On the night of September 27, 2024, winds and rain roared through Western North Carolina as Hurricane Helene arrived with unforeseen force. Marshall, NC—an artists’ haven in the mountains—watched as the early swells quickly grew into a relentless surge until the town was swallowed by the murky waves. Through it all, The Old Marshall Jail stood strong. The flood gauge mounted on the building kept a watchful eye as the water surged from floor to ceiling—27 feet—higher than ever recorded.

In the aftermath of Helene, Asheville-based Parkway Studios and Citizen Vinyl announced the release of The Resonance Sessions, a project benefiting the music community of Madison County, NC. Produced by local musician Clay White and film director Aaron Stone (Parkway Studios), The Resonance Sessions was captured live, over a span of 4 days in early October, in the recently cleaned out stairwell of The Old Marshall Jail.

The sessions include poignant and uplifting performances by more than 30 Western North Carolina artists such as Rising Appalachia, River Whyless, Avey Tare (Animal Collective), Tyler Ramsey, Scott McMicken (Dr. Dog), Natalie Jane Hill, traditional mountain ballad singers, and more.

The project represents a labor of love, grief and resilience, performed, recorded, filmed and produced by Western North Carolina artists.

The production of the vinyl is made possible by the generous support of Blackwing and The Virginia Sargeant Reynolds Foundation.