The 2023 Iguana Music Fund recipients have been announced! See below for info on all 22 artists and groups that received grants this year.
For the past 16 years, the Iguana Fund has financed hundreds of projects to the benefit of our music community including Della Mae, Oompa, and Lake Street Dive. Being a musician in the last few years has led to more uncertainty than ever before. What remains clear is that art helps us understand ourselves, connects us, and makes life worth living. There is funding available for projects that you might be working on now: recording & streaming equipment, a new instrument that will take your playing to the next level, an online program that teaches important traditions, publicity for your debut EP.
On Monday, May 13th at 7pm, we will host a showcase of the 2023 grant recipients at Club Passim, featuring Nicolás Emden, Paul Willis, Spirit 47, Maddie Lam, and Noble Dust. A free livestream of the show will be available here.
2023 Recipients
Abby Lokelani
recording debut EP
Adeline Um
recording album with a new indie-pop sound
Almira Ara
recording first full-length album to highlight the importance of queer POC in music spaces
chrysalis
recording sophomore album
Circus 617 & Opera On Tap Boston
producing “Arias Aloft” with opera singers and circus arts
Elias Cardoso
recording rearranged traditional Celtic music
Hannah O'Brien & Grant Flick
recording sophomore album
Kimaya Diggs
hiring a producer for a new album
Lila Wilde
recording nu-disco album
Maddie Lam
first self-recorded project
Medford Trad Jazz Festival
traditional jazz and blues festival free to the public
Mint Green
funding first cross-country tour
Model Peril
a live music recording studio for underserved communities
Naomi Westwater
recording new album based on the cycle of the seasons
Nicolás Emden
recording new album of South American folk rock
The Opening Doors Project
A series of live performances dedicated to amplifying voices of color and advancing conversations about race
Paul Willis
writing a book and an album that discusses Hip Hop and values-based leadership
The Rough & Tumble
building a home recording studio
Ryan Curless
upgrading current drum gear
Simon Robert French
replacing broken instruments
Spirit 47
new roots revivalist duo recording their first album
Terry Borderline
producing an EP featuring 40 collaborating artists in hip hop, R&B, soul, & neo-soul
2022 RecipientsRead the Press Release
After School Arts Program
a film/writing/production workshop for Boston youth
Angela Yam
A fully-staged choral opera of Emily Dickinson's poetry set to music
Anju
recording first full-length album
Ash & Eric
a free concert series for Worcester, MA
Carmen Marsico & Zafarán
new album blending many Mediterranean musical traditions
Carolyn Kendrick and Isa Burke
an intimate educational workshop hosted to break down gender barriers in audio production
Cliff Notez
multi-genre-multidimensional collection of EPs that will make up a larger album
Culomba
recording new album
Kara McKee
debut solo album
Kim Moberg
original album of songs that tell the ancient legend of the Annishinabee prophecies
Lisa Bastoni
songwriting retreat for women+, with preference for mothers & caregivers
Matt Heaton
purchasing new guitar
Matthew Lau
new composition for vibraphone blending bluegrass and contemporary influences
Maura Shawn Scanlin
debut solo album
Maurizio Fiore Salas
Video footage of performances that present Venezuelan traditional music in different formats
Miles of Music Camp
funding scholarships for an annual music and songwriting camp
The Opening Doors Project
A series of live performances dedicated to amplifying voices of color and advancing conversations about race
Pamela Means
gear for The Power of The Protest Song presentation
Sophie Wellington
purchasing a dance board mic
Sub Rosa Songwriting Retreat
annual collaborative songwriting retreat
Zakiyyah
album exploring the sounds of the black diaspora and Hip-Hopera
Zayra Pola
debut album as a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
2021 RecipientsRead the Press Release
Alida Mckeon
recording debut ep
C.J. Red Mouth
recording debut ep
Camerata Nova Anglia
a recital series featuring POC musicians and their cultural influences
Chris Walton
releasing a song every month for a year
Coral Moons
purchasing an in-ear monitor system
FLUKES
producing a free video series for nursing homes, rehab, memory care and assisted-living facilities throughout Maine
Green Tara Project
album blending Celtic & Nepalese tunes
