Blood Red Shoes

Lore & Background

Blood Red Shoes emerged in late 2004 following the disbandment of Steven Ansell's Cat on Form and Laura-Mary Carter's Lady Muck. The band's name was inspired by a Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire musical, in which Rogers famously bled into her white dancing shoes during intense rehearsals. Their debut single, 'Victory for the Magpie', was released on 18 July 2005, followed by a string of 7" records in 2006 through independent labels including Try Harder Records, XL Recordings, and Drowned in Sound. After performing more than 300 live shows across the United Kingdom, they signed with V2 Records and released the singles 'It’s Getting Boring by the Sea' on 11 June 2007 and 'I Wish I Was Someone Better' on 29 October 2007. A singles compilation album titled I’ll Be Your Eyes was issued on 22 June 2007.

The band's debut album Box of Secrets was released on Mercury Records/Universal on 14 April 2008, after being leaked to private torrent trackers in November 2007. Their second album Fire Like This was released on 1 March 2010, and the song 'It's Getting Boring by the Sea' was featured in the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Their third album In Time to Voices was released on 26 March 2012, followed by a self-titled album on 3 March 2014, which was entirely self-produced and engineered by the band in Berlin. Their fifth album Get Tragic was preceded by a digital-only rarities compilation called Tied at the Wrist on 27 November 2015, and their sixth album Ghosts on Tape was released in 2022.

Reader's Guide

Blood Red Shoes have maintained a consistent presence in the alternative rock scene since their formation in 2004, known for their energetic live performances and a series of albums that evolved from raw guitar-driven rock to more ambitious, self-produced work. Their founding of the independent label Jazz Life in 2014 allowed them to release their own music and support other artists, including Tigercub, Raketkanon, and Our Girl. The band's music has appeared in films and television, such as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Misfits, and CSI: NY, broadening their reach beyond the UK. Their willingness to experiment with recording and release strategies—such as hiding QR codes in ten cities to unlock a single—demonstrates an adaptive approach to the changing music industry. While not a household name, their six albums and steady output of EPs and singles have earned them a dedicated following and a place in the landscape of 21st-century British alternative rock.

Did You Know?

• The band's name was inspired by a Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire musical, in which Rogers bled into her white dancing shoes during rehearsals.
• Their debut album Box of Secrets was leaked to private torrent trackers several months before its retail release date in 2008.
• Laura-Mary Carter has designed the record sleeve for every release by the band.
• The song 'It's Getting Boring by the Sea' was featured in the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World after director Edgar Wright saw the band live.