If the success of Melbourne prog-metal band Twelve Foot Ninja’s music video campaign, smashing the previous record set by Eskimo Joe in February this year, has taught us anything – it’s that crowdfunding is here to stay.
Whether it’s as simple as a band recording a new album, raising funds for musicians to head overseas to tour, or simply a great music-related initiative, the likes of Kickstarter, Pozible, and IndieGoGo are realising the previously lofty goals of artists the world over.
Young London 7 Song EP
Boston,electro-pop duo Young London, made up of singer-songwriter Sarah Graziani and electronic wizard Matt Rhoades, will be releasing a 7-song EP titled Instincts on June 11, to coincide with their summer long stint on the Vans Warped Tour. The first single, “Infinite Love”, will be unveiled on June 4th.
The musicians met in 2010, and immediately realized that their songwriting styles clicked. They penned their first songs together in Boston, and made their live debut at South by Southwest 2011. The success of the group’s debut led them to record their first full-length album with producer Mark Maxwell (Boys Like Girls).
Those who pledge are eligible for a bomus track on the EP, access to the release before the general public, signed memorabilia, a Skype chat with the band, your name in the liner notes, the duo’s musical equipment, a songwriting session with the band, or a personal party.
Campaign: Young London New EP & Tour
Target: US$ 8,000
Bon Scott Memorial Statue
One of Australia and rock music’s most enduring bands, AC/DC are heading towards their 40th anniversary, and aside from a stage show and a separate bio-pic about the late former lead singer, fans are finding new ways to pay tribute. Community group DD8 Music is looking for AC/DC fans to help donate to get a statue to Bon Scott for his home town Kirriemuir.
The town has already honoured Bon with a memorial stone and a street named after him, and would now like to go one step further with a permanent monument
As the powerhouse singer behind AC/DC’s greatest hits, Scott was arguably the greatest rock’n’roll front man of all time. Local community group DD8 Music plans to honour the memory of this rock and roll legend by erecting a bronze statue in the town. In order to do so, they need £50,000 by the 5th June.
Along with a slew of varying rewards donators will get in exchange for pledging, (everything from badges to 250mm bronze replica of the finished statue) every single person who donates towards the project will have their name noted and placed in a time capsule under the finished statue.
Campaign: Bon Scott Statue Kirriemuir
Target: £50,000
Send Dandelion Wine To Europe
Dandelion Wine have been booked to play at some truly awesome festivals and events in Europe this August and September… the only catch is that there’s an airfare-sized hole in the budget, which is why they’re turning to their fans for help.
The medieval/electro/triphop/whatever duo from Melbourne, Australia have spent the last decade regularly touring Europe (as well as Australia and Japan) and have built things up to the point where they can score prestigious slots on great festivals.
They’ve secured slots at Festival Mediaval in Germany, Bruchtal Festibal in Switzerland, Rakvere in Estonia as well as club shows in Germany, Poland, and France.
Being offered to pledgers are personalised postcards, exclusive downloads, signed CDs, one year on the Dandelion Wine guestlist, music lessons, a Dandelion Wine remix of your own song, and even the chance to choose of one of the band member’s new hair colour, “choose any colour of the rainbow” the band say.
Go on, help the band get to live their festival dreams!
Campaign: Get Dandelioin Wine To Europe
Target: AU$5,500
Help Digitise Some Of Aussie Rock’s Greatest Analogue photos
In 1979 Wendy McDougall worked solely in the Australian Music industry as a music photographer. This was in a time were there weren’t too many photographers shooting live music and the industry itself was developing. Many of Australia’s iconic bands were playing night after night to audiences right across the continent learning the ropes and building a following. This period in Australian music became the defining era of Australian rock ‘n’ roll.
The Angels, INXS, Flowers [Iva Davies], Cold Chisel, Divinyls, Midnight Oil, Crowded House, Mental As Anything, and The Church were just some of the bands starting up at this time. Others followed such as Noiseworks, GANGgajang, Diesel, Peter Blakeley, Boom Crash Opera, etc. McDougall shot them all.
The aim of her campaign is to make professional digital scans of all her photographs from 1980 onwards, which were all shot in the era of film.
Should you pledge to the campaign you’re eligible to get your name in the book Wendy intends to publish with the scans, a signed print, a personal walk through of all the anecdotes surrounding the snaps from the photog herself, and a personal photoshoot.
Campaign: Only Rock ‘n’ Roll but I like it.
Targt: $4,500
Heroes For Hire Want You To Buy Them Beer
Yes, really. As their Indiegogo page states:
“Indiegogo and Kickstarter are serious business for bands.
And Heroes For Hire are a serious band. From Sydney, Australia, the band have spent all their money to get to the UK for their first tour here with Allister, as well as festival dates on Slam Dunk 2013.
To that end, they all want to drink a beer. It costs £5 for a 4 pack of Red Stripe tins at the corner grocery store down the street. Will you help make their dream come true?”
Campaign: Help Heroes For Hire buy 4 cans of beers
Target:£500
