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After nearly 10 years of operation, the famed Arlington, Va.,-based indie rock label Simple Machines is shutting down on March 30.|
According to a statement on the label's official website, founders Kristin Thomson and Jenny Toomey felt "ready to do something else" after devoting tremendous time and energy to the label, renowned for its idealism and encouragement of DIY ethics, and wanted to "close on a high note."
To celebrate the closure of their project, Thomson and Toomey organized a three-day festival at The Black Cat, an all-ages club in nearby Washington, D.C. The sold-out event, which concludes Sunday, will feature dozens of local and national bands, many of whom worked with Simple Machines. A huge sale of Simple Machines releases and a showcase of art, photos, and films by artists affiliated with the label, will accompany the festival.
Saturday night will include performances by Superchunk, Versus, Grenadine, Holland and Sea Tiger, among others, while on Sunday Rocket From the Crypt, Pitchblend, Scrawl and Thomson and Toomey's own band, Tsunami, will be featured.
Simple Machines will continue to fill mail orders until June 1. Plans are being made to continue distribution of their catalogue and to find homes for bands left without a label.