The Mars Patrol

After successfully raising the £5,000 target on the Ralph's Life Charity CD through crowd funding I thought I'd take a look at other music crowd funder projects currently active.  Scottish (but London based) six-piece Alt Pop/Rockers The Mars Patrol are currently in the middle of their second Pledge Music Campaign after successfully raising the funds for their first EP 'Young Lovers'



If they reach their crowd funding total 5% of monies raised will be donated to Cancer Research.  The remaining funds will be used to to finish and mix 5 new songs. However, thay are actually working on 7 and whether or not they can afford to keep working on those extra two, have them mixed and include them on the release will depend on how much over 100% they get. 








So, once they hit the minimum target The Mars Patrol would love it if people could keep pledging. They might even get enough to make a new music video!  Needless to say, there are loads of rewards on offer in return for your pledge, ranging from a download to an acoustic concert in your house or Executive Producer Credits on the album!

The 'Young Lovers' single is a very polished piece of Alt Pop with Davina Divine's strong clear vocal very much to the fore backed up by the musically accomplished Mars Patrol lads in the stripped back performance video - shades of Garbage or Republica. If you like what you hear why not become a part of their crowd funder and Pledge for a reward now!

PLEDGE

• "Young Lovers - Part 2" download + updates
  £ 6

  PLEDGE

PLEDGE PLUS

"Young Lovers - Part 2" download + updates, PLUS another exclusive below.

• Brand New Release on CD, not signed
  £ 10

  AVAILABLE
• Double Digital Download *
  £ 10

  AVAILABLE
• Brand New Release on CD, signed
  £ 12

  AVAILABLE
• Winter Beanie Hat - Embroidered with TMP logo *
  £ 12

  8 LEFT
• CD Double Pack, signed
  £ 15

  AVAILABLE
• Limited Edition 'TMP' Tshirt (charcoal) *
  £ 16

  AVAILABLE
• Limited Edition 'TMP' Tshirt (heather grey) *
  £ 16

  AVAILABLE
• Limited Edition Poster, signed *
  £ 20

  17 LEFT
• Your Name In The Liner Notes + Signed CD
  £ 35

  AVAILABLE
• Skype Piano Lesson *
  £ 40

  AVAILABLE
• Stop Pushing You Away - Original Artwork Proof *
  £ 40

  ALL GONE!
• Handwritten Lyric Sheet *
  £ 50

  5 LEFT
• TMP Logo 'Bling' *
  £ 50

  4 LEFT
• Ultimate CD Bundle + Tshirt + Beanie
  £ 50

  AVAILABLE
• Drum Lesson with Lewis *
  £ 60

  AVAILABLE
• Come to a rehearsal
  £ 75

  5 LEFT
• Collector Art Poster - only two!
  £ 100

  1 LEFT
• CD & Signed Artwork in Frame + New CD + Tshirt
  £ 120

  5 LEFT
• Hang out with Davina & Ross at London Zoo* + two CDs
  £ 200

  ALL GONE!
• Dinner with the band + two CDs
  £ 400

  2 LEFT
• Electric Guitar, signed* + two CDs
  £ 400

  1 LEFT
• Acoustic Concert in your House + CD + Tshirt
  £ 600

  AVAILABLE
• Executive Producer Credit + extras
  £ 800

  2 LEFT

Xander and The Peace Pirates

Ralph's love of crowd-funding projects knows no bounds, so when he heard that Liverpool band Xander and The Peace Pirates were using crowdfunder.co.uk to finance a trip to America in order to gain further recognition he was intrigued.

Xander & The Peace Pirates are tagged as one of the most energetic, entertaining and musically competent bands around and have shared the stage with legends Buddy Guy, Eric Bibb, Richie Kotzen, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Van Morrison, Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy) & Sam Brown. They've also just released a new EP and a video of the excellent 'This City'.

Thanks to Ant Clausen Photography

They've featured alongside Keith Richards, Steve Cropper, Jeff Beck and Albert Lee in a documentary on the history of Leo Fender's Telecaster guitar called 'Original Twang'and in 3 or 4 years they've gone from jamming in a little flat with a couple of tunes to busking on the streets of Liverpool where they were spotted and asked to play a residency in the world famous Cavern followed by supporting Bon Jovi at Old Trafford.

For them the journey really begins now as they have some amazing opportinities lined up in America that will see them meet producers, record labels and TV companies from Nashville to New York and LA. 

The crowd funding project will also help them to film their adventures to be included in a pilot for a documentary that's being pitched to BBC and Channel 4. They're  working with a production company in London who are currently filming  a brand new E4 series and who are managing and co-ordintaing the filming of the documentary.  The route they're taking across the USA will take them from New York to Nashville and then on to Dallas Texas where they'll be auditioning for the worlds biggest talent competition, and for the price of a pint you can chip in and become part of their journey!


If you'd like to help, just click on the PLEDGE link below...

£2,569RAISED OF £3,011 TARGET

85%

BACKERS36DAYS LEFT38

Pledge

First please make sure you are logged into the Crowdfunder website, you must be a member to pledge. Then choose your reward below.

PLEDGE £5.00 OR MORE18 backers so far1982 more availableOur brand new EP converted digitally for Mp3 or iPod including original artwork and scanned hand written lyrics and brand new signed photos also scanned.

PLEDGE £20.00 OR MORE9 backers so far21 more available5 hand written thank you notes and a signed EP.

PLEDGE £50.00 OR MORE3 backers so far7 more availableSkype gigs just for you and your friends. Exactly what it says. We will play a selection of original and cover songs chosen by you and play your very own Skype gig for 30 minutes. Times to be arranged.

PLEDGE £50.00 OR MORE2 backers so far7 more availableSkype guitar lesson. A 30 minute guitar lesson with Keith or Stu Xander covering anything you like to learn on guitar or you can just chat to them about consciousness and enlightenment.

PLEDGE £90.00 OR MORESOLD OUT!1 backer so farA caricature drawn by keith xander of anyone you so desire plus a signed copy of our EP.

PLEDGE £100.00 OR MORESOLD OUT!2 backers so far2 solid silver peace necklaces as worn by Keith and Stuart Xander at the Bon Jovi gig and on the pledge video and every day since.

PLEDGE £165.00 OR MORE0 backers so far2 more available2 original Ibanez tube screamer pedals as used by Keith Xander and Stu Xander to record the guitars on the album '11' and their EP 'Order out of Chaos' signed by both the pirates.

PLEDGE £300.00 OR MORE1 backer so far4 more availableWe have 5 lovely intimate 45 minute front room, back garden or wherever you please gigs. We will play a selection of our own songs and some covers of your choosing. Travelling distances further than 30 miles will incur some extra petrol costs. We will also pose for a lovely pic with you all and give you a framed and signed copy of our EP.

PLEDGE £500.00 OR MORE0 backers so far1 more availableWe will turn lyrics, poems or words you have written into a fully arranged and written song. Or maybe you just have a subject or title and we will do the rest. We will do it in the style you like too so it can be a funky tune, rock and roll song or a soulful ballad for you to share writing credits with us and release on Reverbnation.

PLEDGE £999.00 OR MORESOLD OUT!1 backer so farThe gibson flying V used by Keith Xander when we supported Buddy Guy at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool. Buddy even joked he might grab it if we left it around for too long. A beautiful original unique Gibson flying V as played by Jimi Hendrix but signed by the newest guitar hero Keith Xander and his pirate brother Stu Xander. Stick it on the wall or plug it into a Marshall stack and play some heavy riffs, such a cool looking and sounding guitar. This will also include a signed framed CD, hand written lyrics and a signed photo of Keith playing this awesome rock n roll guitar.