I have a lot of places that I find new roots music, whether that be press releases, the album review offerings here at No Depression, or as openers for other roots acts I already know. But one of the best places for me to find new roots music is at the annual Americanafest. Held in Nashville each September, Americanafest hosts a couple hundred of roots music's best acts, from established artists like Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller to lesser known acts (you can read our Americanafest 2025 recap here). This month, it just happens that all three of my featured crowdfunding campaigns come from artists I first discovered at Americanafest.
Amelia White- The Bells (click here to view campaign)
My friend and Through the Lens columnist Amos Perrine coined the term “Queen of the East Nashville Underground” for Amelia White. It's a moniker she's embraced and one that fits. White's music has always hit that slightly quirky but always honest sweet spot that defines the East Nashville sound. Her last album, 2024's Love I Swore, was one of my favorites of the year so when I saw she had a new album crowdfunding on Kickstarter, it was an easy sell. This time out, White is working with producer and roots music songwriter Molly Thomas on her new album The Bells. With this album, White is trying to recreate the sound of her live act more fully than in her previous works. To reach her $8,000 Kickstarter campaign goal, White has a number of backer perks on offer. You can get the album in digital or CD format, as well as a limited edition vinyl of her last album Love I Swore. You can also get handwritten lyric sheets, a 9x12 print of White's pet portraits or guitar paintings, a 1.5 hour Zoom music mentorship session, a commissioned painting of your own pet, and a day tour of Nashville.
Jon Latham and the Lifers- New Album (click here to view campaign)
Jon Latham is an artist who I, regrettably, have never gotten to see live as a headlining act. I have, however, caught him on numerous occasions at Americanafest sitting in on tribute or other artists' sets, most recently at this year's fest with Aaron Lee Tasjan. For Latham's third album, he's pulling together his long time touring group “The Lifers” to record with him in the studio for the first time. And he's booked time in one of Tennessee's best places to record, Johnny Cash's old musical retreat Cash Cabin to record the album. To reach his $39,000 flexible Indiegogo goal, he's offering a number of backer perks. You can get the album in CD and vinyl formats. You can also get a thank you in the album's liner notes, an Executive Producer credit on the album, a thank you video and song, and a virtual or in person songwriting session with Latham.
Emily Scott Robinson- Appalachia (click here to view campaign)
Emily Scott Robinson is an artist I haven't gotten to catch live yet, but a name I recognize from both her appearances on past Americanafest posters and also her membership in John Prine's Oh Boy records roster, one I trust implicitly to sign only the best artists. Robinson's insightful lyrics and soulful delivery have made her an artist I definitely want to experience in a live setting and one whose new album, Appalachia, is on my watch list. But why, you may wonder, is an artist with a label crowdfunding a new record? Well, while the album is on offer as part of the campaign's perks list, what Robinson is really crowdfunding is money for touring. Her Kickstarter campaign page is a must read for anyone who wants to see inside the life of a touring musician as she does a dollar by dollar breakdown of how it's possible to lose money touring. Robinson has blown past her initial $30,000 funding goal and is now into stretch funding territory. To help her get there, she's got some unique offerings for campaign perks. You can get Appalachia in digital, CD, and vinyl formats. You can also get a screen-printed tea towel, a candle from Elder & Co. that is a custom “Appalachia” scent, and an autographed test pressing of Appalachia (limited to three total).
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