Pulp mark Rough Trade’s 50th anniversary with orchestral London show and MUBI film deal
The Sheffield band’s Royal Festival Hall performance highlights the enduring commercial viability of legacy catalogues as iconic independent label Rough Trade celebrates half a century in the music industry.
Pulp performed their latest album ‘More’ in full at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Saturday, headlining a special orchestral concert to mark the 50th anniversary of independent record label Rough Trade. Frontman Jarvis Cocker guided the audience through the album’s tracklist with a PowerPoint presentation, blending deep cuts with fan favourites alongside the Elysium Collective.
The event underscores the ongoing strategic value of heritage acts for historic independent labels in a shifting music economy. Pulp officially signed with Rough Trade in 2024 ahead of releasing their comeback record, a strategic move that revitalised the label’s contemporary roster. Cocker acknowledged this milestone during the show, leading the Southbank Centre crowd in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the company.
Legacy artists are increasingly leveraging unique live formats and multimedia partnerships to extend the commercial lifecycle of their work. During the performance, Cocker shared unreleased demos, including an early take of ‘A Sunset’ by Richard Hawley, and paid tribute to album producer James Ford, who was in attendance. The band also honoured late bassist Steve Mackey, recounting a recent trip to Kerlingarfjöll in Iceland to attach his tie to a mountain rock before performing the tribute b-side ‘Open Strings’.
Beyond the live circuit, the group is actively expanding its revenue streams through film and recorded media partnerships. The band recently announced a new Garth Jennings-directed film titled ‘What Do You Do For An Encore?’ in partnership with streaming platform MUBI. This cinematic release will be accompanied by a new live album, capitalising on the growing market demand for premium archival and documentary content.
The London date forms part of Pulp’s broader 2026 summer touring schedule, which is now nearing its conclusion. Upcoming headline appearances include festival shows at All Together Now in Ireland, Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park, and the End Of The Road Festival. These touring activities, combined with new media ventures, illustrate a diversified approach to sustaining a major band's economic footprint decades after their initial breakthrough, supported by a setlist featuring deep cuts like their first live performance of ‘Wickerman’ since 2011.
