Damnably

Damnably is an independent record label and live-music company based in Stratford, East London. Founded in 2006 by George Gargan, associated with the band Former Utopia, and filmmaker Janice Li, it began as a small promotional project intended to support a John Peel tribute night at the Brixton Windmill. The founders operated on a modest, do-it-yourself basis, and that independence remains central to Damnably's identity. The company initially combined event promotion with tour booking. Its early live work helped it establish relationships with international artists, and the label subsequently developed from a promoter and booking operation into a record company. Damnably's first release was a single by Former Utopia. Its first prominent signing was the Japanese group Shonen Knife, whose album Super Group followed the label's booking of the band's first United Kingdom tour in 16 years. The release included additional live material, reflecting the label's close connection between recorded music and performance. Damnably's activities have expanded across artist representation, international touring, concert promotion, physical and recorded releases, and showcase production. Its roster has included artists from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Indonesia, and France. Artists associated with the label include Shonen Knife, Otoboke Beaver, Say Sue Me, Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, Leggy, Wussy, Hazy Sour Cherry, Grrrl Gang, American Werewolf Academy, David Boring, and others. The company has also booked tours or shows involving artists such as Julie Doiron, Dick Dale, Codeine, Come, Bitch Magnet, Geoff Farina, and Chris Brokaw. International showcases have been an important part of Damnably's work. Its acts have appeared at SXSW in Austin, including label showcases in 2018, 2019, and an online edition in 2021. Associated artists have also performed at festivals including Coachella, Green Man, Fuji Rock, Primavera, Roskilde, and Pohoda. Say Sue Me's extensive international touring in 2018 and its subsequent recognition at the Korean Music Awards increased the label's visibility in the South Korean and wider international indie scenes. The label has also organized themed events and benefit-oriented programming. Its World International The Fall, Smog and Sonic Youth nights invited groups from outside London to perform their own material and cover songs by the featured artists. Bar income from some events was directed toward bands that had difficulty obtaining London performances without entering pay-to-play arrangements. This activity developed into large, multi-stage World International John Peel Day events held over two years, with proceeds supporting charities. Damnably presents itself as a participatory, artist-focused alternative to larger music-industry structures. The company has publicly discussed the under-representation of women and the dominance of white male acts in British festival programming and agency rosters. Its own roster and events have often emphasized women-led and internationally diverse acts. The business eventually moved from being run out of the founders' flats into dedicated premises and, by 2019, was operating from a studio at Trampery on the Gantry. Damnably is affiliated with UK music-industry organizations including the BPI, PRS for Music, MCPS, and the Association of Independent Promoters.

Damnably was established in 2006 by George Gargan and Janice Li in London. Gargan was connected with the band Former Utopia, while Li worked as a filmmaker. The initial purpose was to promote a John Peel night at the Brixton Windmill, but successful events led the founders toward tour booking and, eventually, record-label operations. The business was created with very limited resources and retained a DIY structure as it grew. The first Damnably release was a Former Utopia single. The label's first major international relationship developed through Shonen Knife. After Damnably booked the Japanese band's first UK tour in 16 years, it issued Super Group, a release that combined the album with additional live recordings. This early combination of promotion, touring, and recorded music became characteristic of the company. Damnably went on to arrange concerts and tours across the United Kingdom and overseas. Its work involved artists from North America, Europe, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Tours and shows connected with the label included performers such as Julie Doiron, Dick Dale, Shonen Knife, Codeine, Come, Bitch Magnet, Wussy, Geoff Farina, and Chris Brokaw. It also became associated with Japanese acts including Otoboke Beaver and with South Korean artists such as Say Sue Me and Drinking Boys and Girls Choir. The company developed a distinctive event program alongside its label activity. World International The Fall, Smog and Sonic Youth nights featured bands from outside London performing their own sets and selected songs by the named artists. Some of the events directed bar income toward musicians who struggled to obtain London shows without accepting pay-to-play arrangements. The concept expanded into large, multi-stage World International John Peel Day events held over two years, with charitable fundraising attached. Damnably's international profile was strengthened by repeated participation in SXSW. Its associated performers appeared in showcase programs in 2018 and 2019, and in an online showcase in 2021. Other artists connected with the label performed at festivals including Coachella, Green Man, Fuji Rock, Primavera, Roskilde, and Pohoda. Damnably-associated musicians also recorded sessions for BBC Radio, KEXP, XFM, and Vans, while songs and performances were used in television, documentary, and other media projects including Netflix and JTBC programs, Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, and a Japanese NHK documentary about SXSW. Say Sue Me toured extensively in 2018 and became the first Korean band to record a KEXP session; Drinking Boys and Girls Choir later became the third Korean band to do so. Say Sue Me won two Korean Music Awards in 2019. Damnably has also been outspoken about gender imbalance and racial homogeneity in UK festival and agency programming, contrasting those patterns with its comparatively diverse roster and frequent representation of women artists. As its operations expanded, Damnably outgrew the founders' flats and invested in dedicated office and studio space. By 2019 it was based at Trampery on the Gantry in East London. The company is associated with the BPI, PRS for Music, MCPS, and the Association of Independent Promoters. Publicly available material describes an active independent label and promoter, but does not establish a separate corporate parent, public listing, or detailed current management structure.

