A LITTLE over 10 years ago, on June 14, 2008, Edinburgh label Song, By Toad presented its launch gig. Illustrated by a scene from The Wind in the Willows, a charming poster promised sets from Celebrity Chimp, Meursault and The Byrons and “music and cavorting until 1am”.

A sampler featuring some of the artists on the fledging imprint would be given away on entry.

“We’ll only make 20 or so,” warned the poster blurb, “so don’t winge if you’re late.”

“I was having to make the samplers up by hand,” remembers Matthew Young, who started the label as an extension of his music blog.

Back in the mid-2000s, Young found that many of the artists impressing him live in Edinburgh were underexposed and under-appreciated. Named after a line in Kenneth Grahame’s evergreen classic, Song, By Toad would go on to change that dramatically. The label’s launch gig was held at The Meridian, then a notoriously rough boozer.

“Apparently it was the pub which got most police call-outs than any other,” says Young. “I had no idea. The launch was brilliant; absolutely stowed out and sweaty and everything a gig like that should be.”

The Meridian is now the Leith Depot, a much-loved, thriving venue and practice space for many of the city’s musicians.

On September 28, Song, By Toad return there for a 10th anniversary gig celebrating the origins of the label. Faith Eliott, Jamie Sutherland, Emily Scott and eagleowl will play the venue, which is threatened by demolition to make way for student flats.

Now part of highly acclaimed supergroup Modern Studies, Scott was one of the first artists to impress Young. He first saw her playing an open mic night back in 2005.

“Although a lot of people think my professional relationship with Emily goes back to the Modern Studies thing, it actually went back to that first open mic night, so she’s perfect for this gig,” he explains.

As well as Faith Eliott, an artist who featured on the first Song, By Toad release, and mainstays of the Edinburgh indie scene eagleowl, the anniversary gig will feature Jamie Sutherland from Broken Records. Currently stepping out under their own steam after a long relationship with veteran indie label 4ad, Broken Records may have never released anything on Song, By Toad but they were integral to the label’s establishment.

“I first saw Broken Records when I’d been going to see Jonnie Common at the T Break heats, back when Jonnie was in the band Down the Tiny Steps,” says Young. “Broken Records were on first and I was blown away, they were so good. Gee whizz.

He adds: “I went to see them loads, sometimes as one of five people watching, sometimes as one of a couple of hundred. We became pals with them. Me and my wife were sitting in a pub with them one night and said, ‘Look, if you can’t get signed by the time I get my Christmas bonus, we will release your record.’”

Though Broken Records were soon snapped up by 4ad, Young and his wife decided to start the label anyway – they’d already prepared the groundwork to remain true to their offer if needed.

Ahead of the Leith Depot gig will be an “Anniversary Rammy” on September 15 held at Inshriach House, Aviemore, where the label recorded a split release in 2014 with David Thomas Broughton, Sparrow and the Workshop, Siobhan Wilson and Jonnie Common.

Common will perform at the rammy, as will Eliott, Breakfast Muff, Lush Purr, Adam Stafford, Samantha Crain and Pictish Trail.

“That gig is really ‘Song, By Toad and Friends’,” says Young. “Through doing the blog and the label, we’ve made so many friends. Samantha Crain is one of the first people I ever interviewed, and Breakfast Muff I’ve seen each one of those guys play in about five different bands at various times through the years.”

Apart from a few releases, including a special Song, By Toad birthday release, the label’s focus this year will be on celebration, Young says.

“We’re just going to take some time out to say: ‘You know what? This has been fun, hasn’t it?’ The music industry is a very harsh place and when you find your allies, they mean a lot to you.”

Those allies include Pictish Trail aka Johnny Lynch, formerly of Fence Records and now head of Lost Map, a label, like Song, By Toad, acclaimed for its commitment to finding unique artists.

“Johnny and I are probably never going to work together on something, but it’s nice to be able to do something which says: ‘We’re still here. We’re in this together in a way. We’re still fighting the same fight.”

Song, by Toad and Friends 10th Anniversary Rammy with Breakfast Muff, Lush Purr, Adam Stafford, Jonnie Common, Faith Eliott, Samantha Crain, Pictish Trail: September 15, Inshriach House, Aviemore, 7pm, £26.79. Tickets: bit.ly/ToadRammy

Song, by Toad 10th Anniversary Origin Story Gig with Faith Eliott, Jamie Sutherland (Broken Records), Emily Scott (Modern Studies) and eagleowl: September 28, Leith Depot, Edinburgh, 7pm, £5.83. Tickets: bit.ly/ToadOrigins

Further Song, By Toad 10th birthday celebrations are scheduled for: November 15, Henry’s Cellar Bar, Edinburgh and December 15, Leith Cricket Club, Edinburgh.

Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk

www.songbytoad.com