Let's Keep the Music Alive!

One week left in the "Driftwood - Remembering Sandy Stubbert" GoFundMe campaign. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far. It feels good to be sending Sandy's music out across the country. She put her heart and soul into this record and would have loved that it is being heard.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/sandystubbert

We are wrapping up the campaign on June 15th, so get your donation in if you haven't already. Raising funds for AMHS-KFLA (Addiction and Mental Health Services, Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington) and MIKES (Music Industry Kingston Emergency Support).

DRR Live Stream from The Toucan

Dead Root Revival has been on a forced hiatus due to COVID-19, so we were most thankful for the opportunity to perform at our hometown pub again, even if there was no audience. The rock show is definitely another energy level!

Here is the full concert for your viewing and listening pleasure!

As the country continues to reopen, many in the arts community will be left behind, with no live shows aside from some possible summertime outdoor activities. Art is a vital part of our society, and I encourage everyone to do what they can to support the many artists who are in need at this time. This can be done by purchasing merchandise or sending virtual tips for livestreams, but also I encourage you to lobby local, provincial, and federal governments to continue (or give funding to new)programs that support artists during these drastic times.

Let's keep the music alive!
Tom

Driftwood - Remembering Sandy Stubbert

I had the great honour and privilege to work as producer on what would be Sandy Stubbert's final work. It has taken some time since Sandy's passing to complete the project, but it is now finally here. Sandy poured her heart and soul into this album, and this music deserves to be heard!

We had planned to have an album release/memorial concert at The Mansion in Kingston for April 10th, but due to COVID-19, that proved impossible. The plan was to raise money from the album release for community mental health and musician support organizations. Seeing as the need for financial support is greater than ever, we've decided to go ahead with the GoFundMe release.


https://www.gofundme.com/f/sandystubbert

Contributors to the campaign who give $20 or more will receive a CD or digital copy of Sandy's album.

Please honour Sandy's memory by contributing to the GoFundMe.

Proceeds from the sales of this album will be donated to two different organizations, AMHS-KFLA (Addiction and Mental Health Services, Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington) and MIKES (Music Industry Kingston Emergency Support).

We miss you Sandy. May your music live on.








Driftwood marks the fourth and final album from Sandy Stubbert.

Sandy was a gifted musician and songwriter who readily left a lasting imprint on those she met.

Her friend John MacDonald aptly describes Sandy's personality, "I worked with Sandy at Pakwash Junior Camp and reconnected with her on Facebook a couple of years ago. Then, as now, I was appreciative of her extraordinary passion for life which came through not only in her music, but in her genuine caring of those with whom she came in touch with. Her lasting friendship with her junior ranger sisters is a testament to the love she had for life."

As many know, Sandy struggled from bipolar depression for many years. The "black dogs" as she called them, continually nipping at her heels. Although her mental illness had a profound effect on every area of her life, it did not define who she was; she soldiered on despite it.
Most storms Sandy endured valiantly, however, the last storm overcame her. This album represents her new sunrise. A lasting legacy to her brilliant life.


"I'll be thrown by these storms into a new sunrise" - Driftwood

Proceeds from the sales of this album will be donated to two different organizations, AMHS-KFLA (Addiction and Mental Health Services, Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington) and MIKES (Music Industry Kingston Emergency Support).


What is MIKES?

MIKES is an organization made up of Kingston and area
community members passionate about creating a support
system for music industry workers in the region.

We are primarily for, but not limited to, providing support
(financial and other) in emergency scenarios where the
worker needs to sub out of a gig or cancel a performance
due to personal illness or injury, illness or injury of a
loved one, death in the family, etc.

MIKES also aims to create a community and list of individuals and businesses who provide
services pro bono or at a discounted rate to assist music industry workers in a number of
challenges or emergency situations (i.e.: instrument repair and lending, vehicle repair,
meals, physiotherapy, dental work, etc.).


About AMHS-KFLA

Addiction and Mental Health Services – Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (AMHS-KFLA) is a non-profit organization that delivers community-based mental health, addiction and housing services to more than 7,000 individuals in the City of Kingston and the counties of Frontenac and Lennox and Addington.

