Ash Grunwald
Photo by Ros O'Gorman

ASH GRUNWALD RELEASES NEW ALBUM WITH HELP FROM PLEDGE MUSIC

By Sally Bailey

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:03:11 +1000

Pledge Music. The basic concept is that a struggling musician is able to sell off themselves, their posessions and their time in order to earn enough money to release an album, shoot a video or whatever.

Great if you are struggling and have the time and belongings to sell, however it strikes me as new low for the music industry in general. Pledge Music charge 15% of the revenue generated by fans purchasing goodies from their favourite artists. Tidy. A new and inventive way of not investing a dime on passionate musicians and making money from them.

Ash Grunwald is a fantastic musician and well worth supporting, but does he need to sell his posessions in order to garner the financial support required to a release an album? For $3000 you can purchase his Steel Guitar used on the recordings 'Introducing', 'I Don't Believe' and 'Live at the Corner'. Ash makes mention on the Pledge Music website;

"I just found out about PledgeMusic from my friend Mia Dyson. Her campaign went really well, I think she's up to 130% of what she was after. It seems like a really cool way for artists to get some help with the costly extra things that go into giving you that finished product, like mixing, mastering, printing, promoting, music videos.....it just goes on and on. With the advent of illegal downloading, its become pretty tough, yet as artists we still don't want to cut any corners."

Each to their own of course, and obviously Ash Grunwald has no problem with selling his time and belongings in order to release an album, more power to him and a treat for fans. There are other ways you can support (if you are not in the market for a surfing lesson or a guitar) through the purchase of his albums and attendance at live shows.

Purchase his new album "Troubles Door" or any of his previous releases. Troubles Door sounds like a winner, as per his own description "It probably sums up two years of change for me personally, and I hope it’s a reflection of the shifts in the world around us as well. Along with my good mate and dubstep sideproject partner, Fingers Malone, I did some of my most personal songwriting yet for this album. We’re pretty stoked with how it came out and I reckon its got a pretty fresh sound to it." The album Trouble's Door will officially be released on May 10. In addition Ash Grunwald will embark on a massive tour in support of the album sponsered by JJJ.

So, there's two more ways you can support Ash Grunwalds future releases. Otherwise, there are still a bunch of goodies left for you to purchase from Ash Grunwald on the Music Pledge wesbite.http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/troublesdoor

Tour dates below;

Friday 25th May The Great Northern Hotel NSW www.thenorthern.com.au

Wed 30th May Indi Bar, Scarborough WA Tickets: 08 9341 1122

Thurs 31st May Redcliffe on the Murray, Pinjarra WA redcliffeonthemurray.com

Friday 1st June Prince of Wales, Bunbury WA Tickets: 08 9721 2016

Sat 2nd June Karratha Tavern, Karratha WA www.karrathatav.com.au

Sun 3rd June The Fly By Night, Fremantle WA www.flybynight.org

Friday 8th June The Governor Hindmarsh SA www.thegov.com.au

Saturday 9th June The Corner Hotel VIC www.cornerhotel.com

Sunday 10th June The Westernport Hotel VIC www.thewesternport.com.au

Thursday 14th June The Spotted Cow QLD www.spottedcow.com.au

Friday 15th June The Hi-Fi QLD www.thehifi.com.au