Locally Grown: Limited Fanfare Records
"The music I release is exactly what Miami is not known for – but still elegantly pumps out anyways."
In little over a year, upstart Miami label Limited Fanfare Records has gained notoriety by releasing astounding records from Miami bands such as scuzzy surf rockers Lil’ Daggers and noted national bands like Nashville-by-way-of Los Angeles garage rock revivalist The Ettes. Refreshingly, the label’s modus operandi is one of cultivation rather than a emphasis on instant results. The label’s founder, Brian Kurtz, brings forth a non-conventional method of offering band’s support and encouragement rather than a shortsighted approach for instant success.
Kurtz began his career in the music industry while attending high school by promoting friends’ bands and helping them book shows. After spending 15 years as an artist manager and booking agent, Kurtz grew frustrated with music labels’ lack of communication and support toward the bands he represented. “When the lines of communication become crossed or non-existent with your label, that's a huge problem," says Kurtz. "Most labels are hot on you when your album is about to come out and are real quick to drop you when times get rough.”
It was out of this frustration that Kurtz set out to start a label on his own terms. In late 2010 Kurtz begat Limited Fanfare Records, a label he states, is an “artist-friendly solution to the traditional record label way of doing things.”
Much like Miami itself, Kurtz sees Limited Fanfare as a melting pot — of the rock 'n' roll variety. “It's very similar to what Miami is in a cultural sense, however the music I release is exactly what Miami is not known for – but still elegantly pumps out anyways,” says Kurtz about the eclectic batch of bands on his start up.
On tap for this summer, Limited Fanfare will be releasing Athens, Greece shoe gaze post-punk band Zebra Tracks' nine-song LP Collective Guilt, an unreleased 2004 EP from old-school Miami emo act Sunday Driver and Mike Marsh’s (former drummer for Dashboard Confessional,) project called PAPER.
With some many promising releasing in the pipeline, does Limited Fanfare stand a chance as one day being regarded as Miami’s answer to prominent Seattle label Sub Pop? “Yes and No,” Kurtz shrugs. “While no label can ever recreate what Sub Pop did for Seattle, the Northwest scene (and the world for that matter), I can imagine taking aim at something that I think has been missing for many years in South Florida; A reputable rock and roll label that has the ability to reach people everywhere.”