Services offered include a 24/7 Crisis Line, Addiction Services including specialized supports for people pregnant or parenting young children, Problem Gambling services, 24/7 Housing programs, support groups and more. Services are free, confidential and non-judgmental. Learn more about AMHS-KFLA programs and services at www.amhs-kfla.ca





TRACK LISTING
Driftwood (04:20)
Circle of Friends (03:21)
In My Secret Life(04:37)
Cotton Candy Sunrise (05:53)
Fascist Architecture (03:35)
All I Want (04:27)
Red Sky (04:47)
Three Hours Difference (06:03)
Obsession (04:51)
Promises (04:51)
With Me (04:19)


MUSICIANS

Sandy Stubbert - guitar, vocals, banjo, dulcimer
Seamus Cowan - upright bass on 1,3,4,8,10,11
Bonz Bowering - drums on 1,3,4,8,10
Tony Silvestri - organ, piano, rhodes
Dan Chalmers - congas on 13
Tracie Morgan - backing vocals
Kathryn Vilela - backing vocals
Sandra Bouza - backing vocals on 7
Tom Savage - electric guitar on 1,3,4,8,10,11
Michelle Monette - electric guitar on 5,7,9
Saskia Tomkins - violin, viola, cello, neckelharpe
Rodney St. Amand - backing vocals on 2, bass on 2,6
Jim Tomlinson - backing vocals on 2, lead vocal and acoustic guitar on 6
Frank Baraczka - drums on 5,7,9
Attila Baraczka - bass on 5,7,9
Gary Barratt - Percussion on 2,6


Recorded at North of Princess Studio in Kingston, ON
Recording & Mixed by Zane Whitfield
Assistant Engineer - Dylan Lodge
Mastered by Philip Shaw Bova
Art direction, design, and layout by A Man Called Wrycraft
Produced By Tom Savage

Back from tour! The CD is Not Dead!

Rolled back into Kingston after a long haul from Wawa, Ontario and slowly getting my bearings, and adjusting to being back home. As usual, the tour  was a hard slog, an enjoyable ride, a test of will and endurance and patience, and a whole lotta fun all rolled into one. Thanks to the venues ( and their staff), presenters, sound techs, fellow musicians, and friends new and old who opened their homes to this weary traveler. I very much appreciate your support.

This new record is a real trip. I've never done anything where art intersected with life so much. Developing the sound and playing style of the solo show and touring it over much of the past decade gives this new album the feel of the culmination of an 8 + year art project. The audience is a large part of the process, and it feels really good to give them (and you!) an album that reflects exactly what I'm doing on stage. 

Sales went really well on tour. The CD is not dead folks! If anything, I've seen an uptick in sales over the past few years. Needless to say, I am very thankful for this! As a full time musician ( performing mostly original music), merchandise sales are a vital ingredient to my survival in this business. I understand the convenience and choice that comes from streaming services ( I've used them myself), but I'm not seeing how to make money from them. And a large portion of the money I make from record sales goes directly back into my art. 

I was listening to some music industry podcasts while on the road, and they were chanting the mantra of "The CD is dead. Streaming is everything." and I couldn't help but ask aloud while driving, "But how do you make money from it!" They never answered me. My own conclusion: You don't!

It is for this reason that my new record, Great Beyond, will not be available on streaming services ( except for a single or two for a sampling). If you want to listen, you'll have to buy it. I make records for three reasons: 1) artistic expression, 2) to share my music with my fans, and 3) to make money to make more records. Spotify is good for the first two reasons, but the third, not so much.

You can help the cause! There are seven days left to preorder Great Beyond ( thanks to everyone who has contributed to the preorder campaign thus far). Check out the indiegogo site for special offers such as: CD + tickets to hometown release concert, The Box Set ( a collection of 4 CDS), and a House Concert ( 1 of these left at the discounted price). For those in the Kingston area who are planning to attend the album release concert ( with The Mill Rights and Dead Root Revival BTW), the preorder site is the best option for purchasing tickets.

