June 13th, 2016

BRIGID MAE POWER

Irish singer/songwriter Brigid Mae Power has shared stages with Lee Ranaldo, Alasdair Roberts, Richard Dawson, and Ryley Walker. Born in London to a big Irish family, she moved to Ireland (Galway) when she was twelve years old. In addition to the guitar, she plays accordion, baritone ukulele, piano and harmonium; creating hauntingly dreamlike soundscapes.

9/10 – “Masterpiece” – UNCUT
4 stars MOJO
4 Stars Guardian
4 stars Irish Times

Pitchfork

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Limited edition (500) Red Vinyl

TOUR DATES :
13 Aug Glasgow -The Glad Cafe (Gladfest)
14 Aug Tollbooth – Stirling
15 Aug Grateful Freds – Formby, Liverpool
23 Sept Fukuoka – Papparayray
24 Sept Kyoto – Former Rissei Elementary School
25 Sept Nagoya – Valentine drive
26 Sept Okayama – Inryoji temple
28 Sept Tokyo – Lutheran Ichigaya Hall
29 Sept Tokyo – Fluss
19 October London, UK – St. Pancras Old Church
20 October Briston, UK – Cube Cinema
21 October Oxford, UK – St Barnabas Church
22 October Manchester, UK – St Michaels Church

May 12th, 2016

BOB BROWN REISSUES OUT NOW !

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The first legit reissues of these rare, stellar LP’s by DC-based singer/songwriter Bob Brown. Richie Havens took Bob under his wing, produced both albums, and released them on his Stormy Forest label distributed by MGM. Although they failed to make a commercial impact at the time, cosmic-folk enthusiasts and vinyl-heads have long placed these albums in high esteem alongside the works of exploratory greats like Tim Hardin and Tim Buckley.

April 27th, 2016

TOO LATE TO DIE YOUNG – HARRY TAUSSIG

First-gen American Primitive guitarist’s new album, Too Late To Die Young, now available on every digital service worldwide.

BUY VIA BANDCAMP

Los Angeles Times review

December 17th, 2015

ROSCOE HOLCOMB – SAN DIEGO STATE FOLK FESTIVAL 1972

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THE NEW YORKER feature

Hear / share a song

Tompkins Square label is proud to announce the release of the first commercially available full live concert recording of old-time legend Roscoe Holcomb, out now on LP, CD and via every digital service, worldwide.

Discovered by folklorist John Cohen in 1959 in East Kentucky, Roscoe Holcomb is among the most revered traditional musicians to emerge during the folk boom of the 60’s. A favorite of Bob Dylan (who name-checked him in his 2014 MusiCares speech), Eric Clapton, and many others, Holcomb’s high lonesome singing and driving banjo style can be heard on several classic Folkways recordings.

San Diego Folk Festival 1972 was recorded at the annual event produced by Lou Curtiss, who provides insightful notes on how the concert came together. John Cohen, author of ‘The High Lonesome Sound’ (Steidl) also contributes new notes to the set. Previously unseen photographs from the event were shot by Virginia Curtiss. Jean Ritchie duets with Holcomb on a beautiful eight-minute version of ‘Wandering Boy’.

October 19th, 2015

The Record Store of the Mind

The Record Store of the Mind
A BOOK BY GRAMMY-NOMINATED PRODUCER AND TOMPKINS SQUARE LABEL FOUNDER JOSH ROSENTHAL

“In your hands ‘the Keys To The Kingdom’ … a ceaseless whirligig of histories, opinion and romance … of characters and circumstance minor and major contributors to our great wonderland … music beloved music … I reveled within and learned much … a unique work”
– Robert Plant

AMAZON UK
AMAZON US
B&N

“One of the most thoroughly enjoyable, informative, wise and good-hearted books ever written about music and the industry”
– MOJO – 4 STARS

“Josh Rosenthal is a record man’s record man. He is also a musician’s record man. He is in the line of Samuel Charters and Harry Smith. In this age where we have access to everything and know the value of nothing, musicians need people like Josh to hear them when no one else can.”
- T Bone Burnett

Grammy-nominated producer and Tompkins Square label founder Josh Rosenthal presents his first book, The Record Store of the Mind. Part memoir, part “music criticism,” the author ruminates over unsung musical heroes, reflects on thirty years of toil and fandom in the music business, and shamelessly lists some of the LPs in his record collection. Crackling with insightful untold stories, The Record Store of the Mind will surely delight and inspire passionate music lovers … especially those who have spent way too many hours in record stores.

Celebrating ten years in 2015, Rosenthal’s San Francisco-based independent record label Tompkins Square has received seven Grammy nominations and wide acclaim for its diverse catalog of new and archival recordings.

Read an excerpt via The Believer

“…detailing the skein of relationships and creative trajectories behind an album, evoking the alchemy that happens when a group of musicians bump up against each other at a particular time and place…”
- San Francisco Chronicle

THE RECORD STORE OF THE MIND
BY JOSH ROSENTHAL

ISBN (Paperback) : 9781625179135
Cover by Hazel Gerson-Rosenthal
Published by Tompkins Square

September 2nd, 2015

MICHAEL CHAPMAN – FISH – OUT NOW on LP/CD/DIG

Stereogum Premiere – “Jack”

In recent years, the revered British guitarist and songwriter has seen his classic Harvest records from the 70’s reissued by Light In the Attic, and he’s toured with Bill Callahan, Kurt Vile, Thurston Moore and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. On the eve of the Fully Qualified Survivor’s 75th birthday, ‘Fish’ finds Chapman vital as ever. Tompkins Square also released Chapman’s 2010 double CD ‘Trainsong : Guitar Compositions 1967-2010′ and a tribute album, ‘Oh Michael, Look What You’ve Done : Friends Play Michael Chapman’ featuring Hiss Golden Messenger, William Tyler, Lucinda Williams and Thurston Moore among others.

