“A Holiday Benefit, Vol. II” Due December 1
Comprised of eleven tracks from some of New York City’s finest emerging artists plus their collective cover of “Happy XMas (War Is Over),” A Holiday Benefit, Vol. II is a charity CD spanning the sacred (Brent Shuttleworth’s “The God In You”), the profane (Derek James & Kyle Paas’ “Mele Kalilkimaka”), plus plenty of rockin’ holiday tracks in-between (Bryan Dunn’s “Father Christmas”).
The CD’s release is set for December 1, 2008, and will be marked by a party at New York City’s Canal Room. In addition to performances from Shuttleworth, Kelley McRae, Casey Shea, Chris Abad and others, the benefit will feature DJ sets from Todd Spinn and Night Owl, plus a silent auction.
All proceeds from will be donated to 826NYC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.
Rebel Spirit Music Presents: A Holiday Benefit, Vol. II
Monday, December 1st 8-12pm @ Canal Room
285 West Broadway New York, NY 10013 212-941-8100
A Holiday Benefit, Vol. II participants first gathered at Kyle Paas and Jeffrey Swart’s Kingsland Studios in Brooklyn, spending an October Sunday afternoon together recording their cover of the 1971 John Lennon classic. Each was then tasked with covering a favorite holiday tune, or penning a new one. The results are decidedly different, and surprising.
Kelley McRae delivers a playful version of “Winter Wonderland,” Deena Goodman, Dov Rosenblatt & Rosi Golan team for an acoustic rendition of the traditional, “Ma’otzur,” while Benjamin Wagner and Jamie Leonhart turn Elvis’ “Blue Christmas” into a heartbreaking duet. More surprising, though, is the breadth and depth of the brand-new songs, like Nate Campany’s melancholy “Be Home For Christmas” and Ian Axel’s “This Is The New Year.”
The complete A Holiday Benefit, Vol. II track listing:
1. A Holiday Benefit Singers – Happy XMas (War Is Over)
2. Bryan Dunn – Father Christmas
3. Chris Abad – Last Christmas
4. Derek James & Kyle Paas – Mele Kalilkimaka
5. Casey Shea – A Very Merry Christmas
6. Nate Campany – Be Home For Christmas
7. Deena Goodman, Dov Rosenblatt & Rosi Golan – Ma’otzur
8. Kelley McRae – Winter Wonderland
9. Benjamin Wagner & Jamie Leonhart – Blue Christmas
10. Ian Axel (Featuring Chad Vaccarino) – This Is The New Year
11. Brent Shuttleworth – The God In You
The now-annual A Holiday Benefit series was conceived by singer/songwriter Benjamin Wagner as a means for local artists to give back to the community from which the participating artists were born. Last year’s A Family Holiday Benefit featured local faves Wakey! Wakey!, The Undisputed Heavyweights and Flying Machines raised nearly $3000 for 826NYC.
For Vol. II, Wagner enlisted the support of Rebel Spirit Music co-founders Dean McCarthy and Deena Goodman. Rebel Spirit Music is a community and a network for fans, artists and industry professionals.
For more information and a preview of the tracks, please visit www.myspace.com/aholidaybenefit.
