Goosefair (30th Anniversary Edition)

China Drum are an alternative indie band with a punk ethos, who started in a small village in the north of England. 

The early years of China Drum are now just a blur of confused memories – vague recollections of highway service stations and trying to sleep in the back of a VW camper with a broken heater. In 1993, all that changed when a self-financed single “Simple”, all 555 copies of which (thanks to enthusiastic support from BBC’s John Peel and Steve Lamacq) were quickly snapped up. This was followed by a UK and European tour with Green Day who were early champions of the band.

Despite these triumphs, it wasn’t until 1995 that China Drum really began to make a larger impression. They released another single, toured with Supergrass and Ash, opened the main stage at the Reading Festival, headlined a massive UK/EU tour and toured in the US. 

They signed with Beggars label Mantra, who released their debut album Goosefair 30 years ago in 1996. The NME called it “a triumphant, compelling, irresistible debut” and the BBC’s Steve Lamacq proclaimed them “the best new band in Britain.” Recent remembrances of the album have called it a “hidden gem” and a “pop-punk classic”. 

They renamed themselves The Drum in 1999 and disbanded in 2000. In 2013, the band reformed with their original name and still perform live. 

We are happy to celebrate 30 years of this underrated gem with this very limited-edition pressing of Goosefair. Pressed on black & white splattered vinyl, this edition is available NOW from our webstore and Bandcamp, and at the band’s upcoming shows while supplies last.