With a roster so diverse it literally defies categorization-one which places local prog-rock kings Dreadnaught shoulder to shoulder with Lord of the Strings' pubescent acoustic punk-the efforts of Red Fez Records might one day be looked at anthropologically, as a cross-section of the turn-of-the-century local music scene. This seems ever more likely with each new release. For example, between now and the end of June, the Seabrook-based imprint is scheduled to release a round of albums by a group of artists who share, as a whole, little more than geography. Just recently Red Fez put out young singer-songwriter (and Red Fez intern) Tess Walsh's debut album Out of the Blue. Coming out this week is another first album, Concealer, by the hardcore- and emo-influenced Adria. Following on May 3 the label will release sophomore albums by two (stylistically different) rock bands, The Screen (Antitrust) and Mr. Vertigo (Fear of Heights). And finally, on June 14, roots rockers Tractor Trailer will drop Fourth of July, their second album for Red Fez.

It was mentioned in this column some months back that The Hotel Alexis members Sid Lindner and Nate Groth were partnering to form Broken Sparrow Records. Plans have long been in the works to officially release sometime this summer The Shining Example is Lying on the Floor, The Hotel Alexis' first album. Recently Groth reported that this summer the label will also be putting out Doctor Won't You Get Us to Dawn, the third album by Testface, a band out of Eugene, Ore. Groth describes the music as "folky and lo-fi, but sprinkled with all sorts of weird atmospheres, field recordings and unusual instrumentation." As it happens Testface (Dave Snider) and Lindner are old friends, having met in college and played in a band called Swollenshut, which, according to the Testface Web site, "played indie music to kids in northern New England who had never heard anything stranger than Pearl Jam."

Surely your band/label/musical project is as newsworthy as the ones above. Don't be so darn shy, OK? Let us know what you're doing so that we can write about it (and you can see your name in print). Send materials to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it and CDs to The Wire, 10 Vaughan Mall, Suite 1, Portsmouth, NH, 03801.