The Latest from Mississippi:

❂ NEW RELEASE “Old Joy” Soundtrack by Yo La Tengo
Listen / Pre-Order

❂ NEW RELEASE “Nat-Ural” by Ural Thomas !!!
Listen / Pre-Order

❂ UPDATED Community Supported Record (CSR) Program!!!

❂ WEBSITE SALE

❂ NEW Mississippi Shirts and Hats!

❂ MISSISSIPPI X NTS RADIO 2025 Residency

❂ EVENTS in New York, Portland, and beyond…

❂ * today is Bandcamp Friday!!! *

Dear friends, 

This week, the great Kankawa Nagarra won Australia’s top music prize (and a big ‘ol check) for her Mississippi/Flippin’ Yeah album ‘Wirlmarni.’ Incredible news!!!! A brief moment of justice in an upside down world, coming shortly after Australians refused to reckon with their colonial past/present and rejected the Voice Referendum.

Papers around the world fixated on an 80-year-old Aboriginal woman beating Nick Cave (ha!) on her “debut” album, ignoring the fact that she has been creating vital music for her community and family for decades. 

But not to worry - so many of the great artists we know take a long, cosmic view of time. In her acceptance speech, Kankawa thanked her little Greats - the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren she’s brought up. She calls them her Future Ancestors, and acknowledges them as her leaders and parents. As usual, Kankawa spoke on a vast, generous, multi-generational scale. 

It’s loud out there, but these are the voices, relationships, and timelines that will get us through. Kankawa's voice - on family, lineage, environmental justice, and the straight up blues - gives me hope. 80 years on the planet, full of wisdom and grace, brilliant artistry and kindness.

We’re grateful to Kankawa for trusting us with her music, and to you for continuing to lend an ear and making it possible to create these documents for our Future Ancestors to hear. The rest of the world will catch up when they can! 

The NUMBER ONE way you can support Mississippi and our continued mission is to join our Community Supported Record program!! We’ve just made it easier than ever to be a part of it. You get all our records at a discount as they’re released, plus special gifts. Your contribution goes directly to paying for pressing costs and sending advance royalties to artists and their families. PLUS it’s a great last-minute gift! Please check it out here and keep us going for another weird year. 

And, not to bury the lede, but we’re announcing a new-to-vinyl soundtrack project by Yo La Tengo and a (deservedly) super-deluxe compilation celebrating Ural Thomas for his 85th birthday, plus a massive live show in Portland. There’s new merch and gift cards on the site and a big sale on some of our all-time favorite records. Please order soon - to ensure we get your records to you in time for the holidays, online orders must be made by next Friday, December 13!

All love from both sides of the river,

Cyrus and Mississippi Records family

Kankawa Nagarra’s acceptance speech at the AMP Awards:

I am so thrilled and proud to receive this award. Thank you so much to the AMP.

Coming from the remote community of Wangkatjungka, which in the past has been shown in a negative light with the focus on the issues and problems, people don’t often see the beautiful and positive aspects of my home. I know this award brings much pride to the people of Wangkatjungka, especially to the school and all the children who I hope to be a role model for. I dedicate this award to all my little Greats with a special mention to Tykrira Wilson who stands with me on the cover of the album. I love them all very much. They are my future ancestors.

- Kankawa Nagarra

Mississippi extends a special THANK YOU to Darren Hanlon for collaborating with us on this album. Darren’s years-long relationship with Kankawa and his loving recording process comes through in the music you hear. Listen to Wirlmarni here.

Ural Thomas plays his 85th Birthday show in Portland on December 21.

🪐 END OF THE YEAR SALE! ALL FOR $12 🪐
🌎 (Click on the image to 🛒) 🛍️

MRI-213
YO LA TENGO - OLD JOY (OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK)

KR-16
URAL THOMAS - NAT - URAL

MEDS XVI
THE GREAT UNWASHED - CLEAN OUT OF OUR MINDS

The Clean broke up (for the first time) in 1982. After a break, the Kilgour brothers pursued a new aesthetic and started recording on a 4 track at home. Poking fun at their past, they called themselves The Great Unwashed. Clean Out Of Our Minds was made in 2 months at the beginning of 1983 and released on Flying Nun Records. The Kilgour's glorious pop hooks are still at the heart of everything but supplanted with a laid-back charm and maybe some of the spirit and mystery of '60s psychedelic folk. However, rather than hippie cosplay, the vibe is more akin to fellow New Zealanders The Tall Dwarfs and/or Syd Barrett.

