Blue Raincoat Artists has announced a new management agreement with revered British rock band Skunk Anansie

26 April 2023 - Press release

Blue Raincoat Artists, the artist management division of Blue Raincoat Music, which is part of the Reservoir group of companies, has announced a new management agreement with revered British rock band Skunk Anansie. 

Skunk Anansie joins Blue Raincoat Artists’ roster of talent, including Phoebe Bridgers, Cigarettes After Sex, Arlo Parks, Nova Twins and the Mysterines. Co-founder & CEO Jeremy Lascelles will become Skunk Anansie’s new manager in partnership with Kat Kennedy of Big Life Management, which is also part of the Reservoir group. This follows the retirement of longtime manager Leigh Johnson, who oversaw the band’s career for more than three decades. 

This new agreement reconnects Jeremy Lascelles with Skunk Anansie, whom he signed to their first music publishing agreement in 1994 while at Chrysalis Music. 

One of the first muti-racial British rock bands, Skunk Anansie have released six acclaimed studio albums to date, registering millions of sales in numerous territories around the world. On the live circuit, they have sold out arenas and headlined festivals around the continent for many a year. 

In 1999 lead singer Skin, who is acknowledged to be one of the most iconic performers of her generation, became the first black woman to headline Glastonbury Festival as Skunk Anansie delivered an iconic performance that paved the way for others. She received the Inspirational Artist Award at the Women In Music Awards in 2018, and four years later was honoured with an OBE for services to music. 

The band are currently working on tracks for a new album to be released next year and have plans to tour extensively in 2024 and 2025. 

Skunk Anansie said, “We are delighted to be signing with Jeremy at Blue Raincoat, who we have known and trusted our whole careers. We look forward to creating a bright new future with him and the clear talent that is Kat." 

Jeremy Lascelles said, “Skunk Anansie have long held a special place in my heart, both musically and as great human beings. They are also one of the best live bands you will see. Anywhere. Ever. I was lucky enough to work very closely with them in the 90’s, so it is a genuine thrill to be back with them after all these years. Despite their phenomenal success, it always bugged me that they never received proper recognition for being the trailblazers and innovators that they were. My perception is, however, that this is now changing, and many of this new generation of artists will cite how much of an inspiration they were to them. I am also delighted to have been able to bring in Kat to co-manage the band with me. She is one of the smartest, most able new managers around today.”