“The footnotes and legends that line Chapman’s 40-year career are the stuff of thick biographies and fireside storytelling sessions.” – PITCHFORK

Also Available :
Oh Michael, Look What You’ve Done : Friends Play Michael Chapman
Trainsong : Guitar Compositions 1967-2010

July 24th, 2015

RYLEY WALKER PRODUCES JOHN HULBURT REISSUE – OUT AUGUST 28

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LISTEN TO “THE FREAK ON THE BLACK HARLEY”

Stereogum Premiere

Guitarist and singer-songwriter Ryley Walker discovered the 1972 private press LP in a Chicago record store, loved what he heard, and teamed with Tompkins Square to produce the reissue.

John Hulburt (1947-2012) was a member of legendary mid-60’s Chicago garage rock band The Knaves, whose records were recently reissued by Sundazed. Opus III showcases his exceptional talent on the acoustic guitar, proving somewhat of an anomaly in a city not known for its solo guitar recordings during this era.

Walker writes in his liner notes, “Solo acoustic guitar music was adopted by several in the Berkeley school and the ever expansive roots fanatics in the South, but here in the middle of the country with harsh winters and the landlocked prison of corn fields, it was almost destiny that the amplifier assault of electric blues and controlled chaos of dance music came from the South Side.”

Opus III has another notable Chicago connection : It’s one of the earliest studio credits for Styx and Ohio Players engineer / producer Barry Mraz. Styx’s debut album would also be released in 1972.

The reissue of Opus III includes illuminating liner notes by John Hulburt’s sister, Cynthia Fritz; The Knaves’ Gene Lubin; and Ryley Walker, as well as vintage photographs.

‘Opus III’ Originally Released as Clarence Records CR-003, 1972
Recorded at Plynth Studios, Chicago February/March 1972
Engineer : Barry Mraz

PRODUCED FOR REISSUE BY RYLEY WALKER & JOSH ROSENTHAL

Available AUGUST 28, 2015
CD : TSQ 5159 / LP : TSQ 5166

April 6th, 2015

REMEMBERING MOUNTAINS : UNHEARD SONGS BY KAREN DALTON – OUT NOW

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LP/CD/DIGITAL

STEREOGUM PREMIERE : SHARON VAN ETTEN – “Remembering Mountains”

Karen Dalton (1937-1993) recorded two studio albums during her lifetime, neither of which contain any songs she wrote. By the good graces of legendary guitarist Peter Walker, who oversees Karen’s Estate, we are gifted with these lost lyrics, now given voice by other great women of song.

TRACK LIST :

1) REMEMBERING MOUNTAINS – SHARON VAN ETTEN
2) ALL THAT SHINES IS NOT TRUTH – PATTY GRIFFIN
3) THIS IS OUR LOVE – DIANE CLUCK
4) MY LOVE, MY LOVE – JULIA HOLTER
5) MET AN OLD FRIEND – LUCINDA WILLIAMS
6) SO LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY – MARISSA NADLER
7) BLUE NOTION – LAUREL HALO
8 ) FOR THE LOVE I’M IN – LARKIN GRIMM
9) DON’T MAKE IT EASY – ISOBEL CAMPBELL
10) AT LAST THE NIGHT HAS ENDED – TARA JANE O’NEIL
11) MET AN OLD FRIEND – JOSEPHINE FOSTER

AVAILABLE ON TOMPKINS SQUARE
INgrooves in NA, Cargo UK for EU/UK
CD : TSQ 5173 / LP : TSQ 5180

December 31st, 2014

IMAGINATIONAL ANTHEM vol. 7 – OUT NOW !!

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STREAM THE ENTIRE ALBUM VIA FRETBOARD JOURNAL

“Once again, the greatest thing going in acoustic guitar” – THE FADER

‘Imaginational Anthem Vol. 7′ is compiled by 20 year old guitarist Hayden Pedigo, from Amarillo, TX. Hayden has recently been featured in Vogue and The FADER behind his own recent album release, ‘Five Steps’. Hayden’s curation represents a balanced cross-section across the modern solo acoustic guitar spectrum. As with previous volumes, this one truly represents the state of the art – an area of evolving musical expression that is very vibrant and healthy indeed. MOJO – **** !!

Post/share a track from IA7 – Simon Scott (of Slowdive) – “Trees Return To Soil”

Track Listing :

1.On a Slow Passing Through a Ghost Town-Chuck Johnson
2.Culverts-Sean Proper
3.Enchiridion-Norberto Lobo
4.Trees Return to Soil-Simon Scott
5.Sea Retreat-DBH
6.Araucaria-Jordan Norton
7.The Great North American Wilderness-Kyle Fosburgh
8.Something, or Oil Paintings-Christoph Bruhn
9.USA Self-Michael Vallera
10.Red Bud Valley-Dylan Golden Aycock
11.0/3-M.Mucci
12.Shadow Study at 6 am-Mariano Rodriguez
13.Olympic Peninsula Blues-Andrew Weathers
14.My Grandfather’s 12 Gauge-Wes Tirey

December 8th, 2014

** GRAMMY NEWS **

At 80, Alice Gerrard receives her first Grammy nomination, for ‘Follow The Music’, Best Folk Album. The first for her, the seventh for Tompkins Square. Big ups to Michael Taylor for producing, and making it happen.

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