The Beechfields Record Label is an independent

Independent record label

An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...

 not-for-profit musician's cooperative record label from Baltimore, Maryland-noted for an artist-centered approach to releasing records.

The philosophy that defines the The Beechfields was developed by Michael Nestor at The University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2000 and the label was officially started in Baltimore in 2003 while Nestor was at The University of Maryland,School of Medicine

University of Maryland, Baltimore

University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...

.

The Beechfields was designed as a reaction to the suppression of underground music by both major and independent labels. The musical and artistic outlook of the label was based on Virginia label Simple Machines

Simple Machines

Simple Machines was a record label that operated out of Arlington, Virginia. The label was masterminded by Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson and, at its peak, had four paid workers- Toomey, Thomson, Pat Graham and Mickey Menard...

 founded by Jenny Toomey

Jenny Toomey

Jenny Toomey is an American indie rock musician and arts activist from Chevy Chase, Maryland, and later, Washington, D.C. She was a member of the bands Geek, Tsunami, Liquorice, Grenadine, So Low and Choke, among others, and has also recorded under her own name...

. In 2004, Michael Nestor was joined by local Baltimore musician Austin Stahl and both Nestor and Stahl produced, or played on the majority of the label's early releases.

Originally centering on music traditionally categorized as lo-fi indie pop, in 2005 The Beechfields began releasing well produced indie records by bands like Private Eleanor and The Seldon Plan

The Seldon Plan

The Seldon Plan is a post-rock pop band from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It consists of Michael Nestor on guitars, keyboards and vocals and David Hirner on bass. Since 2008, Nestor and Hirner have used a rotating core of fill-in musicians to put out records...

 which gained the label local and national notoriety. The Beechfields used that new platform to extend from just releasing quality music to teaching musicians how to produce and assemble quality records on their own. Michael Nestor has given a number of lectures and symposia on starting an artist-centered approach to releasing records. The label does work with bands outside of Maryland, but has preferred to keep a strong Baltimore-centered identity, mostly supporting that music scene.

Current bands

• Among Wolves
• E. Joseph and the Phantom Heart
• Gary B & The Notions
• The Honest Mistakes
• Infinite Honey
• The Jennifers
• Jason Dove
• Mike Pursley
• Red Sammy
• The Seldon Plan
  The Seldon Plan
  The Seldon Plan is a post-rock pop band from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It consists of Michael Nestor on guitars, keyboards and vocals and David Hirner on bass. Since 2008, Nestor and Hirner have used a rotating core of fill-in musicians to put out records...
  
  
• The Stalking Horses
• We Read Minds
• Silent Whys

Beechfields Alumni (previous bands)

• The Aidenn Trilogy
• Atone
• Brother John
• A Cat Called Cricket
• The Chris and Joylene Show
• Isinglass
• Masters of the Universe
• Danny Pruitt
• Pupa's Window
  Pupa's Window
  Pupa's Window is a United States east-coast low-fi musical act. A pseudonym for Michael Nestor, currently a neuroscience Ph.D., and a member of The Seldon Plan Pupa's Window was formed in 1995 as a way to document recording processes and has released over 18 home-recorded records, some of which...
  
  
• Small Sur
• Private Eleanor
• The Red Vines