there’s a blog about recording & some pics on my RAMBLINGS page and i’m in the middle of my first tour for 2012! So far i’ve been to Adelaide and Perth, next week i’m playing a !sold out! show in Sydney and then will be off for a month to Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and a bunch of other places. Yep, i’m playing in living rooms again but there’s a few shows for all you guys that missed out on the House Concerts so check the SHOWS page for details.
We’re doing another recording day just before i go away and then a big couple of weeks to finish it off in May. Yep, you heard me, finish it off. more pics and stuff on the way and i’ll keep you posted on everything!
Ok friends, remember how at the beginning of this year i was touring the country and came to your houses and played in your backyards, courtyards, loungerooms, garages/anywhere else you decided to put me? I would love, so much, to do it again if you’d like to have me along?
It’ll go through February, March & April 2012 and i will travel anywhere and everywhere to the homes of each and every one of you beautiful people that wants me to come and play for you
If you weren’t involved last year – or you were and you need a brush up – this is how it works. If you like my music and want me to come play, at your house, for you and your friends, send me an email on homewardbound@sambuckingham.com , tell me where you live and how many people (approx) you’d like to invite to come along. Also tell me if there’s any dates throughout, February , March & April you DON’T have available to host a gig – or if there are specific days/nights of the week that work best for you.
I’m leaving this invitation open until 24th December. Christmas Eve! So, if you want me to come and play for you, please send your email before then. After that, i’ll look at all the places i get to go and work out the exact tour dates from there. We can get talking to nut out all the details and then, next year, i’ll come and play a special house concert for you, your family and your friends.
I had such an amazing time earlier this year when i did my first Homeward Bound tour and the feedback from you guys was amazing. I really felt like i made so many new friends and that we all got to enjoy music in a completely different way and for that i feel truly grateful. And excited to do it again! Some people had Barbeques, some had dinner parties, at others everyone brought a plate… A few people raised money for a charity, some did it for a birthday celebration… we had them inside, outside, during the day, during the night… it was a choose your own adventure tour!
SOME QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO ASK & THE ANSWERS I WOULD GIVE YOU IF YOU DID
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS INSTEAD OF JUST PLAYING IN A PUB OR MUSIC VENUE?
Because the Homeward Bound Tour i did earlier this year was the best fun i ever had in my whole entire life! It’s a different experience for the artist and the crowd because there’s no stage dividing one from the other and the show can become much more of a conversation and a personal experience for everyone. I love the intimacy that comes with playing in a small, friendly space, especially to a room full of people that are comfortable, ready and excited to listen. I also just like a good, creative excuse to get friends together for a good time so it’s nice to know I can be part of that for you and your friends
WILL IT COST ME MONEY?
Nope. Unless you want to provide food or drinks for your guests. That would be nice but i’m sure they’d all be happy to bring a plate and their own drinks. It will, however, cost each person something to come along to the show – just like it would at a normal gig. Otherwise I can’t afford to travel around and do this! We can decide ticket price together depending on what you feel comfortable with and how many people you’re planning on inviting. Most shows on the last tour were $15 and everyone seemed pretty happy with that. i do ask for a small deposit ($100) from you when we lock in the date which will help me cover the upfront expenses to get me to your place and also allow me to lock in the date with confidence – but you’ll get this straight back on the day I come to play so you never end up out of pocket
WILL YOU TAKE REQUESTS?
Of course! I’ll be playing a lot of new songs from my new album (YESSS!) but also the oldies that are goodies. if there’s a song(s) of mine you really want to hear, let me know and i’ll play it/them for you
WILL YOU BE SELLING CD’s?
Yes! I’m always selling CD’s! I’ll also be selling pre orders of my NEW ALBUM (hey. i, like, really like saying that)
HOW LONG WILL YOU PLAY FOR?
about an hour usually works well. Like at a gig you’d go see in a pub or club. Except better cause it’s at your house!
I WANT TO DO THIS BUT I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING IT AT HOME/DON’T HAVE MUCH SPACE/MY PARENTS WON’T LET ME…?
email me anyway and maybe we can work something out. Halls, theatres, churches and smaller venues will often lend out their rooms for something like this. That could be nice. Or, you could team up with a friend and do it at their place, inviting both of your loved ones along to share in the fun
I’M A MUSICIAN AND I WANT TO HAVE YOU COME DO A HOUSE CONCERT WHERE I PLAY ASWELL
That sounds brilliant. Send me an email and we’ll do it!
