Raising the barn

It's unfortunate that the only recollection most of us have of barn raising is the scene from Witness, the Harrison Ford movie.

The honorable tradition of helping a neighbor build a barn is still felt in organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

But as musicians attempt to find new models for creating, performing and distributing their songs, the idea of barn raising has been, well, raised. And who better than folk musicians to revive a folk tradition.

Mark Erelli, a gifted Boston singer-songwriter, is preparing to record his next album, and he's giving us all the opportunity to help him build it from the ground up. I'll let him explain the details himself, but it's a simple concept. And maybe when it comes time for you to build your barn, he'll take up the hammer.