Honeysuckle
recording an ep with a new band sound
Ira Klein & Convivencia
produce two videos of Ladino music
Jake Blount & the Vox Hunters
recording an album of Black maritime music
Kate Callahan
writing songs with young women inmates
Kimaya Diggs
upgrading home recording equipment
The Know Better Do Better Project
video & website hosting
Lady Dust
traveling to Folk Alliance International and building a tour on the way
Lisa Bastoni
organizing a songwriting retreat for mothers & caregivers who are women & non-binary
Lyracle
starting a concert series of early music
Medford Community Chorale & Youth Chorus
a concert to support Medford’s CITY-WIDE HUNGER FREE initiative
Miles of Music Camp
funding scholarships for an annual music and songwriting camp
Opera on Tap Boston
hiring more performers for outdoor concert series
Owen Kennedy
recording debut album
Owen Marshall
recording solo album
Pamela Means
purchasing portable sound system
Sub Rosa Songwriting Retreat
annual collaborative songwriting retreat
2020 RecipientsRead the Press Release
Diana Alvarez
producing the BridgeSong Series, a virtual convening for artists of color
Alisa Amador
recording debut full-length album
Billy Wylder
releasing a series of singles leading up a new EP
Isa Burke
recording debut solo album
Màiri Chaimbeul
recording debut solo album
DJ WhySham
producing Finally LIVE: A Social Justice Trap Story, a showcase presenting women and non-binary artists in Boston
Mercedes Escobar
audio & video recording equipment
Sadie Gustafson-Zook
audio recording & streaming equipment
Home Despot
recording debut EP
Juventas New Music Ensemble
recording a show of chamber music by composers from every continent
Lake Saint Daniel
recording debut solo album
Little Roots Music
hiring guest musicians, dancers, storytellers, and puppeteers to collaborate in online music classes for young children
Miles of Music Camp
funding scholarships for an annual music and songwriting camp
Casey Murray & Molly Tucker
recording debut full-length album
Halley Neal
recording debut full-length studio album
Nate Nics
recording a concept hip-hop album
Noah y Maurizio
recording sophomore album
Hayley Reardon
audio recording equipment
Abigale Reisman
recording a series of videos honoring the Jewish violin
Dave Richardson
mastering a new album
Rockabye Beats
producing a bilingual video series teaching children about music, dancing, food, and Spanish
Ethan Setiawan
recording album of original tunes
Gabriella Simpkins
upgrading home recording and streaming equipment
Maddie Witler
recording debut solo album
2019 RecipientsRead the Press Release
Arc Iris
in-ear monitor system
Louise Bichan
applying for a work visa to stay and work as an artist in the US
Aurora Birch
recording sophomore album
Boston States Fiddle Camp
a new week-long Scottish & Cape Breton fiddle camp
Jeff Butcher
recording an album of his father's songs
Volkan Efe
The Makam Healing Project: performances of Turkish modal music in hospitals
Yann Falquet
recording first solo ep
Allison de Groot
recording an album of duets from many folk traditions arranged for clawhammer banjo
Jim Haggerty
professional upright bass
Kaiti Jones
recording sophomore album
Molly Pinto Madigan
marketing Tam Lin: A Folk-Rock Opera
Albino Mbie
recording debut album
Miles of Music camp
annual music and songwriting camp
Alastair Moock
giving away an album about activism to underserved schools
Prateek
recording a live album
Rakish
recording debut album
Rosemere Road
recording debut album
Chris Sartori
bass flight case
Tory Silver
recording sophomore album
The Sub Rosa Songwriting Retreat
annual collaborative songwriting retreat
Abigail Vail
recording debut album
Naomi Westwater
recording an ep
The Wolff Sisters
a tour van
2018 RecipientsRead the Press Release
Age
recording album inspired by traditional Hebrew texts
Anadama
recording first full-length album
Arc Iris
purchasing tour van
Stace Brandt
recording first ep
Bring Us Your Women
multimedia performance highlighting women religious figures
Kate Callahan
writing songs with women inmates
Julia Anne Cohen
Hear Us! concert and lecture series feat. women composers
The Great Molasses Flood
recording live album on the anniversary of the Great Molasses Flood
Hawthorn
travel expenses for album release tour
Izzy Heltai
recording ep with a new stripped-back sound
Jim Henry
book of practical advice in the music business
Zachariah Hickman
mixing and mastering Songs & Strings live show
Corey Laitman
album recording
The Late Risers