A couple of shows to tell you about:

This Friday, Dead Root Revival will be fired up and ready to rock at The Red Lion in Belleville, after a month-long hiatus. 9:30 PM.

Saturday, October 19th, I will be bringing the solo show ( and new album) to the Few Acres Farm concert in Russell, ON ( near Ottawa). Message me for details.

And of course, Friday, October 25th is the Hometown Album Release Concert at The Mansion in Kingston!

See you on the road and thank you for your support.

Cheers,

Tom

14 year old Rocks Market Square

This summer my teenage daughter and I spent many hours practicing songs in order to build our repertoire to hit the streets of Kingston busking.

With only a year of bass lessons, she is a quick study. I anticipate we will see her performing with her own band in the years to come. As she recently stated, "it will be nice to play with people who aren't old." Here is a short video of Bella on bass, Bonz Bowering on drums and myself this past Labour Day in market square. 

Pre-order "Great Beyond" Today 

Excited to share with you that my latest album, "Great Beyond", will officially be released on October 15th! This record is a unique representation of my live solo show, recorded with only me and my guitar, live off the floor at North of Princess studio in Kingston, Ontario. 

Sneak Peek: Have a listen to "Slow Learner". A slide guitar number from the album now streaming on Spotify.

For much of the past decade, I've traveled around Canada and the USA performing solo. Me and my guitar (or guitars rather...occasionally mandolin) up on stage, or in someone's living room, without a net. After touring with a band for many years, it was definitely a big change. It took some time to develop my approach to performing solo, and the kind of energy I wanted to bring to the stage. Ironically, in the end, I found approaching a solo show in the same way as a full band concert was the way to go. The thing is, I didn't have the band to help create that energy with me, so it required a commitment from myself to push that force out into the crowd each and every night. It also needed me to approach the playing of my acoustic guitar in a more aggressive, percussive fashion. Playing chunky rhythms and lead licks simultaneously.

This is a gift to those of you who come to my solo shows and want to take a piece of that experience home with you. For those who haven't had an opportunity to take in one of my solo shows, this is what it sounds like. I hope you enjoy it. The pre-order campaign has begun. Sign up for your copy of "Great Beyond" today! Check out the Indiegogo site for special offers such as "The Box Set" and "Concert For Two". I'll even come play a concert in your living room in exchange for your support!

For fans in the Kingston area that plan to attend the hometown release concert at The Mansion on October 25th, be sure to take advantage of the CD + Concert ticket offer on Indiegogo (a 37% savings!). This show includes The Mill Rights and Dead Root Revival on the bill, and will be a truly amazing night. Don't miss it!

Canadian Tour Starts Tuesday!

Hitting the road again. I'll have the new record in tow, and look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones along the way on my annual Western Canadian excursion. Spread the word and come say hi if I'm passing through your neighbourhood!

09/10 -  The Townehouse - Sudbury, ON

09/12 -  The Apollo - Thunder Bay, ON

09/13 - Bob's Burger Bar - Kenora, ON

09/14 - Ship and Plough - Gimli, MB ( 9:00 PM)

09/15 - Bruce's Firehouse - Dauphin, MB (3:00 PM)

09/17 - The Capitol - Saskatoon, SK (feature set at open mic)

09/18 - The Slice - Lethbridge, AB

09/19 - The Ironwood - Calgary, AB w/ Johnny Faithful and Carter Felker 

09/20 - Twin Butte General Store - Twin Butte, AB

09/21 -  Whitetooth Brewing Co. - Golden, BC

09/22 - Small Axe Bistro - Enderby, BC

09/24 - The Heatley - Vancouver, BC

09/26 - Legion Branch 31 "The Stand Easy"- Jasper, AB

09/27 - The Auditorium Hotel - Nanton, AB

09/28 - Boho Lounge - Carstairs, AB

09/29 - Last Chance Saloon - Wayne, AB (3:00 PM)

09/30 - House Concert - Humboldt, SK

10/01  - Qu'Appelle Valley Arts Centre - Fort Qu'Appelle, SK

10/03  - Midtown Stage - Dryden, ON

10/04  - The Apollo - Thunder Bay, ON

10/05  - Lakeview Hotel - Wawa, ON

10/19 - Few Acres Farm Concert - Russell, ON

10/25 - Hometown Release Concert at The Mansion w/ The Mill Rights and Dead Root Revival - Kingston,ON

See you down that road!
Tom

Pre-order New Tom Savage Record Today!

