Welcome
Are you ready for something new? Do you have trouble finding music that is as exciting as it is strange? PopFree Records is here to help.
Our goal is to promote music for all listeners, serious and casual, who are looking for something different in their music. At PopFree, outside the mainstream is just a start. We've redefined the word eclectic. If you spend any time in music clubs, or like to browse the dark corners of the web, you know that there is a lot of great music out there that isn't getting enough attention. In most areas of endeavor, not just the arts, the creative visionaries have been discovered not in the mainstream, but out on the fringes. We think that's where the action is, and so do a lot of music fans. The good news is that in the new media environment, the fringe stuff is getting more exposure, and other established forms overlooked in the recent past, like jazz, are enjoying a renaissance. And it's all out there waiting for you on the web, if you know where to look - like here, for instance. We think we have some talent, and we're always looking for more. We hope to share the best of it all with you right here.
Please check out our artists' work, and if you like it, buy it! That's the surest way to keep the good stuff coming.
get the goods here:
Chris Beuscher & Mark Zamcheck
Frank Taylor
Zéu Lobo
Bob Greene
News
December 2016
Our trip to Cuba over Christmas was a revelation, to say the least! Highlights included the 32nd International Cuban Jazz Festival, where we saw amazing artists from Cuba and all over the world at a variety of venues around Havana. We also saw a concert by our good friend and host, Amanda Palmer, at the indescribable venue, Fabrica de Arte. We were also invited to participate in her video Christmas card from Havana - see it HERE. We also came back with a fistful of CD's of local artists to check out for potential partnerships. A full blog post on this amazing experience will follow ater we've had time to digest it all, and when the rum wears off.
October 2016
PopFree announces a discovery trip to Cuba late this year to meet with artists and help promote the music of this global cultural treasure. Stay tuned!
September 2016
Great show for the CB's at the House of Blues in Boston!
December 2015
PoPFree is moving headquarters to downtown Boston - in the lovely South End, a cultural aplayground. Should make scouting for new artists a little easier.
August 2015
Gigs comiing up for the Bastards this month and into the Fall - check out listings at www.charmingbastardsband.com
March 2015
So, the CB's front guy sliced his hand open with a chef's knife in December. ARRGGGHH! Now, after reconstructive surgery and rehab, he's back, and the videos are done, and up on our Youtube channel! We're getting lots of views, and getting ready to do some shows this Spring, if we can manage to stay out of the hospital long enough ... We'll keep you posted. Meanwhile check out the vids here!
November 2014
After a few shows this Fall, Charming Bastards went into the studio at John Weston's legendary facility, Futura Productions. We did a video shoot of the session with Chris Thomas of Strewnshank Productions in Charlestown. Great team of amazing professionals. They should be able to make even us look and sound good! Post-production begins in December.
July , 2014
The PopFree founder and fearless leader, yours truly, has started a new band, Charming Bastards, with fellow rockers Herb Boers and Scott Stephenson. The three of us have been playing together in various bands for thirty years. We recruited Allen Oliver, a VERY talented harmonica player, to round out the foursome. In this project we want to play songs by other artists which are rarely covered, in some cases never, and put our own mark on them. Sort of a harder rock version of what Bonnie Raitt has done so amazingly in her career. Our debut show was in Orleans, MA on the 18th. A good start for what we think will be a great band. Watch for us on PopFree Records' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHW0jV6S358LJ5wX9ZXbzKQ
November 2013
The progress of Zeu's new release has been delayed indefinitely, largely due to some very difficult persoan circumstances in Zeu's life in Brazil. All of our kindest thoughts are with him and his family, and we're doing what we can to support him.
March 31, 2013
Zéu Lobo is well into the recording of his next album in Salvador, Brazil. This disc will feature original compositions by Zéu. Chris plans to go to Brazil in May to assist with production and plan release promotions locally. We hope to be previewing tracks here on the site by June. Stay tuned...
February 16, 2013
The Grammys were a great celebration of music. Lots of great new artists challenging musical stereotypes - just what we at PopFree like to see. Congratulations to Mumford & Sons, Gotye, and all the other great performers who got our vote, and won!
November 9, 2012
PopFree has joined NARAS. We are now members of the Producers and Engineers wing of the Recording Academy, New York chapter. As such, we can network with other Academy members and get exposure to this huge community of talented artists, writers and producers. Next stop, the Grammys in February.
October 15, 2012
Voila! Our new website. Nothing fancy or grandiose, just the goods presented efficently, and, we hope you'll agree, with some style. Look around, and then send us your thoughts.
September 2012
PopFree will be rolling out a new look on our website in early October, featuring enhanced audio, and support for mobile browsers. We hope this little facelift will improve your experience at PopFree. Watch for the new site soon, and let us know what you think.
June 2012
This month PopFree has several new releases, made available on major music portals in the U.S. and Europe with the help of our partners at BFM Digital. This is an exciting and diverse collection of works which will further our mission to bring under-appreciated musical treasures to the forefront of the music scene. Check them out on our artist pages, and download them at Itunes, Amazon, Emusic and Rhapsody.
March 2012
PopFree Records is proud to announce the acquisition of two recordings by the late Frank Taylor, renowned classical organist and student of Melville Smith. The first release, featuring the work of 17th century composers Pierre Dumage and Jean-Francois Dandrieu, is scheduled for June. The second, a double album of the complete works of 17th century French composer Louis Marchand, is slated for early 2013. All of these recordings were made on the Charles Fisk organ at historical Old West Church, Boston, Massachusetts.