Proud founders of Rough Trade Geoff and Jeannette, have hatched a plan to commemorate our 30th anniversary and in the good sprit of rock ‘n’ roll they’ve decided that five parties are better than one. You’re all invited, all you need to do is make it down to either Sheffield, London, Edinburgh, Manchester or Birmingham on one of the dates below.

Each one will feature special Rough Trade guests including our own in house legend Jarvis, who will be headlining on each occasion and giving a little talk about our history, here’s what he had to say about it all,

Jarvis Cocker:
“Strangely enough, this is also the 30th anniversary of my first involvement with making music (the first incarnation of Pulp was formed during an Economics lesson towards the end of October 1978). How could I have known then that our two destinies would become so intertwined? I’m proud to be part of these birthday celebrations – I know there’s an awful lot of Anniversary Culture out there but this is one that’s actually worth celebrating: Rough Trade has always been about discovering the new, exploring the unknown & giving a voice to those who would otherwise remain unheard. And they’re still doing it 30 years on. This is no dewy-eyed nostalgia trip – it’s an on-going revolution. Stand up & be counted! (Actually, comfortable seating IS available in most of the venues – should you require it).”

Party on Wayne!

Jarvis Cocker takes listeners on an intimate tour of Sheffield in this evocative Musical Map, creating a soundtrack of music to drive his memories, feelings and observations about his home town.

"Sheffield's my city, it's where I grew up, and although I've moved away for now, I'd like to try and show you around. Sorry if we get lost, it changes every time I come here," he says.

Jarvis recalls his childhood, listening just to conversations about love and disappointment. He introduces the music of Sheffield legends including Joe Cocker, Cabaret Voltaire, Human League and Artery, and remembers how the city came to life with music in the post-punk era.

"The Bon Bon Club are Sushi Quatro (bass, vox), Thirsty Moore (drums,vox) and Chapatti Smith (perc, vox), although Sushi and Thirsty are better known under different names for their day job as the rhythm section of Sheffield glam-popsters The Long Blondes and Chapatti also plays in Slow Down Tallahassee.

On this single The Bon Bon Club hit us with a Hulk-fist sized triple whammy (plus!) of cover versions. Rather than slow the songs down on acoustic guitar to 'show the great songwriting' like every Jo Wiley Live Lounge indie plodder, the Bon Bons strip 'em down and rip 'em up to the real essentials - the bass and drums. This is how you do it.

The covers are The Cure's "Lullaby", Pulp's "Love is Blind" and Death from Above 1979's "Romantic Rights".