Recently discussed on my other favorite message board, A compilation is in the process of publication to benefit Reach for the Rainbow, which is a non-profit organization offering integrated recreational and respite programs for disabled children within the province of Ontario.

Look at the amazing line-up! It will be available June 14 through Maple Music, Sonic Unyon, as well as in stores. I'll DEFINITELY be picking this one up.

1. Hawksley Workman - My Delicious Chocolate Cake
2. Cuff The Duke - What are you laughing at?
3. Joel Plaskett Emergency - Cold Blue Light
4. Five Blank Pages - She Sleeps Soundly
5. Rheostatics - Soul Glue (Rheostar Version)
6. Craig Cardiff - Emm & May
7. Royal City - O Beauty
8. Howie Beck - Stuck Inside a Room
9. A Northern Chorus - Subjects & Matter
10. Hayden - The Show
11. Les Cooper - Lost
12. Alive & Living - Bright Side Day
13. Great Lake Swimmers - Song for the Angels (demo version)
14. Ben Somer - Silent Strides (demo)
15. Raising The Fawn - The News
16. Peter Elkas - Wall of Fire
17. Anglers Arms (Delaware Chapter) - Everything for a Dollar
18. The Inbreds - The Right time to say Goodbye

wow, sounds great! I'll be sure to pick this one up

ooh I think I heard of this... must pick it up

Hawksley? Hayden? Joel? Royal City? Inbreds?

very stellar lineup.

A Compilation for Reach for the Rainbow

By Melissa Mewdell
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 28, 2005)

Some people run 10 kilometres for their favourite charity. Others donate gigantic heaps of cash.

Ben Somer called his favourite songwriters.

The 19-year-old Dundas resident was so inspired by a charity called Reach for the Rainbow that he used his musical talents, and the talents of 17 Canadian recording artists, to put together a compilation CD of low-key folk music. The album, which will be released today, will raise money for the charity.

Reach for the Rainbow helps disabled children and sends them to summer camps in Ontario. Somer has worked at the YMCA Wanakita Summer Camp, one of the camps affiliated with the charity, for the past three years and will work there again this summer.

"I'm really shy, so I was slow about calling the musicians," said Somer. "I had always wanted to raise money for charity, but never knew how."

Somer, entering his third year of Ryerson University's Radio and Television Arts program, was inspired by a child at the camp last year. The boy, who suffered from a stroke and had his arm removed, had a good time and made many friends at the camp.

Somer said it was an experience the boy wouldn't have had if not for the charity. While he thought the CD would go over well, he decided to start out small. Somer called musicians he knew like Craig Cardiff, Howie Beck and Great Lake Swimmers. He met them by playing shows in Hamilton and in Toronto. From there, the project snowballed.

Feeling a little more confident, he started e-mailing management of more famous artists, like Hayden and the Rheostatics.

He got contacts from musicians and his professors at Ryerson to reach recording studio executives. Eventually he was on the phone with artists like Joel Plaskett, one of his idols, and business folks from MapleNationWide, owned by Universal Music Canada.

MapleNationWide produces and distributes indy music on a Universal budget, said Somer. He said all it took was persistence to put the album together from there.

"I was a bit worried about being a pest," he added. "But, I thought I might as well try.

"It's not like when I'm trying to find a job in the industry in five years they're not going to hire me because of this."

The most intimidating part of the process was talking to all of his favourite musicians and executives in the recording industry.

"When you're young, people seem so huge. I idolized Hayden and all those guys. Now I'm on the same album as them."

Somer isn't expecting any fame or fortune, despite his song Silent Strides being on shelves at places like HMV and Music World.

"I'm just hoping to get a few copies framed for my parents," he said.

Tracklist

A Compilation CD for Reach for the Rainbow

1. Hawksley Workman - My Delicious Chocolate Cake
2. Cuff The Duke - What are you laughing at?
3. Joel Plaskett Emergency - Cold Blue Light
4. Five Blank Pages - She Sleeps Soundly
5. Rheostatics - Soul Glue
6. Craig Cardiff - Emm & May
7. Royal City - O Beauty
8. Howie Beck - Stuck Inside a Room
9. A Northern Chorus - Subjects & Matter
10. Hayden - The Show
11. Les Cooper - Lost
12. Alive & Living - Bright Side Day
13. Great Lake Swimmers - Song for the Angels
14. Ben Somer - Silent Strides
15. Raising The Fawn - The News
16. Peter Elkas - Wall of Fire
17. Anglers Arms (Delaware Chapter) - Everything for a Dollar
18. The Inbreds - The Right time to Say Goodbye


[b:1f19cc77b5]Go get it!! It�s in stores now!!!![/b:1f19cc77b5]

~nicole g

Another benefit comp...
This one i found posted on the Arcade Fire board

[quote:ab95514448]
Fortunately for real music fans and abstinence skeptics around the globe, there are also alternatives to Live8. This year, a group of artists and performers of various kinds are getting together to record a benefit single for UNICEF to raise actual funds and awareness for the Halloween boxes. I don't know if the people at VICE (who have helped orchestrate the affair and will be putting out the single) have check with Sir Geldof's lawyers, but the song will be entitled "Do They Know It's Halloween?" Those familiar with the varying aesthetic inclinations of Montreal bands of recent memory won't be surprised to learn that the brainchild of this project is none other than former-Unicorn and current Corn Gangg/Islands member, Nicholas Diamonds. Before anyone jumps on the misanthropic bandwagon (oh, but it's so easy and comfortable there, I know...) they might want to take a look at who's lined up for the project. In addition to Th' Corn Gangg, "Do They Know It's Halloween?" will also feature The Arcade Fire, Beck, Thurston Moore, Karen O, Sparks, Wayne Coyne, David Cross, Spike Jones, Juliette Lewis, Gino Washington, Nardwuar The Human Serviette, Clay Aiken, and others who have yet to be confirmed. I know what you're thinking: "Devendra Banhart and Clay Aiken together at last!" No word yet on whether an actual video will accompany the single, but one can dream. [/quote:ab95514448]http://popmontreal.com/mk2/index_e.php?front=feature&am...tableName=f_062005_e

It *may* be fake.