Kevin Donoghue had been central to Sheffield’s independent music scene since punk – and eventually committed to his own label Native Records in 1985. Signings weren’t restricted to local acts – indeed, Native’s most successful act were The Darling Buds from South Wales, who enjoyed indie hits with ‘Shame On You’ and ‘It’s All Up To You’. The label adopted a broad musical policy across its lifespan, from electronica and indie pop to industrial rock and dance. Other notable Native acts included Sheffield’s own Treebound Story, featuring guitarist Richard Hawley, They Must Be Russians, Junk, The Emotionals, Screaming Trees (the UK version!), shoegazers Smashing Orange and Raintree County from Manchester.
