New album: Day of the Dead

Dessners round up their pals for another stellar compilation…
Following on from Dark Was The Night, a 2009 double-disc album featuring David Byrne, The Dirty Projectors, Bon Iver, Gillian Welch and more performing cover/original/traditional tracks in aid of the Red Hot Organisation, Aaron and Bryce Dessner have again come together to curate an even bigger collection of songs featuring even more artists.

Day of the Dead, a three CD celebration of Grateful Dead compositions, will aim to match the $1.5million raised by DWTN sales with all profits again helping “the fight for AIDS/HIV and related health issues around the world through the Red Hot Organisation”. Having Bill Callahan, Bonnie Prince Billy, Sharon Van Etten, Kurt Vile, Phosphorescent, Courtney Barnett (i.e. my record shelf) and more on board sure will help them towards that target.

Personally, it’s very exciting to see contributions from Angel Olsen and This Is The Kit, who have both played The G-Man presents… shows – twice – previously.

The full tracklist is below:

01. The War on Drugs –  Touch of Grey
02. Phosphorescent, Jenny Lewis & Friends – Sugaree
03. Jim James & Friends –  Candyman
04. Moses Sumney, Jenny Lewis & Friends-  Cassidy
05. Bruce Hornsby and DeYarmond Edison-  Black Muddy River
06. Ed Droste, Binki Shapiro & Friends-  Loser
07. The National-  Peggy-O
08. Kurt Vile and the Violators (featuring J Mascis)-  Box of Rain
09. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Friends Rubin and Cherise
10. Perfume Genius, Sharon Van Etten & Friends To Lay Me Down
11. Courtney Barnett New Speedway Boogie
12. Mumford & Sons Friend of the Devil
13. Lucius Uncle John’s Band
14. The Lone Bellow & Friends Me and My Uncle
15. Lee Ranaldo, Lisa Hannigan & Friends Mountains of the Moon
16. Anohni and yMusic Black Peter
17. Bryce Dessner Garcia Counterpoint
18. Daniel Rossen, Christopher Bear and The National
(featuring Josh Kaufman, Conrad Doucette, So Percussion
and Brooklyn Youth Chorus) Terrapin Station (Suite)
19. Angel Olsen Attics of My Life
20. Wilco with Bob Weir St. Stephen (live)

Lightning (Vol. 2)
01. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy If I Had the World to Give
02. Phosphorescent & Friends Standing on the Moon
03. Charles Bradley and Menahan Street Band Cumberland Blues
04. The Tallest Man on Earth & Friends Ship of Fools
05. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & Friends Bird Song
06. The National Morning Dew
07. Marijuana Deathsquads Truckin’
08. Cass McCombs, Joe Russo & Friends Dark Star
09. Nightfall of Diamonds Nightfall of Diamonds
10. Tim Hecker Transitive Refraction Axis for John Oswald
11. Lucinda Williams & Friends Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad
12. Tunde Adebimpe, Lee Ranaldo & Friends Playing in the Band
13. Local Natives Stella Blue
14. Tal National Eyes of the World
15. Bela Fleck Help on the Way
16. Orchestra Baobab Franklin’s Tower
17. Luluc with Xylouris White Till the Morning Comes
18. The Walkmen Ripple
19. Richard Reed Parry with Caroline Shaw and Little Scream
(featuring Garth Hudson) Brokedown Palace

Sunshine (Vol. 3)
01. Real Estate Here Comes Sunshine
02. Unknown Mortal Orchestra Shakedown Street
03. Hiss Golden Messenger Brown-Eyed Women
04. This Is the Kit Jack-A-Roe
05. Daniel Rossen and Christopher Bear High Time
06. The Lone Bellow & Friends Dire Wolf
07. Winston Marshall, Kodiak Blue and Shura Althea
08. Orchestra Baobab Clementine Jam
09. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
10. Bill Callahan Easy Wind
11. Ira Kaplan & Friends Wharf Rat
12. The Rileys Estimated Prophet
13. Man Forever, So Percussion and Oneida Drums -> Space
14. Fucked Up Cream Puff War
15. The Flaming Lips Dark Star
16. s t a r g a z e What’s Become of the Baby
17. Vijay Iyer King Solomon’s Marbles
18. Mina Tindle & Friends Rosemary
19. Sam Amidon And We Bid You Goodnight
20. The National with Bob Weir I Know You Rider (live)

For more on Day of the Dead visit:

– Day of the Dead is out on 4AD on 20th May 2016