FEATherWOLF Tour Brings Instruments to Local School District
By Jillian Dawson
If you’re from the Fox Valley, chances are you’ve heard of FEATherWOLF. One peek at the duo’s packed summer schedule shows their passion for sharing their music with the community. Now FEATherWOLF (Sam Luna and Shaun Marie) are ready to take the show on the road with a cause worth singing for.
“I’ve always wanted to raise money for the music and arts program for public schools,” says Luna. The duo recognized the biggest need was within the Menasha School District, specifically with opportunities for instruments in the schools.
“Kids aren’t able to play the instruments they want to play – they have to choose the cheaper rentals,” says Shaun Marie. Luna adds, “We’re talking about a school district where the majority of their students are on assisted lunch. We want to help buy as many instruments as possible.”
Beginning September 7th, FEATherWOLF will travel cross-country for a total of ten thousand miles with forty shows in thirty days to perform and raise awareness for the need of music and arts programs in schools.
The duo set up a non-profit GoFundMe page in support of their cause. Luna adds, “We recently had our own fundraiser at Rock Garden Studios to cover our own expenses. It’s important that businesses know their donations [through GoFundMe] are going directly into buying instruments, not to make sure we get our ten thousand miles.”
Their biggest supporter and sponsor of the tour has been Tundraland Cares, a branch of Tundraland that gives back to the community. Owner and president of Tundraland, Brian Gottlieb, along with Lindsey Schmidt, were major players in putting the plan into action.
“They’ve already done so much. Brian Gottlieb supports a lot of things in the community, many of them people don’t realize he does. I want to do something to show respect to the people who have made this area so great for music,” says Luna. He recognizes the opportunities for musicians in the area with an audience and community support.
“I think it’s important for us to remember why we have that support. That’s why we recorded our album here with Marc Golde and that’s why we wanted to work with Brian Gottlieb; we see it as something that will be a way for this community and every community to see what makes the Fox Valley so special.”
FEATherWOLF would like to see this tour become a reoccurring event with education in schools and more musicians joining their non-profit tour along the way.
You can donate to FEATherWOLF's tour here: https://www.gofundme.com/featherwolftour