You won’t see him on the stage at Northern Sky Theater this summer, but the organization’s co-founder Doc Heide hopes you will hear him in your headphones real soon. Earlier this year, Heide announced his plans for a new album, his first in nearly 20 years. Heide says writing and performing in some of your favorite Northern Sky Theater shows kept him too busy to get into the studio to record songs that he has been working on in his free time. The album, tentatively titled Birthplace of the Thunder, will be a throwback to his first album, which he collaborated on with his Northern Sky co-founder, the late Fred Alley. Heide is excited to share his new work with listeners after working with several names familiar to Northern Sky Theater fans.

While writing and playing music have not changed much, recording and financing a new album have. Following in the footsteps of artists like Katie Dahl, Heide is crowdsourcing the album through Kickstarter. Heide says he appreciates the project's support, reaching 87 percent funded since the campaign was launched.

You have until June 10th to make the project a reality by contributing at this link. Heide adds that if he receives more than the goal of $20,500, he will use the additional songs. “I'm not getting any salary or compensation for this project, Heide said. “Everything we raise is going to pay studio costs, guest artists, etc.”