The Hell of Helene: Songs for Appalachian Relief

Helene was hell, alright. The deadliest inland hurricane in US history cut a catastrophic path through six southeastern states from Florida to Virginia in late September 2024, killing more than 230 area residents during the storm and subsequent flooding. The Southern Appalachian region was especially hard hit. In some cases, entire towns were wiped off the map. In response, Brad Fielder of the Brad Fielder Junk Band organised a fundraising project featuring 27 freely donated tracks by 22 artists from various US states and the Netherlands. Exclusively available on Bandcamp, the goal of The Hell of Helene is to generate donations to relief organisations listed on the album’s download page. Standout performances include a hair-raising live recording of ‘Mud’ by Legendary Shack Shakers; Olds Sleeper’s throwback banjo rendering of the murder ballad ‘Banks of the Ohio’; a deeply cutting performance by Ryan Lawson of his original song ‘Rain’; and as fine a version of ‘Shady Grove’ as one is ever likely to encounter by Tiffany Pollack & Co.