Want to hear the new Divorcees album? Well, you can help make that happen. You can get personally involved in the release of the Moncton group's new work, called Four Chapters. In fact, the group is hoping for, and counting on your support.

With the East Coast Music Awards coming up in Moncton in April, it's the perfect time for The Divorcees to have the disc released. It could happen that way. The music is all done and recorded, it's in the final stages of mastering, so really all that needs to be done is the manufacturing, and some publicity. That, however, is the stuff record companies usually do, if one is signed to a deal. And that's not what this album is about. Alex Madsen, singer and guitarist for the band, explains: "We went DIY on this for a couple of reasons. We wanted creative control to do the concept. And we believe in New Brunswick, and wanted to show the can-do attitude, put your head down and just do it. It's us saying we can do it here, here's a really big record done right here."

The big record he speaks of is sort of the culmination of what the group has been brewing since they begin. The Divorcees firmly believe in the concept of Outlaw Country, and think it's an important part of the East Coast musical framework. With Four Chapters, they've created a new Maritime myth about the genre and people: "It's an outlaw concept album made entirely in New Brunswick," Madsen says. "There's a recurring theme all the way through. It's about a journey a man takes. It's about leaving home, seeing what you can find, and returning home, the age-old concept of journeying out, looking for adventure, and coming back."

Of course, without a record company's backing, they have to find another cash source. So Madsen and the group are turning to their biggest supporters to help get this thing finished. "we have started what's called a Kickstarter account," says Madsen. "We have a goal of $8500." Kickstarter is a relatively new web-based system for artists, essentially a place where you can invest as a fan in the group. You can give the band money, as little or as much as you want. Much like donating to PBS, you get something in return depending on the level you reach. "if you donate 25 dollars, we send you the new CD," Madsen says. "If you send $50, you get the new CD, and our other two. And here's my favourite, for a hundred bucks, you can become a Divorcees V.I.P. You get all the CD's, plus it gets you into any show of ours free. All of them. We haven't set a deadline on it. You can come to anyone you like, as many as you like and always get in. It's a great opportunity to show your support for the band now, and if you add it up over time, it really works out for you."

And their are higher levels. For $1000, they throw in a house concert at your place. Plus, they're willing to talk about corporate or business donations and deals too.

The group hopes to raise the $8500 it needs in just a little over two weeks on Kickstart. Madsen knows it's a lot to ask, but he trusts that the strong connection the group has made with its audience over the last six years will make it happen. "It's easily the best work we've done, it's easily the most ambitiious," he promises. The songwriting has never beeen better. If we can meet the goal, I think we can really bring out a great, made-in-New Brunswick record. For us to be able to bring this out, it's really important. We're doing everything we can to make this happen, and we're hoping for the help of our friends and neighbours, anybody who can help us in our time of need. We've always been humble about the support we get. We're doing what a lot of Maritimers do, we put our heads down and go to work."

Here's the link to The Divorcees Kickstarter account: http://kck.st/wyZpt2