Crowdfunding Campaigns of the Week: Phil Madeira, Peter Tosh, Contrabanned at SXSW
Chris Griffy
Posted On February 26, 2017
After last week’s diversion into exploring crowdfunding platform Patreon, we’re back to normal with this week’s edition of Crowdfunding Campaigns of the Week. This week, we have a new project from one of Americana’s most prolific producers, songwriters, and sidemen, a remix album from a reggae legend, and a SXSW showcase that brings one of today’s most polarizing political issues into musical focus.
Phil Madeira has long been known to many Americana fans as a songwriter, producer, and member of Emmylou Harris’ Red Dirt Boys, as well as the man behind the successful pair of Mercyland albums. For this project, Madeira is using PledgeMusic and working with his fellow Red Dirt Boys Chris Donohue and Bryan Owings on his new album Providence. In a recent update, Madeira also noted that the final piece of the Red Dirt Boys puzzle, Will Kimbrough, will also make an appearance on at least one track. Backer rewards include a boating trip with Madeira in Rhode Island, signed chord charts for the album, and a disposable camera filled with photos taken by Madeira during his tour with Emmylou Harris in June. 10% of the money raised for this campaign will go to the charity Save the Bay- Narragansett.
Peter Tosh- Legalize It Remix EP
Most of the time in this column, my loose definition of the “roots” music qualification needed to be included comes down to Americana, blues, or roots rock. But every culture has its own version of roots music and reggae is definitely one of them. The late Peter Tosh is one of the genre’s best known names, both for his time in Bob Marley’s Wailers and also for his own solo work. 1976’s Legalize It became not only a landmark album in the genre but also the default rally cry for many reggae fans. Now The Peter Tosh Foundation is working with a high profile list of artists that include Tommy Chong, Wanz, and Snoop Dogg to release a remix EP of the album. Backer rewards include a limited edition “smoke bundle” that includes Legalize It branded rolling paper, lighter, and crusher, an exclusive Peter Tosh ’82-’83 World Tour shirt, and a VIP tour of the Peter Tosh Museum.
Contrabanned- Music Unites as SXSW
In January, President Trump signed a controversial executive order that halted immigration from seven majority Muslim countries for 90 days and banned the entry of refugees from Syria indefinitely. While that order has been stayed by the courts, the debate over it still stands. On Mar. 17, globalFest, Tamizdat, and PRI’s The World are joining forces to put on a showcase called Contrabanned- Music United as SXSW. The showcase will feature musicians from the seven banned countries. Backer rewards include a mystery grab bag of merchandise from the featured artists, access to the Contrabanned Mixtape, and various packages for globalFest and PRI’s The World shows.
