THE DEVASTATING impacts of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina this past September are still being felt today. Over one hundred fatalities, entire cities like Asheville nearly decimated, and untold damages to infrastructure the likes of which hadn't been seen in the state's history.
One person deeply impacted by the storm was Jim Reed, longtime Savannah musician, journalist, and artist. While his family home thankfully only suffered minimal damage, he was affected tremendously by what occurred across the state and felt compelled to help.
Now, on his Fake Fangs label, Reed has put together a gigantic digital compilation featuring 197 local Savannah musicians—all of whom donated songs to the effort, many of which are previously unreleased. That compilation, MARSHES TO MOUNTAINS: Savannah, GA Rebuilds Western NC Through Song, is set to be released via Bandcamp on December 24th, and is available for preorder right now.
"The devastation up there is far beyond what is being reported in the national media. It will take several billions of dollars and many years to attempt to replace what has been destroyed and repair what has been severely damaged," Reed said in a press release.
"Right now, the hundreds of thousands of people who have been injured and made unexpectedly, instantly homeless are in DIRE need of food, heat, shelter and the most basic necessities of life."
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Among the dozens and dozens of artists represented across numerous genres are Swamptooth, Manarovs, Pink Peugeot, The Train Wrecks, General Oglethorpe & the Panhandlers, Ember City, Thomas Claxton, Xuluprophet, the recently-departed boB Holmen, Jupiter Coyote, Sins of Godless Men, Danielle Hicks & the Resistance, Coy Campbell, Basik Lee, and Josephine Johnson.
"While there are a few handfuls of notable artists whose work is not represented on this collection for one reason or another, this is the closest thing to a definitive, comprehensive overview of the history of the Savannah music scene from 1966 forward that may likely ever be produced," Reed said in the press release.
There is an Early Bird discount for the project happening right now, and supporters can download the entire compilation for just $30—just 15 cents per song. Donations beyond the $30 price point are strongly encouraged.
Reed said in the release that the project will only be released on Bandcamp, and that 100% of the proceeds will go towards efforts to rebuild and help the people that were impacted by Helene in Western North Carolina.
MARSHES TO MOUNTAINS: Savannah, GA Rebuilds Western NC Through Song is available via Bandcamp HERE.