• 2021

  Online SXSW showcase

  [1]Damnablyen.wikipedia.org

  Damnably presents an online showcase featuring artists from Japan, South Korea, and other markets.

• 2019

  Say Sue Me wins Korean Music Awards

  [1]Damnablyen.wikipedia.org

  Say Sue Me receives two Korean Music Awards.

• 2019

  Dedicated East London studio

  [1]Damnablyen.wikipedia.org

  Damnably is reported to be operating from a studio at Trampery on the Gantry after outgrowing its home-based setup.

• 2018

  International touring and SXSW showcase expansion

  [1]Damnablyen.wikipedia.org

  Say Sue Me tours extensively, while multiple Damnably-associated artists appear at SXSW.

• 2017

  Jon Fine and Stewart Lee event

  [1]Damnablyen.wikipedia.org

  Damnably presents an event featuring Jon Fine of Bitch Magnet in conversation with comedian Stewart Lee, followed by a performance involving members of smallgang.

• 2006

  Damnably is founded

  [1]Damnablyen.wikipedia.org

  George Gargan and Janice Li establish Damnably around a John Peel tribute night at the Brixton Windmill.

• 2006

  First release

  [1]Damnablyen.wikipedia.org

  Damnably issues its first release, a single by Former Utopia.

• Shonen Knife relationship begins

  [1]Damnablyen.wikipedia.org

  After booking Shonen Knife's first UK tour in 16 years, Damnably releases Super Group with live bonus material.

A DIY-oriented independent label and live-music platform focused on international alternative, indie, punk, and underground artists, with a strong emphasis on touring, artist development, inclusive programming, and direct participation in live culture.

• Single · 2006

  Former Utopia single

  The first known release issued by Damnably was a single by Former Utopia, the band associated with co-founder George Gargan. It represents the label's transition from event promotion into recorded-music publishing.

• Album

  Super Group

  Damnably's release by Shonen Knife followed the label's booking of the band's first UK tour in 16 years. The edition included additional live bonus tracks, linking the recorded release to the label's touring and concert-promotion work.

• Live-music service

  Artist touring and booking

  Damnably arranges tours, concerts, and international appearances for independent artists. Its booking work has covered UK national tours, Japanese holiday-period tours, North American showcases, and international festival appearances.

• 2021Online SXSW showcase

  Online · United States · United Kingdom · Japan · South Korea

  Damnably presented an online showcase featuring Otoboke Beaver, Say Sue Me, Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, Hazy Sour Cherry, and Grrrl Gang.

  Outcome. The digital format allowed the label to continue showcase activity without relying on a conventional in-person festival event.

  Source
• 2019SXSW showcase

  United States

  The 2019 Damnably-associated showcase included Otoboke Beaver, Say Sue Me, Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, David Boring, Construction and Destruction, and American Werewolf Academy.

  Outcome. The program continued Damnably's strategy of using international showcases to introduce independent acts to new audiences.

  Source
• 2018SXSW showcase

  United States

  Damnably-associated acts Otoboke Beaver, Say Sue Me, American Werewolf Academy, Leggy, and Didi performed as showcase artists at SXSW.

  Outcome. The showcase increased the international visibility of the label's cross-border roster.

  Source
• World International The Fall, Smog and Sonic Youth nights

  United Kingdom

  Damnably organized themed London nights where visiting bands played their own material alongside selected covers of songs by The Fall, Smog, and Sonic Youth. The events also provided a platform for artists who had difficulty securing non-pay-to-play London shows.

  Outcome. The concept developed into larger multi-stage events and supported fundraising for charities.

  Source
• World International John Peel Day

  United Kingdom

  A larger event series grew from Damnably's themed nights, bringing together numerous acts across multiple stages in tribute to John Peel.

  Outcome. The events raised money for charities and reinforced Damnably's community-oriented promotional identity.

  Source

• 2019

  Move from home offices to dedicated premisesStrategy

  Background

  Growing operations had outgrown the founders' flats.

  Action taken

  Damnably invested in proper office and studio space at Trampery on the Gantry in East London.

  Aftermath

  The move provided a dedicated base for the label's expanding recording, booking, and promotional activities.

  Source

• 2006

  Expand from event promotion into label and touring operationsStrategy

  Background

  Damnably was initially created to promote a John Peel night, but successful events and relationships with visiting artists created opportunities in tour booking and recorded music.

  Action taken

  The founders developed Damnably into a combined independent label, promoter, and touring operation.

  Aftermath

  The company built an international roster and became involved in releases, tours, showcases, and artist representation.

  Source

• Adopt a DIY and inclusive programming modelStrategy

  Background

  The founders operated on a shoestring budget and criticized the prevalence of white male acts in UK festivals and agency rosters.

  Action taken

  Damnably retained a low-overhead independent approach while emphasizing internationally diverse and frequently women-led artists.

  Aftermath

  The approach became a visible part of the label's public identity and roster-building strategy.

  Source

1. 1Damnablyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Damnably official websitedamnably.com