Aaron Dowd

Got a good question from an musician yesterday: “We’re focusing on building community outside of [online platform]. Who else is doing the same? What’s actually working?”

My answer in 2026: Get as many people to join a text list or email list as possible.

Kit.com (https://kit.com/) is free for email lists with up to 10k subscribers, I use use Laylo (https://laylo.com/) for my band’s text list but you could also just setup a Google Form and track things in a spreadsheet (that’s how I’m running our new street team). Speaking of street teams, people love feeling like they are a part of something. You probably have some friends or fans who would love to help you hang up flyers or posters in exchange for a tshirt or a guest list spot for a show.

Try to think of ways to incentivize people to sign up for the lists. Maybe a free sticker or a song download or 10% off merch or something like that. Print a QR code on a piece of paper that links to the sign up page and keep it on your merch table to make it easy for people to join. Those contacts are more valuable & reliable than social media followers in the long run (but of course also stay active on those platforms if you can).

The important thing is that you can directly contact your audience members that are in a specific location when you have a show coming up there, or all of them at once if you have a general announcement to make (new music, merch, video, etc).

Make sure to use BandsInTown and SongKick and add info about your live shows there.

You should also run your own website - when someone searches your name, you want that to show up.

Did I miss anything? Let me know if you have any tips you’d add or send me your questions: Get in Touch

#audiencegrowth #buildingcommunity #musictips #independentcreatorsplaybook

Texas friends, got some great live shows coming up with Kolton Moore & the Clever Few in the next couple months. Would love to see you there!

• Armadillo Den Austin, March 14 (free show)
• Granada Theater Dallas, April 17
• Armadillo Palace Houston, April 18
• Blue Light Live Lubbock, April 23 & 24

More info and tickets available here: bnds.us/nntewr

Manchester Orchestra at the Southside Ballroom in Dallas Texas, November 19, 2024. I had no idea it would be the last time I got to see Tim play live.

The news of the death of Manchester Orchestra’s drummer Tim Very last week hit me pretty hard. I first saw Manchester Orchestra play live with their original drummer Jeremiah Edmond when they opened for Brand New at the Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth in 2007. I’d never heard of them before and I was blown away by the songs from their first album (I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child), especially “Where Have You Been?”. I was a fan for life after that. I still wish I had some photos from that show.

Tim Very replaced Jeremiah as the band’s drummer a few years later, and while it took me a couple albums to fully appreciate the change (I really loved Jeremiah’s drumming in that band), Tim made incredible music with the band, and was a perfect fit for their music. Steady, heavy, and tasteful drumming depending on what the song needed. I loved played along to all their records and many of his parts frequently tripped me up, his ease of playing hiding the complexity and skill of what he was doing with his drums.

Here’s the official statement from the band on his death:

The entire Manchester Orchestra family has been devastated by the sudden passing of our brother, Timothy Very. The most beloved human being any of us were lucky enough to know in this life. We’ve all been dreading sharing this news as we are all still in absolute disbelief.

Tim was instantly likable and interacted with everyone he met with kindness and warmth. His laugh was infectious and he immediately made people feel invited and encouraged. His humor and energy were the very foundation that held together the entire MO universe. Strangers quickly became friends and friends became family.

He had an undeniable light that was only matched by his dedication and love for the craft that he was clearly put on earth to do. No words can ever do him justice. Please know, if you are someone who loved Tim, he loved you too.

The only thing that Tim loved more than creating music was being with his family. You’d be pressed to find a more joyful dad.

We love you Tim, thank you for loving us. You are a force of positivity that will be a constant presence in the rest of our days.

Tim was only 2 years older than me. Of course I’ve always been aware of my own mortality, but it’s made me reflective this week about how quickly time passes and how soon we’ll all be gone. It’s an easy thing to get sad about, but I think using the awareness for focus and gratitude is a better response.

There’s always going to be things to work on and fret about, but there’s also so much to be grateful for. I’ve been thinking about how lucky I’ve been so far to get to live out so many of my dreams and reach so many of the goals I set as a teenager and young adult. I’m feeling thankful for everything I’ve been a part of so far, and I’m thankful for all my friends who have been there with me.

While I hope we all get many more decades to go on adventures and enjoy life, I don’t want to wait to appreciate where I am and where we are right now.



Every once in awhile, stop to take a moment and ask yourself and your friends, “dude, how fucking cool is it that we get to do this?”. Because it really is.

Thanks for reading.

Aaron Dowd

Fort Worth, Texas

Saturday, February 21, 2026

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Recording new music and filming and shooting photos with Jonathan Tyler & friends at his studio in Austin Texas was so sick. AI could never.