Artists such as R.E.M., Waxahatchee, and MJ Lenderman have united to release an extensive 135-song compilation featuring unreleased recordings to support victims of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. Titled Cardinals at the Window, this impactful album is now available, with proceeds directed towards vital organizations including Rural Organizing and Resilience, BeLoved Asheville, and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. The album can be purchased for $10.
The compilation was organized by a trio of North Carolina natives: musician Libby Rodenbough, New Commute founder David Walker, and a local journalist. In addition to Lenderman, several acclaimed artists contributed original, unreleased tracks to this collection, including Sharon Van Etten, the Mountain Goats, Hotline TNT, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, and Sylvan Esso, among others.
Additional contributions feature covers and live recordings from luminaries such as Fleet Foxes, Jason Isbell, Jeff Tweedy with Karly Hartzman, Angel Olsen, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, and many more.
Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn and Asheville native Clay Blair offered their expertise in audio engineering, contributing to the high quality of the compilation. This fundraising initiative is complementing a direct-relief effort spearheaded by members of the North Carolina arts community.
Organizer Libby Rodenbough, who was on tour with the Dead Tongues during the storm’s impact on her home, emphasized the importance of recognizing the ongoing struggles in the region. She stated, “In the aftermath of a natural disaster, it’s essential to connect the dots between ecological collapse and the history of exploitation in this area. This is a chance to foster a new beginning for Western North Carolina and beyond.”
