There are plenty of record labels out there, but few that genuinely put artist and band development at the heart of what they do quite like Big Condo Records. Born out of Liverpool’s vibrant grassroots music scene, Big Condo has built a reputation for being much more than a label that simply releases music. It is an independent music company built around people, creativity, live performance and, above all, opportunity.
Since launching in 2015, Big Condo Records has continued to grow while maintaining the independent spirit that has been there from the beginning. The label has worked across multiple genres and supported a growing roster of artists and bands, but its ethos remains remarkably simple: give talented people the opportunity to develop, perform, create and progress.
That artist-first approach is one of the things that makes Big Condo so exciting. Rather than expecting an artist to arrive fully formed, the label is interested in the journey. Development matters. Experience matters. Playing live matters. Building confidence matters. Understanding the industry matters. Big Condo has consistently created opportunities for artists to gain those experiences, whether through shows, showcases, tours, festivals, collaborations or releases.
And it is not just about opportunities for the artists already signed to the label. One of the most impressive things about Big Condo is the amount of opportunity it creates for emerging musicians and bands. Its events have become platforms for new talent, giving performers the chance to appear in front of new audiences and share bills with other developing and established acts. For an artist trying to break through, being given that first meaningful opportunity can be everything.
This is where Big Condo’s independent identity really comes into its own. The company has the ambition of something far bigger while retaining the accessibility and personal approach of an independent label. In many ways, it represents the idea of an independent mini-major — ambitious enough to think on a large scale, but close enough to its artists to understand that careers are built one opportunity at a time.
The label’s ambitions have never appeared particularly small either. Big Condo has spoken openly about wanting to grow into a major force within the music industry, with the kind of influence and reach associated with major labels, while retaining its independence. That combination is powerful. It means artists can be part of something that feels grassroots while simultaneously being encouraged to think much bigger about where their music and careers could go.
Live music is a huge part of that philosophy. With hundreds of shows behind it, Big Condo has developed a substantial live presence across Liverpool, the North West and beyond. Its events have become an important part of the grassroots circuit, creating stages for artists who might otherwise struggle to get those opportunities. The Big Condo Records Weekender is perhaps the perfect example, bringing a huge number of performers together and turning the label’s philosophy of opportunity into a real-life celebration of independent music.
The development of Emilie Culshaw is another great example of what that journey can look like. From releasing music through Big Condo to performing live and continuing to build her audience, Emilie’s progression demonstrates the importance of having a team prepared to invest in an artist’s development rather than simply focusing on a single release. Her upcoming I Guess You Changed Tour represents another step forward, with the Liverpool date at The Hold at The Shipping Forecast on 11 October 2026 bringing together an exciting line-up of emerging talent.
What makes that particularly exciting is that a tour like this creates opportunity beyond the headline artist. Every support slot represents another musician getting a stage, another audience discovering an artist and another performer gaining valuable experience. It is exactly the kind of opportunities that Big Condo has spent years building.
That is ultimately what makes Big Condo Records stand out. It understands that the future of music is not just about signing the next big artist; it is about helping artists become the best versions of themselves. It is about creating stages when there aren’t enough stages, opening doors when doors are difficult to find and giving emerging artists the chance to learn by actually doing.
For Liverpool and the wider North West, that contribution to the grassroots music community is significant. Big Condo has created a space where artists and bands can develop, experiment, collaborate and take their next steps without losing the independent spirit that made them exciting in the first place.
In an industry where the phrase “artist development” can sometimes feel like a buzzword, Big Condo Records continues to put it into practice. The label is independent, but its ambitions are major. It is artist-centric, opportunity-driven and determined to create a future where emerging musicians aren’t simply waiting for their big break — they are being given the opportunities to build it themselves.
And perhaps that is the real strength of Big Condo Records: it doesn’t just talk about the future of independent music. It is actively helping to create it.
