Amanda Palmer’s Got A New Album, Dates & Kickstarter Campaign

Now she needs help from her fans to promote, mix, manufacture and distribute the music. She explained in a video that before her messy, very public split with Roadrunner Records, her label would have paid for all of the expenses that come with putting out an album.

“If I hadn’t left the label the recording budget alone for this record was scheduled to be over $200,000 and the promo/distro budget around another $300,000. I’m really glad I’m not on the label. I’d much rather stand here … holding up signs to ask you for the money to run my business and this way I will actually see a profit from my music,” Palmer said.

In addition to recording the album, Palmer commissioned 30 artists to create work inspired by the new tunes. The art will hit the road along with Palmer and her band at pop-up art exhibitions in six cities in the U.S. and Europe this summer.

Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra will play two shows in each location. One show will be an exclusive, acoustic set as well as an art opening for the pop-up art exhibitions. To get into the show you must donate $300 or more to the Kickstarter project. The second event is a rock show with Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra plugged in.

As of the time of this post, the Kickstarter project had 6,716 backers pledging a total of $377,196. Fans can pledge between $1 to $10,000. You can pledge even more by helping Palmer out with an interest-free loan. Donating a minimum of $1 will get you a digital download of the album with bonus songs & Kickstarter exclusive content. If you’ve got $10,000 or more to throw around, you can get a one-on-one day with Palmer where she will paint you on a big canvas format. Or maybe you’d prefer the whole band coming to your house and dressing you up in glitter, makeup and wigs for a photoshoot. Palmer promises the band will also “order Thai food and drink you under the table. You provide table.” She’ll also probably play the ukulele.

Here’s the dates and locations for the exclusive acoustic sets: Berlin’s Platoon June 12; London’s Village Underground (16+) June 18; Brooklyn, N.Y., at Momenta Gallery June 28; San Francisco’s Public Works (21+) July 12; Los Angeles’ Pop Tart Gallery July 19; and Cambridge, Mass., at Middle East Downstairs Aug. 1.

The rock shows are scheduled at Berlin’s Roter Salon (14+) June 14; London’s Village Underground (16+) June 20; Brooklyn, N.Y., at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (16+) June 27; San Francisco’s Public Works (21+) July 13; West Hollywood, Calif., at The Roxy Theatre July 18; and Cambridge, Mass., at Middle East Downstaris Aug. 2.

Tickets for the rock shows go on sale May 11.