recording first full-length album
Miles of Music camp
annual music and songwriting camp
Oompa
recording album exploring race, identities, and mental health
Forrest Pettengill
purchasing an upright bass
Abrielle Scharff
recording first full-length album
Sing Explore Create
adapting the songwriting process to include students with physical & cognitive disabilities
Strangers by Accident
recording first full-length album
The Sub Rosa Songwriting Retreat
annual collaborative songwriting retreat
Tunefoolery
musicians in mental health recovery bring open mics to mental health centers
Ceren Turkmenoglu
recording album of music transcribed from traditional Ottoman manuscripts
Winter Walk
local musicians raise money to end homelessness
2017 Recipients
Elizabeth and Ben Anderson
Mary Bichner
The Bluegrass University
Mairi Chaimbeul
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Boston (DBSA-BOSTON)
Charan Devereaux
Eliza Edens
Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band
Freelance Players, Inc. (Urban Improv)
Gretchen and the Pickpockets
Christine Hedden
Kids Really Rock
Greg Klyma
Molly Pinto Madigan
Me2/Orchestra
Miles of Music camp
Jenna Moynihan
Emily Mure
The New England Songwriters Retreat
Newpoli
Laura Orshaw
Red Line Roots
James Rohr
Deborah Silverstein
The Sub Rosa Songwriting Retreat
Ben Truboff
The Wolff Sisters & The Last Cavalry
2016 Recipients
A2Z Talent
Ariel Bernstein
Aurora Birch
Awaaz Do
Boston Scottish Fiddle Club
Celia Woodsmith
Emma June
GennaRose Nethercott
Greg Liszt
Hindie Rock Fest
John Faraone
Julia Mark
Lauren Parks
Lyle Brewer
Miriam Elhajli
Nat Seelen
Noble Dust
Putnam Smith & Ashley Storrow
RISING
Seamus Galligan
Shannon Heaton
Sorcha Cribben-Merrill
Windborne
2015 Recipients
Allison de Groot
Anna Roberts-Gevalt
Chandler Travis
Changing Keys
Charan Devereaux
Dietrich Strause
Fabio Pirozzolo
Flynn Cohen & the Deadstring Ensemble
Gretchen and the Pickpockets
Hanneke Cassel
Hayley Thompson-King
Honeysuckle
Jeffrey Gaskill
Katie McNally
Laney Jones and the Spirits
Laura Brereton
Laurence Scudder
Lindsay Straw
Mike Block
Scottish Fish
The Busted Jug Band
The Stash Wyslouch Stringband
Tracy Yang
2014 Recipients
Anne Mironchik
Carrie Ferguson and Piti Theatre Co.
Charlie Rose
Dare To Be Square: A Camberville BAR-n Dance
Dietrich Strause
Electric Andyland
Ellie Buckland and Isa Burke
Eva Walsh
Frank Ferrel
Jenna Moynihan
Julie Rhodes
Massachusetts Walking Tour
The Meeting House Tour
Molly Pinto Madigan
The Old Guitar
Peter Winne (Community Square Dance in Portland, ME)
Realta Gaela (Trad Youth Exchange)
Red Line Roots ('Locals Covering Locals, Vol 2')
Sarah Gardner
Session Americana
The Suitcase Junket
Twisted Pine
Zoë Darrow
2013 Recipients
Brian Carroll (Red Line Roots)
Alastair Moock
Taylor Armerding (Barnstar!)
Ezekiel's Wheels Klezmer Band
Caitlin Canty
Mark Whitaker
Nataie Sara Weaver (The SONG Project)
Hannah Read (T.H.E.M.)
Will Dailey
Mariel Vandersteel
Jamie Kent
Abbie Gardner
Annie Lynch
Connor Garvey (Octagon Songwriting Retreat)
Meena Malik (Voci Angelica Trio)
Craig Werth
Mark Erelli
Nani Agbeli
Miles of Music Camp
Todd Mack
Dan Cloutier
Christa Joy (Pioneer Valley Woman Songwriter Collective)
The Stray Birds
Peter Mulvey
Philip B. Price (Winterpills)
Jennifer Kimball
2012 Recipients
Miles of Music Camp
Tom Bianchi
David Champagne
The Stray Birds
Antje Duvekot
Lorne Entress
Mark Erelli
Kristen Ford
Connor Garvey
Girls, Guns, & Glory
Jenee Halstead
Matt Heaton
Shannon Heaton
Gregory Liszt (The Deadly Gentlemen)
Alastair Moock
Aoife O'Donovan
Vinx Parrette
Sub Rosa Songwriting Retreat
Hayley Reardon
Eric Royer
Laurence Scudder
Bethel Steele
Natalie Sara Weaver (The SONG Project)
Brian Webb
Natalia Zukerman
2011 Recipients
Kristin Andreassen (Miles of Music Camp)
Emma Beaton
Peter Bitenc (The Sweetback Sisters)
Rose Cousins
Della Mae
Tim Gearan
Maeve Gilchrist
Zachariah Hickman
Jake Hill
Jennifer Kimball
Alastair Moock
Nerissa & Katryna Nields
Lake Street Dive
Sarah Parkington (Parkington Sisters)
Rose Polenzani
Ryan Quinn
Alison Rapetti
Charlie Rose
Jess Tardy
Duncan Wickel
2010 Recipients
2009 Recipients
David Wax
Sub Rosa Songwriting Retreat
Alec Spiegelman
Michael Rivard
Alastair Moock
Ruth Mendelson
Jamie Manning
Sam Kassirer
Margaret Glaspy
Jacqueline Francis
Kaitlin Berreckman
Matthew Belyea
2008 Recipients
Magdalena Zapedowska
Randall Williams
Lloyd Thayer
Miss Tess
Sean Staples
Rose Polenzani
Sarah Michel
Ruth Mendelson
Paddy League
Kate Klim
Anne Heaton
Jason Myles Goss
Chuck Costa
Ro Colegrove
Kier Brynes