We are very excited to host a special screening of the Emmy-nominated documentary The Hayloft Gang on December 7! For more info on our event, visit here.
The Hayloft Gang traces the history of the pioneering radio show, The National Barn Dance, and its role in shaping American music and popular culture. Unfortunately, the Emmy nominated documentary could be destined for obscurity, unless funds can be raised to license the music used in the film.
Narrated by Garrison Keillor, The Hayloft Gang: The Story of the National Barn Dance is a one – hour documentary that tells the story of a changing America, through the lens of one of early radio’s most popular and influential programs. The film’s lively soundtrack features over 70 songs, spanning from the mid 1920s to the Great Depression, through World War II. The radio show was a melting pot of Americana music; listeners could hear everything from mountain string bands and polka trios, to folk balladeers and cowboy crooners. The Hayloft Gang premiered on PBS, fall of 2011.
According to Producer/Director Stephen Parry, “Our goal has always been to bring The Hayloft Gang to audiences beyond public television. The film needs to be seen in schools and available in libraries, as well as accessible to the general public. We’re grateful to have received some prestigious grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, ITVS and other donors, but with recent cutbacks in arts funding, this just hasn’t been enough. Our production budget only covers the costs to license and clear the music rights for a limited PBS broadcast.”
The Hayloft Gang is launching a new campaign with USA Projects to raise the funds needed for clearance and licensing of the DVD and digital media rights for the film. USA Projects is a nonprofit grant making and advocacy organization dedicated to accomplished artists working in the United States. Using USA Projects unique, online funding platform, the campaign will run through December 31, 2012.
The funding goal is $20,000. All donations made through USA Projects are tax deductible and eligible for matching funds. Proceeds to the project will be used to pay for music clearance and licensing for The Hayloft Gang. Supporters can choose from some great rewards including; a unique set of Hayloft Gang postcards, a CD of songs from the film’s soundtrack, The Hayloft Gang DVD signed by the crew, an autographed copy of the companion book to the film, or “A Day with the Producer” spent viewing and listening to the rare and extensive project archives… plus other cool rewards!
To learn more about the project and to make a donation – visit
