The Louisiana Sessions

Hello!  My name is Grant Dermody. I am a harmonica player, singer, songwriter and tunesmith from Seattle, Washington. I play acoustic American Roots music. I am raising money to record and manufacture my third CD, The Louisiana Sessions. We start recording in January 2014 at Dirk Powell's studio in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

I have been a working musician for over thirty years. I have performed, toured and recorded with some of the very best. I have been a sideman, a band member and solo artist. My last two solo records had over 20 guest artists each. Each CD was a testament to and an attempt to capture the musical relationships I have developed throughout my life and career. You can read about them on my website www.grantdermody.com. You can also see my complete discography and biography. 

My most recent record, Lay Down My Burden 2010 was made during the two years my wife, Eileen, was ill and before her passing. That record was about strength, power, depth of love, perseverance, and community. It was difficult to do but it emerged as a beautiful record and one of which I am very proud. 

I am ready to make a new record, with a deeper power, a more joyful strength and a smaller musical community. With this recording, I'll be doing what I do best, playing Country Blues, Old-Time and Cajun music with some good friends and fabulous musicians. I have written a bunch of new tunes for this project and am ready to get to work laying them down.

I will be joined by Dirk Powell and Orville Johnson on all the tunes. Cedric Watson will join us on fiddle for the old-time and cajun tunes, and Rich Del Grosso will play mandolin on the deep, low-down blues tunes. All are great friends and musicians and are ready, willing and able to help me make the best possible CD. They are also a group I can tour with once the record is out. 

Dirk Powell will be the engineer for the project and it will be mastered by nine-time Grammy winner Michael Bishop from 5/4 Productions.

I have the vision and tunes for a great record, and I have the best musicians working with me as well. I need your help with the financial part to bring it all to life. 

THE FINANCING

My last two recordings were each done over two-year periods, a song or two at a time. A few hundred dollars a session, spread out this way was affordable. As each CD had over twenty guest artists, this was also the most reasonable way to complete the recording. 

This record will be recorded in two 3-4 day sessions; one in January 2014 and one in March. 

Here is the breakdown of expenses:

Recording, paying these amazing musicians for their time, effort, and supreme musicianship- $11,000.00

Mastering- $1500.00

Graphic Design- $2,000.00

CD Manufacturing- $1,100.00 

Licensing-$300.00

Airfare- $3,000.00

Car rental- $500.00

Food and expenses while recording- $300.00

Hotels- $1000.00

Promotion- $2500.00

Indiegogo Fees- ?

TOTAL- $23,200.00

I am asking for $15,000.00, less than the total cost of the project. I will cover the rest of the expenses myself. I need you to become part of this project, to help me make the best possible recording. 

Check out the perks you will get for contributing. There is a lot there to like.

If I do not receive all the money I ask for I will use what I get to pay the musicians, and the recording and mastering engineers. This will leave me to cover the post production costs myself. I'll figure it out and get it done. I am fully committed to getting this record out into the world.