Big Condo Records highlighted Stonefold for an interview…
- 1. For readers discovering Stonefold for the first time, how would you describe the band, your sound and what you’re all about?
I’d say the Stonefold sound stems from our range of influences. I think what makes us unique is that everyone in the band has different influences, so they all bring something different to the music. The band was originally made just for a bit of fun, and I think we’ve kept that attitude as we’ve gone on, which gives us a really honest sound.
2. What was the moment you realised Stonefold could become something serious rather than just a band playing music together?
I think it’s because we genuinely enjoy it. We love putting on a show and entertaining people, and I think that hunger to always want to do our best comes across in our performances. We feel like we improve every gig we play. We’re still a brand new band, the four of us have only been playing together for a couple of months, but we can already see the improvement in ourselves, and I think that’s what makes us realise we could really take this somewhere.
3. What do you think sets Stonefold apart from other new bands coming through?
As I said before, our influences range massively, and I think that really shows in our songs. We’re always trying to change up our sound and make sure every song feels different. We practise regularly and thoroughly, and I think we’re quite grounded as a band. At the end of the day, we know we’re just four lads who want to have a bit of fun and perform songs that we enjoy.
4. What’s been the highlight of your journey with Stonefold so far?
I think the biggest highlight for us is the amount of people that come out and watch us. For a new band, we get a decent crowd and we absolutely love performing in front of people. Our first ever headline gig was definitely a highlight. We actually saw people in the crowd singing along to a few of our songs, which is mental to think about considering we’ve only done about six gigs.
But it’s also the simple things, like the buzz of being in a band, setting up for a gig or even just making a setlist. We enjoy all of it.
5. What’s the songwriting process like within Stonefold, and where do you get your inspiration from?
I can’t really give a set answer because the way we write songs is different every time. Most often, Joe will write a song on an acoustic guitar and bring it to the band, but a lot of the time we’ll just be in the practice room wanting to write something. We’ll come up with a chord progression, add some drums, and Joe will sing about scrambled eggs or something completely random until the words start to come together. It’s quite spontaneous, really, and that’s what makes it fun.
6. Who are your biggest musical influences, both individually and as a band?
Joe: My influences really range from Beatles and Bob Dylan-style songwriting, to the indie-pop style of The 1975, Britpop like Oasis, and then people like James Marriott and beabadoobee. It’s probably the weirdest combination ever. Songwriting-wise, more recently I’ve been really influenced by James and The Smiths.
Kian: Matt Helders and Nathan Peers are probably my biggest influences. I really like their different styles of playing and the way they approach their instruments.
George: Mani from The Stone Roses. I really like his bass playing and the way he fits into the songs.
Jack: My biggest inspirations as a lead guitarist are George Harrison, David Gilmour and Alex Turner because of their melodic, expressive playing and the way they use guitar to complement the vocals and create memorable parts.
7. What are your ambitions for Stonefold over the next year?
We’ve done a fair few gigs recently, so we’re going to take a bit of time to work on the music and hopefully write a few more tunes. We’ve also been thinking about releasing a new single, but we just can’t decide which one yet.
8. What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a band so far?
I’d say our biggest challenge was adapting as a band with a new drummer. Kian had only been with us for a couple of months when we had our first headline gig the month after he joined, so he had to learn 16 songs for it. Kian did an amazing job learning everything in such a short amount of time, and I think it actually brought us together as a band.
9. What would you say to someone who hasn’t heard Stonefold before, and why should they come and see you live?
We’re just four lads with the same haircut who want to put on a show. More than anything, we want to impress people. We love putting on a proper show and bringing our unique sound to a live setting, and I think our live performances definitely show that.
10. What’s next for Stonefold, and where can people keep up with you?
You can keep up with us on our socials, @stonefold.band. We’re always doing shows around Liverpool and Manchester, but for the next few months we’re going to focus on working on our music and hopefully getting a few tunes released. That’s the main goal for us at the minute.
To follow more on Big Condo Records you can get them on social media @bigcondorecords