IS THERE ANYWHERE YOU WON’T GO?
Nope, i’m willing to go anywhere you guys want me to come and play – as long as I can make enough money to cover my expenses + a little bit extra to buy my groceries. Probably best to keep it in Australia though unless you have a private jet
HOW DO YOU KNOW I’M NOT A CRAZY PERSON?
Aah, good point. I guess I don’t. I’m a very trusting person BUT, in order to make sure I stay safe i’ll be doing the following: Where possible i’ll be bringing a friend with me to to each show; Notifying a trusted person close by to your house/venue of where i’ll be and when and asking for a copy of your photo ID and Drivers Licence/ID number with your address when we book in the show. I’m sure you’re not crazy but it’s best to take precautions. Now, how do you know I’M not crazy???
DO WE NEED SOUND EQUIPMENT?
That depends on the size of the room & how many people will be coming. I did most of the shows last time unplugged which was really beautiful. But if we need equipment that’s great too and we can easily work this out if it’s needed
WILL THERE BE ALCOHOL?
That’s completely up to you (or your parents). Please bear in mind that this is a house concert, not a house party. There’s quite a difference because at a concert everyone is there to have a great time watching the show and is able to sit and listen to enjoy the music. At a party, we get rowdy and loud and don’t really pay much attention to whatever music is playing. Both are fun, but in this case we’re having a house concert
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Ok, so, any other questions, please email me on homewardbound@sambuckingham.com
Remember, you have until Christmas Eve to send your email!
Ok, can’t wait to hear from you and make plans with you guys for some really special shows. Lots of love to you all and a big thankyou for all your messages of excitement and support for the new album… busy/exciting/fun/beautiful times are ahead. Can’t wait to get back on the road and play for you!
xxSam
here’s a little prize for making it all the way to the end
wow, it’s been 50 days since i put it out into Cyber Space and the Real World that i was going to record an album and that i wanted your help with getting it done. I’ve been amazed, touched, surprised and completely stoked with the support & messages of encouragement from you guys. And we’ve raised 86% of the $10,000 goal! WHOA! Thankyou from the very bottom of my heart to all of you that have pledged so far. I can’t believe it’s nearly time to get in the studio! We’re just doing a date juggle now but it looks like we’re on track to get started in December. Ummmm that’s really soon!
So, there’s only 10 DAYS LEFT to make a pledge and help my little baby get born so if you’d like to pre order a copy of the album or get your hands on any of the other items (like past releases, B-Sides, Covers, your chance to BE on the album etc etc) then please click on this link and make a pledge! it’s not a donation, you get stuff! Lots of stuff!
i’ve written a little blog about how it’s all going, the demo process, what’s going on in my crazy writing mind and plenty of other things. If you’d like to read it, it’s at my RAMBLINGS page
I know i haven’t posted a new song video for a while – i’m sorry! i’ve been stuck in GarageBand land making demos to get each song ready for when we start in the studio so it will all be worth it when the album’s released. Have also written a couple of new songs that i love so much i had to put on the album so the track listing has completely changed again! anyway, all that news is in the blog…
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In other, almost but not entirely unrelated news, my friends Holly, Ado & Amber are in a competition to win $100,000 to make their web series ‘Ultimate Fanj’. They’re amazing actors/performers/filmmakers and, quite honestly, all played a huge part in getting me back on the horse when i lost the love with my music a few years back. They brought joy and friendship back into music and performing for me at a time when it all started to feel a bit cold – and the nights spent with them, sharing and creating have stayed with me to this day and have influenced, and will keep influencing the way i make music forever. For this i’ll be forever grateful so, in a small bow and ‘thankyou’ to them, i am asking people i know to have a look at the trailer for their show and if you like it, click on LOVE IT and help them get the prize!
i’m not joking, it is my birthday today Happy Birthday to me. and there’s only one thing i want today, this week, forever.. and that’s to be able to keep making beautiful and beautifuler music for anyone and everyone that wants to hear it. One way to achieve that i suppose would be for people to pre order my new album for themselves, a loved one or a random stranger who they would like to bed…
if you’d like to make my birthday wish come true just click, pledge and get yourself all sorts of musical goodies in return. We’re up to 39% of the goal so far!