Beautifully remastered by Tex Houston. Vibrant 3D sound allows you to hear everything better than ever before. Housed in a Stoughton tip-on sleeve and available on vinyl for the first time in years. Don't miss out this time!

MISSISSIPPI RECORDS AT PRESS PLAY 2024
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Dec 7 + 8, 12 - 7 PM

PIONEER WORKS
159 Pioneer St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

LIVE SET “THE GOLDEN AGE IS IN US”
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
5—6 PM

We are thrilled to join this year’s lineup of PRESS PLAY, a weekend-long fair of art, books, records, and publications of all kinds, at @pioneerworks in Brooklyn, NY.

In its fifth edition, Press Play showcases 126 artists, musicians, poets, writers, and exhibitors who defy categorization. Alongside our records and wares we will present “The Golden Age Is In Us,” a DJ set that will cover a wide-ranging overview of our 20+ years in existence, featuring sounds saved from the dustbin of history.

From the folks at Press Play: Join us on December 7th and 8th for a weekend-long fair of books, records, art, ephemera, talks, and workshops. Come for new ways of reading, listening, creating, and complaining about culture. Press Play is FREE but RSVP through the link in our bio to secure your spot 💋 See you there!

A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF AMERICAN MUSIC
WEST COAST TOUR

Watch a mini trailer here

A new lecture/film/slideshow that attempts to tell the entire history of North American music in ninety minutes! Mississippi Records label and store founder Eric Isaacson will guide you through this whirlwind presentation of archival film, sound clips, and images.

Subjects include:
- Examples of industrialization devolving the human race to become dumber while other animals are getting smarter.
- The insane early American Puritan's visions of a utopian musicless society.
- How The Church Of Scientology saved the record industry.
- A brief history of Mississippi Records and details about the many chips on their shoulders.
- The dystopian world of Spotify and AI music.
- Hopeful messages about the future.

Overall, it's the story of how the powers that be try to control music and people throughout history finding ways to work outside puritans, corporations, and tech lords' systems despite these social engineers' best efforts. Don't worry, it's a fun telling of this tale with lots of great music, images, and wild stories.

TICKETS AND SCHEDULE BELOW:

12/5 - Eugene, OR - Wandering Goat - https://wanderinggoat.com/
12/6 - Sacramento, CA - Beers Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/beersbooks
12/7 - Joshua Tree, CA - Yucca Valley Materials Center - https://www.yuccavalleymaterial.org/
12/8 - Los Angeles, CA - Zebulon - https://link.dice.fm/Peoples-History-of-North-American-Music-Dec-8
12/ 10 - Santa Cruz, CA - Indexical - https://www.indexical.org/
12 /11 - Berkeley, CA - Grand Opening
12/12 - San Francisco, CA - 4 Star Theatre - https://www.4-star-movies.com/calendar
12/13 - Bolinas, CA - Bolinas Hardware - https://www.bolinashardware.com/
12/14 - Fort Bragg, CA - Larry Springs Museum - https://larryspringmuseum.org/

URAL THOMAS 85TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION 

December 21st

Revolution Hall

TICKETS HERE

An argument could be made that Ural Thomas is the coolest person ever to make Portland his home. He's been playing DIY music here for 71 years. He invented the tearaway outfit, the backwards outfit and the human hair outfit. He's been nothing but kind and generous to everyone he comes into contact with. This is THE MAN. 

It's Ural's 85th Birthday on December 21st, so a major show is in order. He and his band the Pain will be playing, along with others. Surprises will happen and good vibrations will be spread. Come celebrate the birthday of a living Soul music legend.

SWEET WREATH AND MISSISSIPPI RECORDS PRESENT
JOHNNY COLEY’S “MISTER SWEET WHISPER”

ALBUM RELEASE CELEBRATION
With Mother Harmony and Flusnoix

At Saturn (200 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222)
December 22, 8 PM
TICKETS HERE

Our dear friends at Sweet Wreath are hosting a Release Celebration at @saturnbham on December 22nd! Go see Special sets by Mother Harmony, Flusnoix, and Worst Spills with the sweet whisper of Johnny Coley! Performing pieces from Mister Sweet Whisper as well as new poems & interpretations of Johnny's writing ✨

Vinyl LPs will be available at the show! Check the stellar recent review of the album on @pitchfork written by @meaghangarvey

"We are in the unknown country of the imagination, where neither the limits of the body, nor the strictures that define America as much as any bright vision of freedom, are a match for the forces of the sublime, the ribald, and the reckless.”