8 music fundraising campaigns you can gift to the music lover in your life

by Samantha Edwards

December 11, 2012

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From Bob Mould’s See A Little Light campaign

It’s December, and that means the month of obligation to buy presents for a bunch of people that are connected to your life in varying degrees, like blood, marriage, school, or the workplace, the latter of which it’s likely you’ve been forced to participate in an office-wide game of Secret Santa and now you’re stuck with the weird guy in advertising who you’re convinced keeps dipping into your hummus stash in the communal fridge.

This Christmas or Chanukah or whatever holiday you celebrate, give the gift of charity to the music lovers among your family, friends, and frenemies. Donating to a creative project on behalf of a music fan close to you is a lot more meaningful than a scented candle or a coffee mug with a corny message, plus, they could score some awesome and weird perks. There are tons of projects looking for funding, so we’ve scrolled through the endless proposals (and their widely varying price/perk levels) and found eight campaigns that would make awesome holiday presents. Best yet, by donating to an indie music project, you’ll appear both philanthropic and cool, a win-win for impressing people such as your significant other and their frightening dad.

of Montreal’s feature length documentary, Song Dynasties
Campaign ends: December 12

This comprehensive doc on of Montreal features a mish-mash of video from over sixteen years of the psych-pop band’s sweeping career, including footage from their spectacular live shows and early videotape recordings of the band’s early days.

Perks: A pledge of $30 gets you the DVD, but $500 gets you a whole bunch of swag, your name in the film’s credits, two guest list spots for any of their shows in 2013. Once at the show, they’ll bring you on stage, dress you up in costume and perform a dance around you, which is the closest many of us will get to a bedazzled Kevin Barnes.

ORA: Ultimate Sound System for iPad
Campaign ends: December 30

ORA is a stylish, lightweight iPad case with eight speakers surrounding the screen, creating a full stereo-sound experience, replacing the otherwise lackluster built-in speakers. The ORA has its own battery that lasts for ten hours, so it won’t drain your iPad’s power.

Perks: A pledge of $99 will buy you the sound system, and for an extra $30, you can get it in the colour of your choice.

See a Little Light: A Celebration of the Music and Legacy of Bob Mould
Campaign ends: December 22

Last November, a whole slew of musicians – such as Dave Grohl, Ryan Adams, No Age, and The Hold Steady – gathered at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles to celebrate the music of Bob Mould, the former frontman of Hüsker Dü. The concert was recorded and now Mould’s hoping to release the footage as a film.

Perks: For a mere $40, you’ll receive the DVD and a specially designed t-shirt commemorating the night.

Beautiful Noise
Campaign ends: December 15

This music doc explores the music of Cocteau Twins, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and My Bloody Valentine, the pioneers of the shoegaze genre. It features exclusive interviews with the notoriously press shy bands, including one with the brilliant Kevin Shields.

Perks: If you’re participating in a Secret Santa exchange with all your cool friends, the $25 pledge, which gets you the a DVD of the doc plus a personalized postcard and poster, is probably the best bet. Even better, you probably won’t go over your allotted budget.

ShortWaveMusic 2013: Socotra
Campaign ends: December 25

Myke Weiskoph travels around the world with microphones and shortwave radios to create audio travelogues that capture the sounds of regional musicians in such far-flung places as India, Iran, China, Kuwait and Nigeria. Next year, he wants to preserve the songs, stories and folk traditions of the Yemeni Archipelago of Socotra, but he needs a return plane ticket first.

Perks: A pledge of $10 gets you five MP3s from the sessions, but if you really want to show someone how much you care, go for the $250 pledge, which gets you a whole bunch of stuff including a handmade gift from a Socotri artist.

Giuseppi Logan’s “And They Were Cool”
Campaign ends: January 19

In the 1960s, Giuseppi Logan was hailed one of the best musicians of free form jazz but by the 1970s, he and his music had disappeared. At the ripe age of 76, Logan is trying for a comeback with a newly recorded album of beautiful, pure jazz improv.

Perks: For only a buck, you will get a digital download of Logan’s new album. But, don’t be so cheap! Isn’t your hip, jazz-lovin’ uncle worth more than a dollar to you? A $30 pledge will get him a limited edition vinyl pressing.

QuNexus Smart Sensor Keyboard Controller instruments
Campaign ends: December 18

QuNexus is a keyboard controller with 25 illuminated, touch-sensitive keys that’s suitable for beginners and professionals musicians. It’s the first instrument to unite four generations of synthesis: MIDI, Control Voltage, OSC and USB. At only $150, it also means it’s also the most affordable MIDI to CV converter currently on the market.

Perks: For $350, you get QuNexus, plus the QuNeo, a 3D pad controller that was successfully launched last spring through another Kickstarter campaign.

Turn it UP! Guitar Documentary
Campaign ends: December 21

This dad-rock doc looks at the history of the electric guitar and its place in pop culture. Hosted by Kevin Bacon, Turn it UP! features interview and performances with Les Paul, Slash, B.B. King, Robby Krieger of the Doors and many other old dudes who are passionate about the axe.

Perks: For a donation of $395, your giftee will receive a private music lesson or chat with one of the musicians featured in the doc, such as Carl Vernheyen of Supertramp.

Tags: Music, Featured, Lists, News, Bob Mould, christmas, Kickstarter

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