better mental health, supported the creation of 40% more artwork and provided €1.39 back to the state for every €1 invested.
Wouldn’t it be great if the UK were as far sighted as the Irish?
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Agent of Change, Still waiting – Episode 6, The Last Safe Space
The Last Safe Space a straight-talking, data-driven podcast from Music Venue Trust. Each episode breaks down the biggest news affecting the UK’s grassroots music venues – from government policy to local wins, campaigns, crisis cases, and how you can take action to support live music.
In this episode: This week on The Last Safe Space, Toni and Mark unpack the latest from Westminster and beyond. The House of Lords debates the Agent of Change amendment, the Government stalls on Business Rates reform, and MVT outlines a bold new investment approach: don’t just fund problems—fix them. Plus, community victories from The Sound Lounge and The George Tavern, new partnerships with Fred Perry and Yamaha, and a hard look at rights management and venue protection. All the frontline news from the UK’s grassroots music venue ecosystem, straight from the source.
Disclaimer: All data is correct on the date of filming 17/09/2025
Join the Supporters Circle: https://save-our-venues.backstreetmerch.com/collections/membership
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:51 — 26.8MB)
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Live Nation holding back the voluntary £1 levy on arena and stadium tickets
The £1 levy on arena and stadium gigs has been decided. 93% of fans agree. The only decision is whether it should be voluntary or mandatory. MVT’s Mark Davyd wants it to be voluntary, so it can be managed by the industry. But it’s being held up by the biggest player in the space: Live Nation. If they continue to procrastinate then the Government will make it mandatory and it will have to be managed by the state, which could be expensive and bureaucratic.
Even the Guardian chips in this morning with this….
There’s a £1 idea that could save small music venues. Is Live Nation holding it back?
Bear in mind Live Nation are already in trouble in the US, as reported by the BBC…
Ticketmaster, Live Nation face US suit over resale tactics
So why can’t Live Nation play ball? What is it with huge organisations that make them think it’s OK to ignore the rules / laws of countries?
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Waterbear and MVT Keeping Music Live Tour
Waterbear and The Music Venue Trust (MVT), supported by Love Music Hate Racism and Save Our Scene, announces a “Keeping Music Live” tour, running from October 18 to November 1, 2025, supporting grassroots music venues across the UK.
The tour will visit seven cities, including Hull (The New Adelphi Club), Sheffield (Yellow Arch Studios), Manchester (Castle Hotel), Nottingham (Rough Trade), Norwich (Voodoo Daddy’s), London (Rough Trade East), and Brighton (WaterBear Venue). Each date will celebrate the unique identity of these venues and the communities that surround them.
Find out more HERE
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In conversation with Beverley Whitrick – Episode 5, The Last Safe Space
The 5th podcast from the Music Venue Trust.
The Last Safe Space a straight-talking, data-driven podcast from Music Venue Trust. Each episode breaks down the biggest news affecting the UK’s grassroots music venues – from government policy to local wins, campaigns, crisis cases, and how you can take action to support live music.
In this episode: In this special edition of The Last Safe Space, Toni sits down with Music Venue Trust’s Chief Operating Officer, Beverley Whitrick, for an inside look at the work that keeps grassroots music venues alive. From the very first Grassroots Networking Day and partnerships with cultural institutions like the V&A and Southbank Centre, to ten years of Venues Day, Beverley shares how the conversation has shifted from survival to recognition, and why grassroots venues are finally being seen as the cultural powerhouses they’ve always been.
Disclaimer: All data is correct on the date of filming 17/09/2025
Join the Supporters Circle: https://save-our-venues.backstreetmerch.com/collections/membership
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:01 — 18.0MB)
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3 Community Grassroots Venues added to Own Our Venues – Deadline Extended to November 14th
Latest News from the Crowdfunder
Music Venue Properties are proud to announce that three more grassroots music venues will officially joined the Own Our Venues campaign.
Northern Guitars, Leeds, Gut Level, Sheffield and Little Buildings, Newcastle.
These venues are deeply rooted in their communities, but like so many others, they’re under immediate threat. All three buildings are currently being offered for sale by their landlords, and the venues operating within them have little or no lease security. Without intervention, they could be lost. That’s why they’ve joined the movement to take grassroots music venues into community ownership, permanently.
To support the inclusion of these three venues, MVP also slightly extended the Own Our Venues campaign deadline to 14 November 2025. This gives them more time to raise capital, welcome new investors, and work closely with these venues’ incredible communities to secure their futures.
The situation facing these three spaces underlines the ongoing risk to grassroots music venues across the UK. All are under immediate threat, and they’re far from alone, more communities are at risk of losing vital cultural infrastructure every day. But these venues also show the strength and diversity of what we stand to protect: three small but critical spaces rooted in their local scenes, serving artists, fans and neighbours alike.
Crucially, they also show the momentum behind this campaign. In each case, it was the venue operators or landlords who came to us, believing that community ownership, and your support, can provide a long-term solution.
These additions bring us to nine venues currently in the campaign pipeline each one a vital part of its region’s musical and cultural life:
- The Croft – Bristol.
- Esquires – Bedford
- The Joiners – Southampton
- Peggy’s Skylight – Nottingham
- The Pipeline – Brighton
- The Sugarmill – Stoke-on-Trent
- Northern Guitars – Leeds
- Gut Level – Sheffield
- Little Buildings – Newcastle
If you want to invest some of your own cash into supporting venues such as this, for as little as £100 then go to the Crowdfunder page HERE.
