Soundboard

Help make the new Kalispell album

Thom Fountain |

Shane Leonard has been a staple in the Chippewa Valley arts community for some time, his presence even felt over the last year that he's relocated to Chicago. Leonard played jazz around town, plays drums and banjo in Field Report, taught and performed improv comedy and was host to a pop-up outdoor music venue last summer.

His main project though is Kalispell, a sprawling folk and bluegrass endeavor that released its debut full-length Westbound in 2012. Leonard is hoping to jump off that starting point and put out a follow-up in 2014, but he's asking for a little help.

Kalispell just launched a Kickstarter, seeking $15,000 in funding to get this ambitious record off the ground. For starters, Leonard is hoping to record here in Fall Creek at Justin Vernon's April Base studios. He also has pegged Bon Iver producer Brian Joseph to engineer the record and has a number of guest musicians lined up from Field Report, Nickel Creek and Andrew Bird.

As Kickstarter works, your contributions aren't just donations. Kalispell is offering recorded music, live music, books of writing and even in one case the clothing off Leonard's own head. 

The Kickstarter wraps up Sunday, Dec. 22 and is plugging along to its goal, so get in there while the gettings still good.