In conjunction with the band’s successful Kickstarter campaign, Painted Axe will unveil the guitar during a private listening party June 16 in suburban Kansas City at the Trouser Mouse (http://www.trousermousebar.com). Kickstarter assisted TUF is raising funds for the soon-to-be-released CD, “Badlands.” TUF is the 2008 winner of the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge. Guitarist Nick Schnebelen also won the Foundation’s Albert King award for best guitarist that year.

“This is an incredible opportunity for Painted Axe. A project coinciding with a CD release is a marketing and promotional coup we have been pursuing for quite a while,” said Michael Gauf. “Branded guitars for musicians and bands provide an instantaneous marketing hit as well as red-hot collectible. They can be used to reward a lucky fan for purchasing the new CD or simply to collect detailed customer information.”

Some also commission guitars for fundraising efforts. Signed and branded Painted Axe guitars have netted as much as $1,500 for the cause.

The guitar, a white Washburn HB-35, captures the band’s uniqueness as well as its Kansas City roots. “Tramped Under Foot is an incredibly soulful and powerful trio and a rising Blues star. Along with the new CD name, we depicted the band’s personality through a stylized logo and its great promise with a shooting star theme.”

The Trampled Under Foot CD, “Badlands”, will be available July 9.

Trampled Under Foot
Based in Kansas City, Trampled Under Foot is a nationally touring Blues band and can be found at http://www.tufkc.com.

Painted Axe
Painted Axe, based in Indianapolis, custom paints guitars and gear for special events and festivals to musicians and autograph collectors.The company can be reached at 217-273-8030. Visit Painted Axe at http://www.PaintedAxe.com.