Weekend was formed by Alison Statton

Alison Statton

Alison Statton is a Welsh singer. She presently works as a chiropractor in Cardiff, Wales, where she was born. Fans of the singer have included Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, Belle and Sebastian and Renato Russo.-Musical career:...

 following the split of Young Marble Giants

Young Marble Giants

Young Marble Giants were a post-punk band formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1978. A trio, their music was constructed around the powerful and minimal instrumentation of brothers Philip and Stuart Moxham along with the vocals of Alison Statton.-History:...

 in 1981. The band was actually a merger between two projects. Statton began writing with Spike

Spike (Weekend)

Mark Williams more commonly known as Spike or Spike Williams is a Welsh guitarist and co-founder of South Wales' record label, Z Block Records. He was a member of the Cardiff-based band Reptile Ranch.-Career history:...

 of Z Block Records and Reptile Ranch in Cardiff, Wales in the summer of 1981 before moving to London where she teamed up with Simon Emmerson

Simon Emmerson

For the experimental music artist, see Simon Emmerson .Simon Emmerson is a Grammy Award-nominated record producer, guitarist, DJ and founder of the group Afro Celt Sound System....

 of Methodishca Tune. The band signed to Rough Trade Records

Rough Trade Records

Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...

 in December 1981, but recorded only one studio album, La Variete.

La Variete was released in 1982 on the Rough Trade label and made it to No 4 in the independent charts staying in there for 15 weeks. It was revered by critics on release as a bold new departure from the prevailing post-punk ethos and served as a major influence on Saint Etienne, the Sundays, Belle And Sebastian and many others.

According to Cherry Red, La Variete is: "A beautifully realised and delicate collection of songs set against a jazz backdrop, it switches across myriad musical settings including samba, cabaret, Afrobeat and highly personal, confessional pop."

After splitting up in 1983, members Simon Booth and Larry Stabbins formed the more jazz orientated Working Week

Working Week (band)

Working Week were a British jazz-dance musical ensemble, active in the 1980s and 1990s.Working Week were formed in 1983 by guitarist Simon Booth and saxophonist Larry Stabbins, who were previously in post punk outfit Weekend...

.

Singles

• "The View From Her Room" / "Leaves of Spring" 7" and 12" (1982) Rough Trade
  Rough Trade Records
  Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
  
   (#7)
• "Past Meets Present" / "Midnight Slows" 7" (1982) Rough Trade (#6)
• "Drumbeat For Baby" / "Weekend Off" 7" and 12" (1982) Rough Trade (#8)
• The '81 Demos EP (1995) Vinyl Japan

Albums

• La Variete LP (1982) Rough Trade (#4)
• Live at Ronnie Scott’s 12" mini-LP
  Mini-LP
  A Mini-LP or Mini-album is a short album, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered "full-length".-History:...
  
  (1983) Rough Trade (#3)
• Nipped in the Bud (1984) Rough Trade (includes tracks by Young Marble Giants and Gist)
• Tidal Blues (1994) Vinyl Japan (credited to Alison Statton & Spike)