Jarrah Records


Jarrah Records is an independent Australian record label which releases material by Western Australian-formed bands, John Butler Trio and The Waifs, and their members. In July 2002 the label was founded and co-owned by John Butler; The Waifs' members Josh Cunningham, Donna Simpson, and her sister Vikki Thorn; and the artists' common manager, Philip Stevens. Initially it was established to handle their releases for the territory of the United States by 2003 it expanded.

History

Jarrah Records' founders are John Butler ; The Waifs' band members Josh Cunningham, Donna Simpson, and her sister Vikki Thorn; and the artists' common manager, Philip Stevens. The label was established in Fremantle in July 2002, initially, to release John Butler Trio and The Waif's material into the United States market. The Waifs had formed in 1992 as a folk rock band in Albany by Cunningham, Simpson and Thorn. Butler initially performed as a busker in Fremantle in mid-1996. Since the mid-1980s Stevens was involved in the local music scene, he became a music promoter and by 1996 was the owner of Mojo's Bar in North Fremantle. In 1998 Stevens gave Butler a regular Tuesday night gig at his venue and soon became the artist's manager. Also that year Butler formed his trio as a roots and jam band. In 2001 The Waifs hired Stevens as their manager. In the following year both groups were due to tour the US and wanted to release material into that market on their own independent label.
Jarrah Records re-issued The Waifs third studio album, Sink or Swim, into the US – it had appeared in Australia in June 2000. The group's first new work for Jarrah was a five-track extended play, London Still, released in July 2002, which reached the top 50 on the ARIA Singles Chart. In October London Still received two nominations at the ARIA Music Awards of 2002 for 'Best Independent Release' and 'Breakthrough Artist – Single'. In February the following year John Butler Trio issued a 2× CD live album, Living 2001–2002, on the label for the Australian market. It peaked at No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart. According to The Ages Patrick Donovan by March 2004 John Butler Trio and The Waifs had "proved that mainstream airplay and huge sales are not reliant on the backing of a big record company". The label continued to issue work by both acts, including subsequent solo material from Butler and Cunningham.