Submitted by Michelle Stinson
“So far we have twelve,” says Rod Ferrell of Mount Hollywood Studio in Belmont, referring to the number of songs he is recording for a soon-to-be-released benefit CD. Ferrell, along with a few dozen area musicians are donating their time and talent to “Irene’s Wake”, a commemorative CD and DVD to benefit hurricane victims and the Ludlow-based community access television station, LPCTV.
Tragic events are often the impetus for creative expression. This was certainly the case when Tropical Storm Irene slammed our brave little state with torrents of rain and subsequent flash flooding from Wilmington to Bethel and beyond. “I was on my way home to Belmont, from Nova Scotia when Irene hit and I literally was forced to pull off the road for the night,” said Claudine Langille of Gypsy Reel, “so I started singing an old bluegrass tune called Water Bound.” Langille then altered the lyrics to reflect the current situation in her own state and recorded the song with her bandmates in Mount Hollywood Studio.
Musicians and bands slated for the commemorative CD include Victor Paul and Guy Burlage of Seabird, Ric Redington and the Luv, Gypsy Reel, The Pleasants, Dank & the Funksticks, and the Mount Holly Folk Club. “We’ve got rock, funk, folk, bluegrass…,” offered Ferrell. “It’s an eclectic assortment of good, original songs by some really talented Vermont musicians and songwriters.”
In addition to the CD, the commemorative package will include a DVD of photographs and videos of the storm, its damage, and its effect on Vermonters. The DVD, edited by Patrick Cody and Michelle Stinson of LPCTV, will also feature video clips of recording sessions and interviews with the artists.
Michelle Stinson of LPCTV came up with the idea of a combined CD/DVD after seeing streams of flood footage that station members submitted and after hearing a selection of songs written about the storm. She asked Ferrell if he would be interested in producing the project and he said “sure.” When patted on the back for the countless hours he’s putting into the project, Rod shrugged and said “I’d rather record songs than shovel mud out of people’s basements.” Goes to show, we all do what we can to help.
YOU can help by buying “Irene’s Wake” when it becomes available, hopefully by Christmas. You can also attend the album release party in January (date and location to be determined.) For more information, go to www.lpctv.org.
Note: If YOU have any good video clips of the storm or its aftermath, LPCTV would welcome your contribution to this project. To submit your video, please contact Patrick or Michelle at LPCTV by December 10th. Call 802-228-8808.
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