One of the most dynamic and determined bands continuously touring America for since 1989, Donna the Buffalo has created a community environment at their shows through their distinctive, groove-heavy, and danceable music. Donna the Buffalo is a band for the people that is accessible, positive, and memorable. With roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric American mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country, Donna’s music often contains social and moral responsibility as core beliefs, and they are just simply fun to get out and celebrate life with.
Donna the Buffalo is founding members Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins joined by David McCracken, Kyle Spark, and Mark Raudabaugh. “It's been really fun with this lineup,” Puryear says. “You get to the point where you're playing on a really high level, things are clicking and it's like turning on the key to a really good car. It just goes.”
After over a decade of service and after delivering the band safely to over a thousand gigs, it is time to retire their beloved purple Eagle tour bus. Being on the road for over 25 years, the band spends nearly half the year on the bus. At this point they cannot continue doing what they do without buying a new bus.
They put 1 million miles on the original engine traveling from coast to coast; from their home in Trumansburg on down to Suwannee, from MerleFest to Mcdowell Mountain, from Blue Heron to Grand Targhee, and every fine venue in between. Over mountains, through valleys, across plains, and desert, our bus has enabled Donna the Buffalo to share their music with you all.
In the last 6 months they have replaced the engine twice. At this point, with yet another round of mechanical issues due to the bus's age, they are struggling to make it to their shows. The time has come. Jeb Puryear says, “We have no choice but to buy a new bus.”
Owning and maintaining a bus is no small feat. Jeb, along with the bands driver Loi Cao, Jordy Risk, and many others through the years have worked extremely hard to maintain the bus and keep everyone safe on the road. Tara says, “We appreciate everyone's devotion, love, and hard greasy grueling work to keep us in our purple bus on the road all of these years.”
“We love our bus and we are sad to see it go” All of the band agrees saying, “We have wonderful memories with you all because of that bus. We will carry this love on to the new bus.”
The band’s manager, Ben Greenberg, has started a GoFundMe page to help make it happen→ www.gofundme.com/donnathebuffalo. All money raised will be used directly towards the purchase of the new bus. They have been shopping steadily and we have found one that they are very excited about.
From the moment the band posted the campaign to social media, within 24 hours over 20k was raised. Tara says, “We are feeling the love so strongly! I can't even express how much we appreciate this. We are feeling incredible gratitude and love! And it's only the beginning! Thank you so very much from all of us! This means so much to us! We are sending you love back big time! We can get there, I hope we can! We can't wait to drive in our new bus out west down south, up north, and east! Love and thank you to all! I know we can do this!”
Levels of donations range from $25 for a signed copy of their next studio album when released to house concerts with Tara and Jeb to performing a song with the band and a lifetime guest list for two. They have been in the studio a handful of days already this year and are planning on returning this winter to lay down more track. More news will be forthcoming about the next studio release. There are also a couple of Herd Getaway Lottery entry levels for one person or a couple for the possibility of winning a weekend on the bus with the band, a private meet & greet and cocktails with Tara and Jeb including show tickets, a private songwriting session with Tara and Jeb, dinner and cocktails for two with Tara and Jeb, guest list for a year or two for two people, box seta, t-shirts, mugs, hats, a weekend on the bus. All of the levels are named after songs that have become fan favorites over the years.
“We thank you all for your continued support, love, and friendship. It means the world to us. We can't do this without you and we can't thank you enough. Peace and Love Always,” Donna the Buffalo.
For more information and tour dates, please visit www.donnathebuffalo.com
facebook.com/donnathebuffalo and twitter.com/donnathebuffalo
