Update: 2/2/12 - Our fund-raising campaign is up and running at IndieGoGo!
Update: 2/3/12 - And we're off! One day in, and almost 25% there! Love, thanks, and karma to Cheryl Rajcich, Pounder the Cat, Tricia Goodloe, billmcpro, Toshimi Ogiya, Thomas Barron, Michael Sink, steve37, and Anonymous. Good start, friends! (Remember, if we're lucky enough to exceed the goal, the additional money will help fund Phases 2 and 3.)
Update: 2/6/12 - Still climbing, now past 30%! Heartfelt thanks to Steve Cole, staceyt, Candy Larousse, and David Aimone.
Update: 2/8/12 - More wonderful, generous donors: Nancy K Dillon, Karen Patrolia, jensemail, Dan Barron, and Laura M Feola. Thank you all for your support!
Update: 2/17/12 - Thanks to another round of generous supporters: scianna, Jason North, Joanie Rothstein, and THE Wonder Russell. THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!
ThorNton Creek has been playing music together in one form or another since 1996. That's a pretty long time. Since then, the music has matured from mostly melancholic musings to what Steve describes as "electric front porch swing." We're still evolving, and we're lucky to have a lot of people who support what we're trying to do.
This year we have some ambitious goals, but we cannot accomplish everything without your help. Here's what we plan to do:
1) Finish a promotion project. In 2011 the Creek put out our CD A Different Door. Between 2011 and 2012 the work got the attention of two of the most well-known Americana promoters, Jenni Finlay and Bill Wence (www.BillWencePromotions.com). Jenni recommended we talk to Bill about promoting it to radio stations across the US and around the world. After a lot of discussion with Bill and among ourselves, we decided to go for it. He has real enthusiasm for the music, and it fits within the genre that he specializes in promoting. Bill asked that the CD first be repackaged with a new date of 2012 and suggested that we start the campaign in February. We paid to have the repackaging done and are now eager to let Bill get to work.
The remaining cost of the promotion is about $2,000, with less than a month to go.
This is the most pressing of the projects for the year and the one we're most anxious to get underway.
Bill Wence told us, "A successful promotion is one that elevates ThorNton Creek to a new level...not so much with Chart numbers (which would be great) but with stations that really like the music and play us in some good rotations...stations that would be looking for that second album." That's what we're shooting for - get their attention and then hit 'em with new material.
About A Different Door, Christopher Anderson of Victory Review wrote: "[I] immediately start typing after the first listen of this work...This is good stuff. A bit country, a bit swing, at times a bit of jazz and blues feels are realized, but despite all I'm feeling, my head just keeps coming back to the musicianship heard on this work. I feel right at home with these cats. Great grooves, reasonable and cool lyrics with a purpose for each cut. This stuff doesn't just happen, it's a life style, a study and reconsidering of what could be..." (December, 2011) See? We aren't the only ones who like it!
2)Record, mix, master, press, and promote that "second album". We have a bunch of new and interesting material to share with the world. If you've been to one of our shows, you've heard some of it. We're proud of it and think it deserves a wider audience. The anticipated cost for production and promotion is $6,500. Ideally, we'd like to have the CD finished by early fall.
3)Small tours. We have some great contacts in Louisiana, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Why, some of you are in those places; how coincidental is that? Unfortunately, those contacts won't do us much good unless we can travel to those parts of the country and play for people. You guessed it: that costs money. These costs are somewhat unknown. At the very least the band would like to travel to Nashville to play at the Americana Music Association Conference in September. The anticipated cost to get the whole band to Nashville for the conference (and home again) is $3,200.
Our goal is to find funding for these projects. We know it's a lot of money and that times are tough all around, but we think there's enough enthusiasm for ThorNton Creek's music to make some or all of it happen. The music deserves a chance.
How can you help and why should you?
Music keeps us going. Music reflects the soul and breathes spirit into it. As Rachmaninov said, "Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music." If you like ThorNton Creek's music, that's why you should help. If you want to be part of our growing ThorNton Creek community, that's why you should help. If you believe it's important to hear music that isn't fabricated for the masses by machines like American Idol, that's why you should help.
Here's how:
1) Between January and April, ThorNton Creek has several Washington area shows that we're considering fund-raisers. One way you can help is to come to those shows, bring friends, and throw a few bucks in the tip jar. All of that money will go to fund these projects, not into our pockets.
2) Contact us directly (click for email). We'd be happy to receive any amount!
3) Make an online donation. We're working to set up an online crowd-sourcing project. To tempt you in advance, here are some of the thank-you gifts we'll be offering:
- For a donation of $25, we'll send you a copy of A Different Door, in its new 2012 packaging, autographed by the band with our grateful thanks.
- For a donation of $50, we'll send you A Different Door, and reserve you a copy of the next CD when it's finished, both autographed.
- For a donation of $100, you'll get both CDs, and personal thanks on the next CD's cover.
- For $500, Don will hand-build for you, from scratch, a custom, one-of-a-kind, 4-string cigar box instrument (guitar, ukulele, lap steel, or mandolin). Specifications to be determined. Includes basic materials and labor. Extra charge may apply for premium materials or extra features. Autographs optional. (Limited quantity! Hurry - when they're gone, they're gone!)
- For $750, ThorNton Creek will perform a private concert for you, at the place of your choosing, on a date we agree upon, for any number of guests. (Extra charge may apply for travel outside the Puget Sound metro area or if we need extra sound equipment for large venues. Check with us first if you have questions!)
- For any amount, you will be
a. surrounded with loving thoughts as a treasured part of the ThorNton Creek family forever, and
b. listed on our web site with our grateful thanks, unless you prefer to remain anonymous. Either way, the karma is yours to keep and enjoy!