Dylan Sneed, the first performer to kick off the Lakeside Music Room concert series at Cheraw State Park last May, has been offered an opportunity to promote his music internationally.

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Dylan Sneed, the first performer to kick off the Lakeside Music Room concert series at Cheraw State Park last May, has been offered an opportunity to promote his music internationally, but he needs community support to make it happen.

Sneed currently lives in Hartsville, working with Arts Alive there, but is originally from Austin, Texas. He was instrumental in helping organize and promote the Lakeside Music Room series last summer. Now, with the backing of Kickstarter.com, he’s launching a campaign to help fund an international radio promotion for his 2010 album, Texodus. This promotion, like the Lakeside Music Room project, gathers individual and corporate support before the show begins, so that no one risks walking away empty handed.

The campaign started Feb. 9, and will end at 5 p.m. Monday, March 11. He needs $10,000 in pledges by then. Friday, he had gathered as much as 23 percent of his goal. Samples of his work, a video about the album and tour, plus an opportunity to contribute are all available at www.dylansneed.com.

“The best music in the world isn’t always on a major label,” said Sneed. “Through new avenues like Kickstarter, artists like me are able to connect with forward-thinking trailblazers who want to advance the cause of creativity. In the past, record labels decided if an artist received support or not. They controlled the acceleration.”

Now, said Sneed, fans can decide whether or not an album is heard.

“This project is about independent music and its place in the world,” said Sneed.

The promotion will broadcast Sneed’s music over 850 radio stations across the world, and have tours lined up in Scotland for the spring, said Sneed. “This will bring my music to tens of thousands of new listeners; listeners who are really interested in the kind of music I do.”

According to Sneed’s website, Kevin Oliver of the Columbia Free Times compared Sneed to “a sober Townes Van Zandt.” And Darryl Smyers of the Dallas Observer called his music “the best side of true Americana: music of passion and skill that can move an audience with a whisper or a roar.”

“It’s really cool that they’re wanting to work with me,” he said. “I could use some Pee Dee love on this one!”

— Staff Writer Karen Kissiah can be reached by calling 843-537-5261, or by email at kkissiah@civitasmedia.com.