Crowd Funding Campaigns of the Week: Lydia Loveless, Coach House Company, Meg Hutchinson

With so many independent artists utilizing crowdfunding sites like PledgeMusic, IndieGoGo, and Kickstarter to bypass the label system and secure the money for their projects directly from fans, it’s difficult to find all of the campaigns worth your backer dollars. That’s where I come in. Each week in this column, I will feature three crowdfunding campaigns that have piqued my interest for you to check out. Does your roots-based crowdfunding campaign need a wider audience? Send me an e-mail with a link to your campaign and a way to listen to your music and I’ll pick my favorites each week to highlight in this space.

Who is Lydia Loveless? Film

Lydia Loveless is one of those artists who hardcore roots music fans know and love and their more casual music listening friends have never heard of. That line between fame and osbscurity, as well as the life of a modern artist trying to make a living in the Spotify era, is the subject of Gorman Bechard’s new documentary film Who is Lydia Loveless? The film has been completed and received strong reviews in initial showings. Now Bechard is taking to Kickstarter to raise the cost of distribution. Unique backer rewards include a signed movie poster, Loveless’ own badge from the screening at IFFBoston, and a private house concert and film screening.

Coach House Company – Maiden Tales EP

Coach House Company is injecting a dose of youthful energy into the traditional British folk scene, blending original songs in the genre’s tradition with re-imaginings of standards. In doing so, they bring a new spin on a centuries-old genre. Coach House Company has taken to Kickstarter to secure the funds for their new EP Maiden Tales, which will include four folk traditionals and one original song. Unique backer rewards include an exclusive thank you message sung in five-part harmony by the band, and tickets to their intimate EP launch show in September.

Meg Hutchinson – How Many Miles

For over 15 years, Boston-based songwriter Meg Hutchinson has been touring the world and impressing audiences with her award winning songs. Many fans say that you can’t really get a feel for Hutchinson as an artist until you hear her live. If she’s not coming to your area but you’re curious, then How Many Miles might be a project to interest you. Hutchinson’s friend Keith Richardson has been professionally recording her shows since the beginning and he and Hutchinson culled 80 of their favorite performances into a double album that includes 32 songs, 3 poems, and a few stories from the road. Unique backer rewards include signed copies of all of Hutchinson’s albums and poetry books, original How Many Miles cover art, and an opportunity for Meg to come speak at your event, with stories tailored to your audience.