I suggest you watch the video first.
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The Last Safe Space Episode 4 – Keep it in
The 4th podcast from the Music Venue Trust.
The Last Safe Space a straight-talking, data-driven podcast from Music Venue Trust. Each episode breaks down the biggest news affecting the UK’s grassroots music venues – from government policy to local wins, campaigns, crisis cases, and how you can take action to support live music.
In this episode: Toni and Mark tackle government changes, levy deadlines, and real crisis cases, including venues struggling with PRS/PPL invoices. Plus: Sam Fender’s £100k lifeline, Coldplay’s Wembley commitment, and the power of Sonic Boom Festival.
Disclaimer: All data is correct on the date of filming 17/09/2025
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:51 — 19.2MB)
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The Last Safe Space Episode 3 – From the Grassroots Up
The third podcast from the Music Venue Trust.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:55 — 15.2MB)
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The Last Safe Space Episode 2 – Venues Need to Thrive
The second podcast from the Music Venue Trust.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:46 — 15.8MB)
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The Last Safe Space Episode 1 – Licensing Breakthrough
The first podcast from the Music Venue Trust.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:51 — 19.2MB)
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Netlabel Day 2025 Releases
It’s Netlabel Day 2025. If you have enjoyed my 2 podcast episodes celebrating the releases since last year then you should also checkout the new releases that came out today.
Head to https://netlabelday.org/netlabel-day-2025-releases/ for the full list. Don’t forget there’s the live stream at https://www.internet-radio.com/station/netlabelday/.
Big thanks to Omar Willey as always for taking on this monumental task, and surviving!
Here’s the list as it stands, as I write this blog post…….
H-M O
Tinty Music
Enough Records
- Various – Enough Records Netlabel Day 2025
- VARRHO & StereoKollektor – Vertical Protocol
- Singularity Observatory – The Infinite Improbability
- Elvii Marten – Ghosts on the Dancefloor
- BTB – The Strongest Friend in the Universe
Lost Frog Productions
- meta – Manafacecore
- MarkDS – Mark Does More Stuff
- Disc Channel – I know some of these words
- dielle – On Borrowed Time Pt 1
- nea – nearock
Visions Press
Kahvi
Tius Men Govoru Kvaj Pank!?
- Ž x Anino Üfo Letherbee
- Morče – NoizZzera vol. 2 kolaboracije
- Različni izvajalci – Zvoki podzemlja vol. 6
Osji Med
Krep Records & Zine
mrblitz
Believe in Billy
Crem Road
- DidJaws – Onirismology
- The Big Circus Project – Iris
- Gorbie’s Stuff – The 01-06-05 Sessions 20th Anniversary Edition
Loyalty Freak Music
- Dancefloor is Lava – Alternative to Nothing
- Soft and Furious – The Flood
- Rrrrrose Azerty – AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
- Rrrrrose Azerty – INFINI – INCARN3
h{EE}l
{AN} Eel
Nul Tiel Records
Stato Elettrico
Sonido Cuantico
Zenapolæ
Cairo Braga
Mahorka
- Nuearz – Voices carry through history (Reincarnation and Topology)
- Various – Making Things Happen: Netlabel Day 10th Anniversary Compilation
Ardente Patience
1MC
Dawn of Darkness
- Humanfobia – Vampire ☥▼Mortuorie
- V/A – 2000’s Horrors
- RDKPL X Filmy Ghost – Ghostly Noises From Another Plane
Humanworkshop
Digital Diamonds
Bonimedia Netlabel
Jazz Goa
Ephedrina
- DANIELE CIULLINI – Dummies Dance
- EMBEDDED PROJECT – 7pm
- CH’AB Acqua
- PARTICLE OF SOUL – Particle Of Soul
- MAS&DELAYER – Heroes In My Bed
Soundsphere
Le Colibri Necrophile
- Pirate Tapes – The Lost Rainbow Tapes
- rADio eNd – Neverland
- Refugees from Beyond – No Dumping Allowed
YesNoWave Records
Crafting Room Records
Broken Drum Records
Dancefloor Socialism
Jesse Spillane
Hazard Records
Taped Rugs
blocSonic
- BADLUCK – The Ascended Remixes EP
- C da 76er – Anime Christrumentals
- Donnie Ozone – P.P.T.
- Krazy Shitz – KS4FR
- Lorenzo’s Music – Lorenzo’s Remixes Volume 2
- P.U.C.K. – 10:59
- P.U.C.K. – The P.U.C.K. Crew Presents Pirate Pact: Reburied Treasure
Netwaves
- Various – Netlabel Day 2025: Netlabel Day Essentials 11
Discordian Records
- El Pricto/Discordian Community Ensemble – The Unreal Book at LEM Festival
- Luis Erades/Yeonathan Shachar/Juan Pablo Egúsquiza – The Advantages of Extremism
Flowerpot Records
Soisloscerdos Netlabel
Plus Timbre
AVDPasos
- Mientras Canten Las Aves – Estación Terminal
- Mar-C Alcaraz – Cancionero Mburucuyá
- Lesglobe-Iss – BCG Remix
guska
Keshcology
Pueblo Nuevo
- Javier Piñango/Juan Antonio Nieto (1961 – † 2022)/Mika Martini – Madrid Austral
- Potenciómetro – Crema
- Ciudad de Tar – Liminal
IONO Music
Green Note Records
Monumental Records
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