About Step Ladder Records

Step Ladder Records is a queer-owned Event/Promotion Label based in Manchester.

We love crafting an accessible space to engage with experimental & expressive art forms, along with platforming music for the love of community, dance and creativity.

At our ‘Step Ladder Presents’ gigs, we showcase the top pics of jazz, funk, psych, electronic, folk, punk and pop from the North-West and beyond. If you fancy getting involved in our spoken word to jazz improvisation nights, look out for our ‘Odd Sounds’ events!

What’s Important To Us?

Any feedback on how we can improve our events to better align with our values is much appreciated. Drop us an email and let us know how we are doing!

  • We maintain a zero tolerance policy towards coercive behaviour, violence, and any form of discrimination towards a person’s identity/protected characteristics such as racism, sexism, queer phobia, transphobia, ableism. Effectively - we aim to create a loving community space which nurtures self expression, allowing people of all backgrounds to feel safe and comfortable.

    If you ever feel unsafe or experience any of the above, don’t hesitate to let the door or bar staff know.

  • Along with hosting our own activism-centred events, we encourage artists to use our events as a space for peaceful activism.

    • Artists and collaborators are given full transparency with event income and expenditure to ensure they are being paid fairly in relation to other stakeholders in the project.

    • Artists and collaborators given non-discriminatory payment.

    • ‘Pay as you feel’ ticketing is common place in our gigs, as we believe the arts are for everyone - regardless of income.

    • ‘Pay as you feel’ ticketing gives you (the ticket holder) the opportunity to further support independent artists, organisers and venues. Through taking more ownership over your ability to support local gigs (not just ours), positive change can be made at a time where indepents are struggling more than ever, and grassroots venues are closing down rapidly (see the Music Venue Trust for more details).

    • Our ‘Pay as you feel’ events are still held to a low and affordable minimum ticket price to ensure fair pay for all artists and collaborators. (E.g. £2-3)

    • If you are not able to able to afford a ticket to a Step Ladder Records event that doesn’t use the ‘pay as you feel’ scheme, but you really want to come along - please drop us an email! We would still love to have you along.