Calling on all of my friends and fans, I'm so excited to share with you the news of my impending album release. My eighth record! I think you guys are really going to dig this music. A bit of a shift in styles for me, more of a pop/indie vibe on some of the tracks. I'm very proud of how this record turned out. Muchos gracias to Zane Whitfield, Dylan Lodge, and Phil Bova for sculpting the sounds.

And the band! Oh my God! It's a pure joy to hear the keyboard mastery of Tony Silvestri on this record. In his element, with Fender Rhodes and Hammond Organ as his tools. You can't beat those tones and the skill with which he manipulates those instruments.

Anyone who has seen Bonz Bowering perform live know that the 'Animal' t-shirt he sometimes wears certainly befits his on stage persona. We did our best to capture some of his lightning in the recording bottle on this project. Ultimately, I was most impressed with his tasteful, thoughtful approach to the songs. Chills.

My childhood friend, Seamus Cowan, rounds out the band. Seamus, a late bloomer by musical standards, came to my Mom's house in Westport at the age of 18, looking for bass guitar instruction. After showing him a couple of Led Zeppelin and Hendrix tunes, my most important instruction was to send him on to Zak Colbert (legendary Kingston bassist), where he soared to the depths of the low end. So happy to work with Seamus on a project after all these years. His tone and approach are amazing. Not to mention his impeccable harmony vocal work ( and one helluva scream!!).

I've got an LA-based radio promo team ready to push the songs to stations across North America. I'm hiring a publicist to spread the word to the print media. This costs money. Lots of it! I need your help friends. You can pitch in to help the cause for as little as $5! https://www.gofundme.com/tomsavagealbum8

Please share and help spread the word!

Great News To Report!

I am pleased to report that the new CD project has reached the crowdfunding target! Now I can pay some bills!! Yay!!!

I want to thank everyone who got behind the project. I couldn't make this record without your help, and I think this is going to be one great record. Very exciting times!

We are about 75% finished the recording and are looking at an October release date for the new album, which will be called, " History Of A Common Man".

A couple of weeks left!

The crowdfunding campaign for my new solo CD wraps up on July 21st. If you dig what I'm doin', if you're pickin' up what I'm puttin' down, then get on board this train by pre-purchasing your copy of the new record. Lots of great new music for you plus the added benefit of supporting my art.

Thanks to all the friends and fans who've already jumped on board! Just need a few more. The project is currently 88% funded.

https://www.sellaband.com/en/projects/tom-savage

Pre-purchase your copy of the new album by JULY 21st

For those of you who have not yet pre-purchased your copy of my new solo album, you now have a deadline to do so. July 21st. This isn't an arbitrary date by any means. We have already started recording and July 21st is when we need the cash to pay for things like pressing CDs, artwork, etc.

When you pre-purchase your copy of the new solo album, you will also receive the new Foley Mountain Playboys digital album. Two very different albums, but both great collections of songs (if I do say so myself).

I want to thank everyone who has gotten on board so far. I literally couldn't make this record without you. This is a 100% independent operation here, so it feels great to have your support, and it motivates me to carry on with creating art. Thank YOU!

Support status for the new album is currently at 82%. Sellaband funds are in Euros. So 2470 Euros is equal to 3754 Canadian dollars. That means we need about $805 to wrap this campaign up. Let's get this done!

Crowdfunding Campaign up to 82 %!

The new record is now up to 82% funded on Sellaband! This is a good thing because we are halfway finished recording the new album already, and are going to need to pay for it!

Thanks everyone who has put their money down and shown me that they believe in what I'm doing. It means a lot. If you haven't contributed yet, there is still time. The deadline for contributing is July 21st, so pre-purchase your copy of the new record today! A bunch of other cool stuff you can pick up on the site as well.

Pre-purchase your copy of the new Tom Savage CD Today!

