Celtic rock band Ceili Rain is taking a unique approach to their next recording project: their fans are funding it.A few months ago, band leader Bob Halligan Jr. sent out an email to the Ceili Rain mailing list, asking fans to partner with the band on their next album, CR6. Fans were asked to become sponsors of the project, contributing as they felt led. I like this idea, for a couple of reasons.Ceili Rain is more than just an entertaining band. They’ve had a unique opportunity, for example, to be involved with ministries and projects that work with Catholics and Protestants to help bring a message of peace to young people in Ireland. They’re involved with The One Campaign and Mercy Corps. I’d say they’re just as much ministry as entertainment, and if you’ve ever seen them live, you know how entertaining they are. (Here’s another video of them performing live; I’ve always said Bob Halligan is the Willy Wonka of Christian music. When he’s on stage, something magical happens.)And I think music fans should support ministry-oriented bands the same way they’d support missionaries. I like to think of bands like Ceili Rain as “musicianaries,” artists who share the gospel of peace with music. A missionary would move forward with a project based on the budget they have, which is based, at least in part, on the support they receive. Why shouldn’t a music fan support a musicianary the same way?Bob tells me that their fans have been very supportive so far and all of the sponsorships aren’t in yet. He knows the current economic climate may affect fans’ willingness to partner, but he hopes not, citing his “Hooligan optimism.”He adds, with typical Bob Halligan charm, “There is survival of the fittest in any game. We’re not the fittest, but we are the un-quit-est!!”To learn more about Ceili Rain, visit their website. To find out more about how you can partner with this fun, entertaining and peace-sharing Celtic rock band and their next album, send them a message on their MySpace page.
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posted October 6, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I saw Ceili Rain a few years back at Kingdom Bound Christian music festival in Darien Center, NY and they even had a conga line dancing thru the tent, so I have good memories of that band. The lead singer, Bob, has written hits for famous artists. I think the band lives in Syracuse. I also like how they manage to bring together Catholics and Protestants in the name of Jesus. It takes a lot of money to record a CD these days– $3,000-$100,000 depending on a number of factors, so why not ask fans to fund it in these days and times? Ceili Rain has built up a following over the years so they should have enough eager fans who will pay to hear more music from this creative, unique band. If only more “Christian” bands were musically and marketing-wise as interesting as Ceili Rain. -Mark from http://www.christianmusicdaily.com