Because many crowdfunding campaigns feature artists promoting their first or second album, I tend to feature late Millenials and early Gen Z artists in this space. But crowdfunding isn't just for the young. Sometimes older and more established artists need a little help getting their art across the finish line, as well. This month, all of my projects feature Gen X and older artists, with two coming from well-known roots music bands and another an archival project from one of folk music's underappreciated heroes.
Alice Wallace and Ranger Doug- The Art of the Yodel: On its surface, a collaboration between Americana singer-songwriter Alice Wallace and Riders in the Sky great Ranger Doug seems like an odd combination. Aside from the obvious generation gap, Wallace's thoughtful compositions and Ranger Doug's often comedic Western swing don't seem like they'd fit together. But the pair first bonded over a common hobby; yodeling. The art of the yodel is one that is lost to most modern roots artists but is a staple of any Riders in the Sky song (as evidenced by their “Woody's Roundup” from Toy Story 2). So Wallace and Ranger Doug decided to dedicate an album to yodeling and take to Kickstarter to raise money from yodeling aficionados everywhere. For their $20,000 Kickstarter goal, Wallace and Ranger Doug are offering a number of unique backer perks. You can get the album in digital, CD, and vinyl formats, the latter two signed. You can also get a merchandise bundle that includes a custom bandana, a must for any yodeler, a yodeling workshop, and a chance to have your favorite song “yodelized.”
Leonard Podolak- Banjo H.U.S.T.L.E.R: Canadian banjo picker Leonard Podolak has been a professional musician since 1995, most notably as a founding member of folk rockers The Duhks but dabbled in numerous other projects over the years. But over his 30 years in the music business, he's never done one thing; release a solo album. That changes now. The album is titled Banjo H.U.S.T.L.E.R and is named for a song written for Podolak by banjo virtuoso Danny Barnes. Podolak is raising money via a $14,000 Kickstarter campaign to get his album off the ground, including hiring musicians, publicity and marketing. While there is the standard album pre-order available, in pre-release digital and CD formats, many of Podolak's backer perks are behind-the-scenes peeks into the process. You can get two levels of access to videos of recordings and studio rehearsals not released on social media, each coming with more content the higher the level of pledge. You can also get an invite to a digital listening party and a house concert, for backers living in Canada.
Archie Fisher- The January Man: 1961-'77 Box Set: Scottish folk singer Archie Fisher isn't a household name, even among folkies, which is a shame because his output as both a musician and a prolific writer stands right alongside the greats of the folk tradition. While it's a phrase that is thrown around too often, “a songwriter's songwriter” is a term that accurately describes Fisher. From “All Around My Hat,” which was a hit for Steeleye Span to “Witch of the Westmoreland,” which was famously covered by Stan Rogers (and later The Waybacks) to his work as a producer and collaborator with Clancy & Makem, Rogers' legacy has found renewed appreciation since his death in 2025. Now musical curator Colin Harper is working to further cement that legacy with a box set of almost all of Fisher's output between 1961 and 1977. The eight-disc box set contains 210 tracks in total, 125 of which were previously unreleased. Harper is hanging his $36,000 Kickstarter goal solely on the box set, which will be released only on CD. No other backer perks are offered.
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