2014 : The Year Of Creative Possibility

Incredibly excited about this next calendar year, for it will be filled with a multitude of creative projects for me. Since the creative surge that produced a string of albums, Never Shed No Tears (2006), TST's The County Line ( 2008), and Live @ The Acoustic Grill (2009), I have definitely dropped off in my frequency of releasing albums, with the Internet-only EP Living Room Session (2011), and the limited edition release of TST's Overdrive Express (2012). The latter two albums were very much less involved projects. They were experiments, in a way, of alternative methods of recording and releasing albums.

I think 2014 is the time to get back on that horse. I'm looking at the possibility of releasing three different albums with three different groups. In fact, the process has already begun, with our recording of the Foley Mountain Playboys last month. A great session that sounds really promising.  Also, we've had tracks for the Aldous Huxters record down for over a year. Will 2014 be the year when this project sees the light of day? I certainly hope so. A great collection of songs there that deserve to be heard. 

Last but not least, 2014 will also the release of my first (studio) solo record since 2006's Never Shed No Tears.

More on this project in the weeks to come.

Add my live show schedule to all of these projects, and one might think I've got too much on my plate, but I say, "Bring it on!!".

Currently fundraising for my solo album on Sellaband. From now until the end of December, I will personally match any contribution towards this project. i want to wrap this up so I can concentrate on the music.

Free Music for fans = new fans For Musicians

I've been going by this philosophy for the past couple of years, primarily through the TST Reverbnation site, and it has worked. Of course, the best way to gain new fans, is to get in the van, criss-cross the country, and play yer butt off every night, but right now now I'm speaking of internet marketing. Over the past two years, the TST "online" fanbase has grown by approx. 3000 people, largely due to the offering of free music. An "online' fan is different than a fan who comes to your show ( although there is obviously some crossover), in that they tend to be more of a casual fan. This isn't always the case, but until someone buys your music, or buys a ticket to your show, they are not a "true" fan.

That being said, online fans play an important role in any band's marketing strategy. They "like" your facebook page, they follow you on twitter, they share your music with their friends and followers. This means free advertising for you. So, really you aren't giving music away for free. It's more of a barter system.

There are a couple of sites I've come across recently that give away free music in exchange for email addresses or sharing links:

NoiseTrade - This site offers free albums in exchange for email addresses. There is also a tip system where the listener can pay the artist what they think the music is worth. I've just put up my acoustic EP - Living Room Session. I see this site as having great potential for posting live concerts, studio outtakes, and extra content. I'm kind of against giving away an album for free, and then turning around, and trying to sell it to someone at a live show. I say all free or all pay. But that's just me.




Viinyl - This site offers singles in exchange for email address or for a "like" or tweet ( depending on how the artist sets it up). I've set up our page so you can download "The One" for free in exchange for a like or tweet. Cool design to this site, though they do need to add some sort of search or genre listing.