The new recording is now up to 65% funded. Get on board and show your support by pre-purchasing your copy of the new disc, and you will also receive a copy of the soon-to-be- released Foley Mountain Playboys digital album.

Go to SELLABAND now to contribute to the campaign. There are also other incentives available if you want to contribute more, such as:

* Private guitar lessons with Tom
* Full Tom Savage Discography
* Tom will come perform at your house

and more!

Let's get this thing done! It's going to be a great record!

The Sellaband Saga : the Crowdfunding Campaign Conundrum Continues...

We had a bump in the road, but I'm back with a new profile, new incentives, and a new drive to get this thing wrapped up so we can get on with finishing the record.

Thanks to everyone who hopped on board the new campaign profile to brings us up to 64% funded in just a few days!

I need your help to reach my goal. Think of it as a CD presale. Anyone who contributes gets a copy of the new disc plus a download copy of the soon-to-be-released Foley Mountain Playboys album!

Go to SELLABAND now and take part.

Crowdfunding Update

We were so close! We actually had all of the funding in place, but due to an internet glitch, the last transaction didn't go through. That means my profile was deactivated, and I have to start over again. Extremely frustrating!

On the positive side, you guys really came through for me, and I am extremely grateful and overwhelmed by the support you have shown for me and my music.

If you've purchased a part, go to the new profile I've just set up, and re-purchase those parts. You will not have to pay any money. It just assigns those parts to my profile. Let's get this thing done, so we can get on with the business of recording a bunch of really cool songs!

Contribute now to Tom Savage's Sellaband Campaign

Thanks for voting!

I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote for the Foley Mountain Playboys in the CBC Searchlight contest, but unfortunately we didn't make it to the next round. Good luck to our friends Kyra and Tully and Shawn Mccullough who did make it through. Go vote for them often!

The contest was a great way to introduce our music to some new fans, and we are really excited to complete the FMP record and get it out to all y'all. Keep up with all the news about the band on twitter @FMPlayboys 

The FMP album is one of TWO albums I'll be releasing this year. The Foley Mountain Playboys record is straight-up Country, while my solo record will have elements of Country, but also a folk-rock, singer-songwriter vibe. If you liked my last (studio) solo record, Never Shed No Tears, I think you'll enjoy this one. It'll be a musical sequel of sorts. A continuation and development of themes if you will.

We started tracking my new solo album this weekend, and the sounds are tasty. I've got a crowdfunding campaign going for the solo record, and if you make a contribution, you will receive a hard copy of my new album as well as a digital copy of the new FMP record. Head on over and check it out. For those of you who have supported my music over the years, this is a chance for you to have a real impact on the creative process. Let's get this record made!

50K Music interview

Had an opportunity to chat with 50K music magazine recently about my crowdfunding project on Sellaband. Still plugging away at raising money ( and awareness) about my project, so all you fans/friends/family/acquaintances/enemies/strangers spread the word!  In all seriousness, if you have an appreciation of the work I've put out over the years, here is your chance to get on board, and help me create something new.

This year has been all about transition for me artistically, and I'm excited about what the future holds. Not only for solo projects, but also with The Foley Mountain Playboys, and maybe even, at long last, the completion of the Aldous Huxters record.

Bring it on!!!

'Train Keeps A Rollin' voted the Talentcast Song Of The Week

Thanks to everyone who took a moment to vote for me on Talentcast last week. It turns out that "Train Keeps A Rollin" was voted song of the week. Pretty Cool!

Here is what that means :

* Ede FM will play the Song of the Week at least 40 times. 
* All winners will be featured in the SellaBand news. 
* Winners from SellaBand will be in the Hot Music section on the main page of SellaBand.
* TalentCast plays the Song of the Week again in the next edition.

Not bad. Let's hope it kicks up the fundraising support a notch or two for my new album. By the way, if you buy three parts of the new project on Sellaband, you not only get the new (yet-to-be recorded) CD, but you also get an Exclusive EP (for those who invest only), and a copy of "Overdrive Express", the album that contains " Train Keeps A Rollin". Deals!