Spare Dog Records is a Bristol based record label which releases and promotes music from Malawi, a small country in Central Southern Africa. We work with our sister project out in Malawi, Moto Wambili Studios, to record a range of original contemporary music from talented artists, in a place where professional recording studios are scarce.
About Spare Dog Records
Nowhere Els To Go
Michael’s wonderful 2015 album ‘Nowhere Else To Go’ is finally back and available online (Spotify, iTunes etc etc) It was down for a while due to changing digital distributor and we also decided to take the opportunity to give it a bit of a re-master. The bulk of the album is recorded live in Nkhata Bay, Malawi, in 2014, and it’s a collection of absolutely beautiful songs of life and strife in rural Malawi. Favourite track: Working With My Tools. Click the image to check it out!
Gasper Nali’s 2022 Thank Yous!
Gasper Nali 2023 shaping up!
Gasper Nali is coming back to the UK in July 2023 and the first confirmed event is the wonderful festival Altitude Devon. We can’t wait!
Gasper Nali 2022 Tour
After 2 years of cancelled tours, Gasper Nali will once again grace Benelux and the UK by his presence, his one-of-a-kind Babatoni instrument and undeniably magic afro-beats. Your feet will be possessed. Here are the dates so far:
1 July DTRH, Ewijk, NL
2 July Afrikafestival, Hertme, NL
3 July Afrikafestival, Hertme, NL
8 July Terras of Theatres, Tilburg, NL
9 July Over ‘t IJ, Amsterdam, NL
10 July 4AD, Diksmuide, BE
16 July Busk in London, London, UK
17 July Beat-Hearder, Clithero, UK
20 July Earthship, Brighton, UK
21 July St Georges, Bristol, UK
22 July LeaOrganic, London, UK
23 July EFEx, Manchester, UK
24 July Promised Land, Sheffield, UK
29 July Deer Shed, Yorkshire, UK
30 July Cambridge Folk, Cambridge, UK
31 July Camp Bestival, Dorset, UK
2 Aug Olympic Park, London, UK
5 Aug Green Gathering, Chepstow, UK
6 Aug Wilderness, Oxfordshire, UK
10 Aug Boomtown Fair, Hampshire, UK
12 Aug Square & Compass, Swanage, UK
13 Aug Art in the Park, Leamington Spa, UK
14 Aug Head Out Not Home, Norwich, UK
16 Aug The Canteen, Bristol, UK
19 Aug Weston-Super-Mare, UK
20 Aug Purbeck Folk, Purbeck, UK
21 Aug Camp Bestival, Shropshire, UK
23 Aug All Points East, London, UK
28 Aug Shambala Festival, Northants, UK
Presenting: Probably Stereo Club
Introducing the first proper episode of Probably Stereo Club – a new YouTube series where we get into everything and anything having to do with what Spare Dog Record does; Malawian music, the artists, recording sessions, live touring, Malawian culture, as well as general studio nerdery.
This video is an introduction to Michael Mountain: Singer/songwriter, tobacco farmer, Rastafarian, from far up in the remote hills of the Nkhata Bay region in Malawi.
Short Bio: https://www.sparedogrecords.com/micha…
Previously released music: https://michaelmountain.bandcamp.com
(C) & (P) 2022 Spare Dog Records www.sparedogrecords.com
Two Big Elephants – Teaser
Michael Mountain – Two Big Elephants: when the corrupt politicians fight for power, they are like two big elephants trampling the grass (and as Michael puts it: “we, the grass, keep on suffering”)
The recording of Michael Mountain’s upcoming album has been shaped by the pandemic in many ways – Michael is in Malawi; drums recorded in Jamaica; backing vocals in Sweden; and here am I in Bristol, UK, adding a guitar track to this energetic little masterpiece.
We plan to release the album later this year, a blend of Reggae, Ska and Singer/Songwriter. If you want to hear Michael’s previous work, have a listen over here: https://michaelmountain.bandcamp.com