Jolie Holland to Release Compilation Album Benefit Post-Harvey Recovery

Hummingbirds & Helicopters Vol 1: A Benefit for South Texas, is a beautifully curated homage to the musical culture and history of the Gulf Coast region. The album's 11 tracks include Holland's atmospheric, emotionally potent cover ofRandy Newman's "Louisiana 1927" (featuring Thor and Friends), a warm interpretation of Mickey Newbury's "If You Ever Get to Houston" led by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Dean Ween's cover of "Galveston" by Jimmy Webb (popularized by Glen Campbell), and Big Thief's beautifully sparse version of Twain's "High Tide". Hummingbirds & Helicopters will be available April 6 via all major digital service providers as well as Amazon, Google, etc.

After hurricane Harvey dropped three square miles of water on Houston causing the worst flood in US history, of course all the airports were down. There was little air traffic, all of it helicopters. The only birds anyone saw for several days were the hungry hummingbirds, swarming around any feeders that were left in Harvey's wake.

As Harvey took hold of the Houston area, Jolie Holland was in the air flying to Austin, before a tour with Samantha Parton in support of the record they were about to release. Holland is a native Houstonian, though it's been years since she's called the city home. She says, "It was a horrible feeling, that mix of helplessness, survivor guilt, and longing to be there to help. By the time the plane hit the ground in Austin, I'd thought of something I could do: a benefit record for the Gulf Coast. "

Holland immediately got to work rallying a group of artists-a group both eclectic and cohesive within the larger lexicon of American song-to contribute covers of classic Gulf Coast songs. Celebrated Houstonian journalist John Nova Lomax graciously provided an album title idea, Hummingbirds & Helicopters.

Album proceeds will be donated to the UN award-winning Schoolbox Project, a 501c3 non-profit that provides trauma-informed care for children rendered homeless or without access to education due to the deluge. As the Schoolbox Project's work in Texas will soon wind down, additional funds raised will support continuing relief work in the hurricane-affected areas of the Gulf, including Puerto Rico. "I wanted to produce an album that would both give respect to the powerful musical culture of the gulf coast, and literally support some of the hardest-hit populations in the area," says Holland.

As hurricane Harvey passed, Irma was straight on his heels. Puerto Rico was hit, and is still suffering. Holland isn't content to stop here; Hummingbirds & Helicopters Vol 1: A Benefit for South Texas is the first volume in a series of disaster relief benefit albums Holland plans to release under the same name.

TRACK LISTING

1) Louisiana 1927 (Randy Newman)

Jolie Holland with Thor and Friends

2) Galveston (Jimmy Webb)

Dean Ween Group

3) If You Ever Get To Houston (Mickey Newbury)

Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Joan Shelley, Elsa Hansen Oldham and Nathan Salsburg

4) One Day At A Time (Willie Nelson)

Sam Cohen

5) Are You Down (Lucinda Williams)

Iva Dawn

6) Before the Deluge (Jackson Browne)

Ryan Pollie

7) To Live's To Fly (Townes Van Zandt)

Arrica Rose

8) High Tide (Twain)

Big Thief

9) Flood Blues (Sippie Wallace

Myshkin Warbler

10) The Night's Too Long (Lucinda Williams)

Laura Freeman

11) Southern Accents (Tom Petty)

Leslie Stevens

12) If I Needed You (Townes Van Zandt)

Snickers

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