Francis Macdonald began releasing indie pop/rock vinyl singles on his DIY label SHOESHINE RECORDS in the summer of 1996. The first 6 x singles - plus bonus tracks - were compiled in “Shoeshine Chartbusters”.
More singles and albums followed. Artists included Speedboat, Radio Sweethearts, BMX Bandits, Frank Blake, Alex Chilton, Astro Chimp, Cheeky Monkey, Michael Shelley, Ben Vaughn, Kim Fowley, Boa Morte, The Beauty Shop, Major Matt Mason USA, Schwervon! and Nice Man.
Shoeshine imprint SPIT & POLISH launched in 2000 with the debut album by Laura Cantrell "Not The Tremblin' Kind", described by the late, legendary DJ John Peel as "my favourite album of the last 10 years and possibly my life".
More albums followed from country, roots and folk artists such as Radio Sweethearts, John Herald, Steve Young, Tom Armstrong, Paul Burch, Amy Allison, Amy Rigby, She-Haw, Jason Ringenberg, Tom Clelland, Karine Polwart, Emily Smith and Scots Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis.
In 2017 Shoeshine released ‘art pop’ offering Francis Macdonald & Harry Pye “Bonjour” (“Odd but good” **** Mojo).
Shoeshine imprint TR7 launched with Francis Macdonald’s “Music for String Quartet, Piano & Celeste” in 2015 (“Sublime” -Classic FM)
