A MUSICIAN and promoter from Bury St Edmunds has set up his own independent label – believed to be the only one in the town – for East Anglian bands.

Seymour Quigley, who was in a band called Miss Black America which had the support of radio presenter John Peel, has launched Sturm Und Drang Recordings to release records by old and new bands in the region he loves.

Mr Quigley, who puts live music nights on at the Hunter Club in Bury under the banner Washing Machine, spoke of a growing live music scene in the town, adding it was only a matter of time before one of the local bands does “something big”.

The 35-year-old, who is currently in a band called Horse Party, said: “It’s only a matter of time before one of our local bands can fill out the Apex, before someone will cross over and get picked up and do something big. It’s that kind of scene which is starting to propel itself.”

Mr Quigley, who has been in bands since he was 12, said there must be between 40 to 50 Bury-based acts, including singer-songwriters who are gigging on a regular basis.

“The more gigs I have put on the more bands have appeared,” he said. “A lot of the time bands don’t bother forming or they do but don’t tell anyone they exist because they don’t see the point.”

He added: “Bands have started seeking us out and asking us for gigs. We have had bands from Europe get in touch. The whole point of the Hunter Club nights is it’s got to be about local bands first and foremost.”

Mr Quigley, who is studying for a music production degree at University Campus Suffolk and works part-time in Bury Bowl in the town, said the plan for the label was to have two releases a month: a re-release and new music.

He said: “There are lots of local bands who were around years ago, but you cannot get their stuff anywhere. Initially I wanted the label to do re-releases, but there are so many new bands coming along.”

Mr Quigley said the label was thrilled to announce it will be giving the debut EP and LP by Jacob’s Mouse their “long-overdue” worldwide digital release on Monday.

He said Jacob’s Mouse were a three-piece indie-rock band from Bury St Edmunds, formed in the late 1980s and signed to London-based Wiiija Records.

He said they toured with some of the “biggest bands of the time,” including Manic Street Preachers, Suede and Nirvana.

“Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain name-checked them as one of his favourite bands, and John Peel championed them throughout their six-year career,” he said.

Mr Quigley, who is on the committee for BurySOUND, which showcases local, young bands and musicians, said the competition was being re-launched this year, adding the aim is for it to become a big event once again.

“I think BurySOUND will make a huge difference as well,” he said.

Visit Sturm Und Drang Recordings and Washing Machine on Facebook.