Crowdfunding Campaigns of the Week: Oh Pep!, Blues Society, Christine Rosander

Every week, hundreds of young independent artists, and even a few established musicians wanting to regain a measure of control over their new content, take to crowdfunding sources like Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, and PledgeMusic to secure the money for their new projects. But with so many new campaigns flooding the market, how to find the ones that stand out? That’s where I’m here to help. Each week, I will scour the major crowdfunding sites and pick three of the most interesting or unique to highlight here. Does your band or organization have a roots-oriented crowdfunding campaign going? Send me an e-mail with a link and a sample of your music and I will pick my favorites for inclusion in a future column.

The Blues Society: A Documentary Film

While most of the campaigns featured here are for bands recording albums, crowdfunding sites have become increasingly popular for documentary filmmakers as well. This week, we take a look at filmmaker Augusta Palmer, who is funding a film about the Memphis Country Blues Festival, which held its first event in 1966. Against the backdrop of some of America’s most turbulent racial tensions, the Memphis Country Blues Festival was a place where black blues artists like Bukka White and white folk singers like John Fahey shared a naturally integrated stage. Unique backer rewards include a variety of vinyl offerings from documentary supporter Fat Possum Records, an R.L. Burnside hat, and a private screening of the film.

Christine Rosander: Been a Long Time

Los Angeles-based singer songwriter Christine Rosander has been blending jazz, blues, Americana, and rock into her own distinctive voice for years, as well as being popular as a member of the Fab Four tribute band providing vocals for Linda McCartney’s parts on their Wings tribute shows. Now Rosander has taken to IndieGogo to raise funds for her new album of original music, Been a Long Time. Unique backer rewards include a “farm to table listening party”, with seasonal organic food chosen to pair with the album, a copy of her unreleased jazz album Live at Lunaria, and a songwriting session with Rosander.

Oh Pep!: Stadium Cake

The Australian duo of Olivia Hally (the “Oh” part of the band name) and Pepita Emmerichs (providing the “Pep”), made waves in 2015 both with their Sounds Australia sponsored blitz of the Americana Music Festival but also with the release of their EP Living, which snagged them praise from the likes of NPR’s Bob Boilen and a coveted NPR Tiny Desk Concert in October. Now Oh Pep is hoping to capitalize with the release of their debut full-length album Stadium Cake in June. The album is currently available for pre-order on PledgeMusic with some additional backer rewards including a limited edition blue vinyl of the album and a Stadium Cake t-shirt.