CROWDFUNDING RADAR: Sawyer Fredericks, Kaia Kater, and The Franklin County Trucking Company

When I’m looking for crowdfunding campaigns to feature, I primarily hit up three places: Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Bandcamp. Occasionally you’ll find an artist doing a private crowdfunding campaign or I’ll feature an artist’s Patreon, but the majority of crowdfunding and preorder campaigns live on those three platforms. This month, I’ve brought you a campaign from each of those three sites.

Sawyer Fredericks – Third Album (click here to view campaign)
I don’t usually give much attention to people who compete in reality television singing shows. Typically, they’re much more pop-oriented than my tastes. But, nearly a decade after winning The Voice at 15, Sawyer Fredericks has proved himself to be the exception by going independent and owning his narrative. Carefully balancing blues, folk, and soulful vocals, Fredericks is a much older soul than his age would suggest. I’ve featured Fredericks’ previous crowdfunding efforts in this space and been fortunate to see him live twice. So I’m excited to feature the $25,000 Kickstarter campaign for his third, as yet untitled, independent album. Backer perks for this one include the album in digital and CD (signed or unsigned) format. You can also get a digital EP of acoustic versions of songs from the album, a signed handwritten lyrics sheet, a “vintage” bundle of merch from past tours, and a private 60-minute YouTube concert.

The Franklin County Trucking Company – New Album (click here to view campaign)
The trucking song is a theme that is ingrained in country and roots music just as much as the cheating song and the drinking song. But a band completely dedicated to trucking songs? That’s something a little different. Meet The Franklin County Trucking Company, the self-styled “fifth or sixth best trucker rock and roll band.” Dealing guitar-heavy blues rock about everything from odometer miles to avoiding weigh stations to truck-stop hot dogs, The Franklin County Trucking Company is nothing if not exhaustive (and consistently funny) in their depiction of life on the road. To fund their latest effort, they’re running a $20,000 “flexible goal” campaign on Indiegogo with a number of exclusive perks. The album is available on signed or unsigned CD. You can also get a signed poster, backer exclusive trucker hat, a house show (acoustic duo or full band), and a chance to contribute percussion to the new album.

Kaia Kater – Strange Medicine (click here to view campaign)
I was fortunate to catch Kaia Kater a few years back at AmericanaFest and left a fan. Since then, her star has only risen. So when I saw the Bandcamp preorder campaign for her new album, Strange Medicine, I knew I had to feature it in this space. In addition to her own excellent vocal and banjo work, Kater has tapped an all-star list of guests to help her bring Strange Medicine to life, including Aoife O’Donovan, Allison Russell, and the legend himself, Taj Mahal. For this preorder campaign, the album is available in digital, CD, and two types of vinyl: standard black and limited-edition aqua. When you preorder you get an instant download of the album’s first three singles, including the guest appearances from Russell and Taj. Strange Medicine is scheduled for release on May 17.