This week, a series of concerts was announced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of Britain’s most enduringly excellent record labels, Island Records. The programme, which runs at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London through the final week in May, underlines the extraordinary diversity upon which Island’s roster has always been built.

At one concert, Paul Weller, the so-called “Modfather”, is supported by the Jamaican jazz guitarist Ernest Ranglin and the
prog-rock legends Spooky Tooth. At another, Cat Stevens, the singer-songwriter now known as Yusuf, is joined by Senegal’s Baaba Maal. On the closing night, the label’s biggest contemporary star, Amy Winehouse, will perform after a set from reggae giants Toots & the Maytals.

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I had some issues with 24 Hour Party People, the Tony Wilson/Factory Records biopic, but there was one touch I found rather lovely. It’s 1976 and Anthony H Wilson and crew have returned home after the Sex Pistols’ Manchester debut. So what do Tony and his future Fac-heads do after witnessing this insurrectionary performance? Put Funhouse or Horses on the turntable? No, they roll spliffs and get stoned to the dreamy drift of Solid Air by John Martyn.

A lovely touch, I thought, and an acute one. First because it communicated, subtly, the fact that Factory’s founders were actually hippy-ish sorts (think of Martin Hannett’s long hair and drugginess) who were associated with Manchester’s bohemian milieu of Didsbury. And also because it conveyed another truth: the majority of hip listeners in the pre-punk period weren’t pining for the back-to-basics barbarianism of the Pistols, they were quite contentedly listening to a diffuse, eclectic array of “progressive” (as opposed to prog) music. Virtuosity, sensitivity, maturity – all these were at a premium until punk reversed the rules.

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Amy Winehouse is set to make her live comeback this May, celebrating her record label’s birthday.

The singer – who has not performed in front of an audience since last September – will join Keane, Paul Weller, The Fratellis, and Cat Stevens among others to play a series of shows to mark the 50th anniversary of Island Records.

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Island Records, the legendary label founded by Chris Blackwell in Kingston, Jamaica in 1959 and a home to such heavyweight artists as Bob Marley, Tom Waits, U2, Nick Drake, PJ Harvey and Amy Winehouse, will mark its 50th anniversary with the Island 50 Festival next month.

The cornerstone of the celebrations is Island Life, a week of live shows at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire featuring Island artists past and present.

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Amy Winehouse, Paul Weller and Cat Stevens are amongst the headliners for Island records 50th birthday celebrations this May.

The festival, called ‘Island Life’ will see see gigs taking place from May 26, all at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in West London.

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As part of the Island 50th birthday celebrations, today sees the launch of a new website – www.island50.com . The website focuses on 50 classic albums from the Island catalogue and features an original press review from the time of release for every album (bar Free’s “Fire And Water” – submissions welcome!). The site has been created to be an evolving “wiki” with users encouraged to add their own comments / reviews for each album. Reviews can either be uploaded to the site or emailed to reviews@island50.com

The www.island50.com site also features audio clips of all tracks on every one of the 50 classic albums plus a great archive of classic Island artist videos and exclusive archive footage. A Store will be launching shortly where users will be able to purchase tickets for shows, exclusive merchandise, an Island 50 Book and new physical and digital versions of all the 50 classic albums.

Glenn Cooper, Head of Digital @ Island Records said: “Island has such an amazing and vibrant history we wanted to reflect this in the website. Rather than creating a flat “marketing brochure” we wanted to develop a community encouraging music lovers to take an active part in celebrating our 50th Birthday. It’s also important to us that fans can purchase tickets, merchandise, the Island 50 Book and physical and digital albums through the site so we can offer great value exclusive packages.”

2009 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of Island Records, arguably the most prestigious record label in the history of British music. To mark this milestone the label is collaborating with Island founder Chris Blackwell to arrange the Island 50 festival.

Chris Blackwell founded the Island label in Kingston, Jamaica in 1959 with capital of just £1000. Relocating to London in the early 60s Blackwell built the most diverse and enviable back catalogue of any independent record label in history. From Island’s early Jamaican roots in ska and rock-steady, through the label’s expansion to become the cutting edge of progressive rock in the late 60s, and then on to the signing of such international superstars as Bob Marley and U2, Blackwell brought to Island a unique vision and passion which still informs the label’s approach to this day.

The Island label has been responsible for the careers of some of the biggest stars in music including U2, Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Traffic, Free, Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, Toots & The Maytals, John Martyn, Marianne Faithfull, Aswad, Tom Waits, King Sunny Ade, Third World, Roxy Music, Robert Palmer, the B52s, Sly & Robbie, Melissa Etheridge, The Slits, Steel Pulse, Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Pulp, Tricky, Talvin Singh, and latterly Amy Winehouse, PJ Harvey, DJ Shadow, Sugababes, Keane, The Fratellis, Scott Matthews, Paul Weller, The Feeling and Portishead

Island Records, the seminal label responsible for bringing us the likes of U2, Tom Waits, Nick Drake, Roxy Music, PJ Harvey and Bob Marley, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The rest of 2009 is set to be filled with all-manner of Island-related celebrations. The label’s founder Chris Blackwell has announced details of the Island 50 festival – a week of performances from some of Island’s artists past and present due to take place at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire in May.

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The number of classic records released by Island is ridiculous. Career-defining albums from Nick Drake, John Martyn, Tom Waits, King Sunny Ade, Tom Tom Club, Pulp, Roxy Music, The B52s, Sly & Robbie, The Slits, Grace Jones, DJ Shadow, Portishead – the list literally goes on and on. And on.

Founded with just £1000 start-up by Chris Blackwell in Kingston, Jamaica in 1959, Island relocated to London in the 60s and expanded on its roots in ska and rocksteady to become one of the most open-minded and trailblazing labels of the 20th century. This year Island Records is celebrating its 50th anniversary with The Island 50 festival at Shepherds Bush Empire, a new book and a special exhibition at London’s Vinyl Factory.

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Amy Winehouse and Paul Weller are set to play the Island 50 Festival, celebrating 50 years of Island Records.

The label has collaborated with its founder Chris Blackwell to arrange the event which kicks off at Shepherds Bush Empire on 25 May with Island Life – a week of live shows by Island artists.

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Amy Winehouse has confirmed she will headline a series of concerts to celebrate the 50th birthday of Island Records, the only dates the singer has announced so far this year. Tom Tom Club, Paul Weller and Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) will also perform during the week-long series at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire in May to celebrate the half-centenary of the label.

Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who established the label in Jamaica in 1959, is co-curating the event. In keeping with the label’s heritage, the concerts will feature performances from reggae artists Toots and the Maytals and Sly & Robbie, as well as a number of “very special guests”.

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