If you've read The Rockford Filesfrequently, you've read several times about local record company Maurice the Fish Records. Founded in 2007, Maurice the Fish Records has a variety of goals, including providing its artists with, as its hype proclaims, "a platform in which they can maintain creative control of their music/vision and attain higher visibility in a highly competitive market."

The label began as a way to promote a branch of the FISH Food Banks of Pierce County, an organization that last year helped ensure that the nutritional needs of more than 140,000 families experiencing financial struggles were met. In 2012, I attended its 6th annual Fish Food Benefit concert, an event at which local artists perform and help raise money for the food bank. As always, the community really pulled through. The event, held at Louie G's Pizzeria in Fife, raised enough money to help feed thousands of individuals in the South Sound.

The record label is continuing to do great work in our community. Many artists previously mentioned in The Rockford Files are still going strong with the label and continue to perform in the South Sound. But some new developments have come about since my last update on Maurice the Fish Records.

Tacoma band Strangely Alright, a new musical endeavor by local music scene veteran Regan Lane, has recently become a member of the label. The band's freshman release, The Time Machine Is Broken, had a great reception in the local scene earlier this year. Now proud members of the label, it is more important than ever to keep tabs on this fantastic group.

Saturday, Oct. 19, the band has a show at The Hard Rock Café in Seattle. The CEO of Maurice the Fish Records and another of the label's artists, Raymond Haden, will join them. Also taking the stage that evening will be "Fish-pick" Nolan Garrett.

Another artist, Celia Jane, has also become an honorary fish and is now a part of the label. Jane's debut album, Hear Me, was released in April of this year and includes her own brand of acoustic pop. Released shortly after her 17th birthday, the album's title track is a simple, straightforward expression of youthful assertions and frustrations. Other tracks such as the upbeat "Walkin' The Line"show that her talent is in no way limited to just one style. Though she has no performances currently scheduled, keep an ear to the ground for news regarding this up-and-coming young artist.

As you can see, things are going strong for one of the Northwest's crown jewel record labels. With two great new artists recently becoming part of the Maurice the Fish Records family, things will only improve from here. I'm sure if you keep up with The Rockford Files, much more MTFR news will be coming shortly.