For the first time in 90 years, wax cylinders – one of the very earliest methods of carrying recorded sound in a way that can be replayed – are back in commercial production. How come? Because the sharp-suited skiffle punk band The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band have decided to issue their new single, ‘Greg’s Greats Record Shop’, as an exceptionally limited edition of 25 wax cylinders.

The cylinders were hand-cut at one of the only places in the world at which such work takes place (a workshop in Somerset), and contain a single track, a reworking of ‘Lonely Record Shop’ that previously appeared on the album Year Of The Rabbit. This new version has different lyrics and will only be available in this wax cylinder format, which will be released on 19 April through the band’s own Kipper The Cat Records label.

To mark this historic (and unhinged) release a show has been set up in Oxford by Coo Promotions: The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band will play at the Jericho in Oxford on 20 April, supported by Brickwork Lizards and The Edison Brothers. The latter act will be presenting the world’s first wax cylinder-based DJ sets (we’re not making this stuff up!) before they appear at Bestival in the summer. Tickets for the gig are £7 in advance, and available here.

(If you’re interested, a spot of internet research suggests that Greg’s Greats is a real record shop, based in Cambridgeshire, specialising in skiffle, doo-wop and other old-timey records. It would be, wouldn’t it?)