It gave birth to grunge and developed into what must easily be one of the world’s most diverse labels. Now this weekend Sub Pop – the one-time home of all things flannel, fuzzbox and flailing hair - will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a series of parties in its state of Washington, begin a programme of reissues of some of its best known albums including Mudhoney’s Superfuzz Bigmuff and reactivating their Singles Club.

Among those performing at the shows in honour of the milestone are bands such as The Vaselines (astonishingly their first US show), Iron And Wine, Green River (the band which preceded Mudhoney) and acts more recently added to the label’s roster such as Fleet Foxes, Foals and the rather unlikely recording success Flight Of The Conchords.

Without Sub Pop we would have had no Nirvana, no Shins … no Tad (ah ok, that last one doesn’t quite work but hell it’s still a great label). In honour of the birthday, here are some of the reasons why we should be grateful to founders Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt.

Mudhoney - Touch Me I’m Sick

Hot Hot Heat - Bandages

Nirvana - Love Buzz

CSS - Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above

Flight Of The Conchords – Ladies Of The World

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

The Shins – So Says I

The Spinanes - Noel, Jonah And Me