Actually, to be honest, there are plenty of other things i would like for my birthday including but not limited to an end to violence, a lower price p/kilo for bananas and for the orangutan not to become extinct but let’s start with the album and work towards everything else.
And, i have a present for you! It’s a new song i wrote last Friday. You can watch/listen here
Lots of love to you all and an extra dose of love today to my parents Margot and Paul
Well, it’s been almost a week since i started my Crowdfunding campaign to help get the new album recorded and off the ground. I have been so amazed and overwhelmed at your support so far guys, thankyou so much. We’re up to 19% ! That’s $1925 which will pay for two full days in the studio. This is absolutely incredible and a huge start to the campaign so thankyou all, a hundred times over.
There’s still a long way to go so, if you want to be part of it all, here’s the link with all the info and great stuff you can get, all in the name of helping me record my new album.
Did you know you could actually BE on the album? heaps of other stuff is there too including exclusive B-Sides and value packed CD Packages. Link has all the details or just click the widget to your right
and here’s a song for you! It was filmed in Sydney last week when i played at El Rocco. It’s called ‘Tomorrow I’ll Wear Black’
Ok, well, until next week’s update stay safe and happy. And as always, thankyou for reading, listening, watching, caring
You might already know, i’ve been writing new songs for the past 2 years at home, on the road and in little apartments in Paris and Barcelona and, out of about 50, i’ve picked 12 or so that I really love and I think/hope you’ll love them too… soooooo i’m going to put them on an album!
So, i’m very excited! And nervous. And ready. And i need your help to get this album recorded and into your ears… Please help me!
I‘ve put a whole lot of things up for sale on a site called POZIBLE.COM for you to get and directly help me fund this new album. There’s a B-sides album, fun stuff like writing a song for you or with you, a private Skype concert, special CD packages& heaps more. And, of course, you can pre order the new album here too. It all depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.
Uh, here’s me to tell you all about it
Whaddya think?
I’ll be staying in touch with everyone throughout the campaign process and then throughout the recording process to let you all know how it’s going and give you inside sneak peeks into what’s happening along the way. If you have an idea/there’s something that’s not on the site that you want or you think would be an awesome thing for others to have too, email me sam@sambuckingham.com and let me know!
Each and every dollar that’s pledged will go directly into paying for the new album to be made. My goal is to raise $10,000 which is about two thirds of the minimum of what the album will cost. I’m working my little thighs off to get the rest together but, obviously, if we get over $10,000 on the Pozible site that would be AMAZING as it will mean more recording time (which means more songs!) or we might even have some cash for a video clip and some other stuff aswell.
But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves… just go have a look and see if there’s anything there that you want! And then get it! And then i’ll make more and more music for you.
WWW.POZIBLE.COM is the site, or click the Widget to your right
Spring has sprung and i’m even starting to think about Christmas now.. is that weird? Lots to do before then and i’m really excited to share a few things with you today!
Firstly, i wrote a new song last week and went straight over to my friend Fronz Arp‘s house to make a little demo to put on YouTube. it’s called Shackles and you can watch it right here
if you want to read the story behind the song it’s on my RAMBLINGS page.
If you’re in Sydney, i’ll be playing a special intimate show very soon and if you’d like to come i’d love to see you there! It’ll be my last headline show in Sydney for a while as i’ll soon be going into the Bat Cave to do some recording… details are on my SHOWS page
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Recording.. yeah… so… i know i’ve been crapping on for a while about making a new album but, i mean it this time, i’m nearly there! The songs are ready, the band is ready, the only other thing i need to do is get the funds together to make it all happen… This is where you guys come in! I’m setting up a page where people can go to pre order the new album (yep – before it’s even made!) which will actually be what helps me fund it to get it made. This ‘Crowdfunding’ method is becoming more and more popular as artists are becoming more and more independent in todays changing industry. It’s often up to us to be the musician, manager, booking agent and publicist all at once. that’s alot of hats! It’s also up to us to be the ‘record label’ and fund our own recordings, tours and everything else which is why Crowdfunding is such a great way to get family, friends and fans involved in this vital part of our music careers .
So, in a week or two when the web page is up i’ll be sending you guys a link where you can pre order the album, b-sides and a whole bunch of other great stuff for your ears and your hearts all in the name of helping me make my new album. I’m excited! And nervous. And excited! I hope you guys will want to be a part of it all. More details really really soon
