Welcome to the new feature which throws the focus on our favourite dedicated rock labels. To kick things off we look at Concert Live – the home of all of your favourite live shows.

THE LOWDOWN

Concert Live specialise in delivering full live sets of your favourite bands – available on the night and through their extensive back catalogue. Highlights in the last 12 months include Bad Company’s latest UK tour and four of the biggest and best shows at the inaugural High Voltage festival.

We caught up with Concert Live chiefs to quiz them on their label now, then and in the future:

rushonrock: How did the idea of Concert Live come about and was it a difficult concept to deliver?

Concert Live: The idea came about having attended a Massive Attack concert at Brixton Academy in early 2005. As we left, we had a disagreement over what tracks had been played and in what order, and it got us thinking about re-living the gig and wanting to get our hands on a live recording. It was the seed for an idea and a vision which we felt compelled to act upon.

CL: The concept was not too hard to deliver, almost all of the technology already existed, it was more a matter of tinkering with off the shelf hardware and making it work for our purpose.

rushonrock: Is it something which artists/bands bought into immediately or did they require some convincing that this was a good idea?

CL: They still need convincing! Some artists are still being over protective of their sound in an era where the content will be out there anyway, whether or not they produce a live CD. The more progressive artists get it, the labels have slowly come around, but it is hard to break the old model and gain acceptance in a historically closed industry. We have certainly been accepted and embraced by the majority, but there is still alot of work to do to make this normal at every live gig.

rushonrock: How has the product gone down with fans at the gigs themselves?

CL: They love it, unanimously positive feedback. They would much rather pay for a high quality official live recording which they can treasure than a dodgy bootleg which sounds like it has been recorded through a sock. We generally sell to in the region of 10-20% of attendance at any concert, but it does depend on the fanbase. I think what fans love about it is the fact they can re-live their experience instantly, on their way home. It makes them feel like they never left the gig.

rushonrock: Is the back catalogue an area you will be looking to promote more heavily in the future?

CL: Yes, we recently did a distribution deal to get our live recordings out into retail across the world. It makes sense to make them available to the wider fanbase and cater for the increase in popularity of the live recordings.

rushonrock: What are your plans for the future?

CL: To record more gigs, keep innovating and expand our operation into new territories. We are working on a couple of new product developments which will be coming to market over the coming months, very exciting stuff!

rushonrock: What would be your dream Concert Live production?

CL: The Cure, The Who, Led Zep – if anyone out there can make any of these happen we’ll buy you a goat.

PICK OF THE ROSTER

Bad Company 2010

Paul Rodgers and co. returned to UK shores with a classic line-up and a brilliant back catalogue. The Wembley, Manchester and Birmingham shows were recorded in their full glory and come as a three-CD pack featuring old favourites Bad Company, Feel Like Making Love, Can’t Get Enough and more!

Terrorvision 2009

Captured live on last year’s comeback tour fans can hear Terrorvision in all of their glory from Shepherd’s Bush Empire or Manchester’s Academy. Top tracks include Oblivion, Alice What’s The Matter, Tequila and Josephine. One of Brit rock’s forgotten treasures, this lot proved they can still play.

Thunder 2009

When Thunder called time on a hit-laden career last year the band decided to go out with a bang and Concert Live captured their farewell tour in all its glory. Danny, Luke and the boys are on top four belting out the hits Dirty Love, Love Walked In and Better Man. Pick from Thunder’s Manchester, Wolverhampton or London shows.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer 2010

The comeback of ELP was one of the live events on the year and Concert Live were on hand to capture every moment of their triumphant High Voltage set. Featuring Fanfare For The Common Man, The Barbarian and Take A Pebble. Back and, quite possibly, back to their best.

Marillion 2010

Another High Voltage highlight and another shrewd pick by the Concert Live crew. With Steve Hogarth in sensational form this set packs in outstanding versions of Cover My Eyes, The Great Escape and Neverland to name but a few. If you missed this at Victoria Park there’s no need to miss out.

AND FINALLY…

All this month Concert Live have been celebrating their fifth birthday with a series of incredible offers – including CDs for a fiver and loads more.

Go to www.concertlive.co.uk now and fill your boots!