"The Flood: Music for MANNA" Is Asheville’s Powerful Musical Response to Hurricane Helene's Destruction

When Hurricane Helene ravaged Western North Carolina in September, the storm left much more than physical wreckage in its wake. It destroyed lives.

One of the region’s most critical lifelines was MANNA FoodBank, whose warehouse in Swannanoa was gutted by the hurricane’s catastrophic floodwaters. But even in crisis, the nonprofit didn’t stop.

With their infrastructure decimated and supplies ruined, MANNA continued its mission to distribute food to those in desperate need. Asheville-based musician and producer Guy Smith witnessed that resilience firsthand.

“The devastation was biblical,” he tells EDM.com. “A gut-wrenching catastrophe that slammed us all, and slammed MANNA FoodBank.”

From that heartbreak rose The Flood: Music for MANNA, a powerful new compilation album. Out now, the 14-track project is a sweeping representation of Asheville’s weird and wonderfully eclectic music scene, often dubbed “the Austin of the East.” With folk, gospel, blues, rock, experimental music and more, it’s a microcosm of the soul of a local music community that refuses to be washed away.

“There were so many hero stories,” Smith adds. “MANNA stood out because they didn’t miss a beat. Their whole warehouse was trashed, but they were still giving out food within days. That kind of spirit needed to be honored and helped.”

Every artist on The Flood donated some or all of their publishing royalties to support MANNA’s ongoing recovery, and all proceeds from sales of the album will support the organization’s efforts.

It’s a tapestry of lived experience, conjuring haunting imagery of muddy boots, rising rivers and prayer groups woven with raw vocals and soul-stirring melodies that won’t let the story fade. The songwriting is aching, capturing both the literal and emotional aftershocks of the flood.

“I held a man who shook as he cried on my shoulder,” Hayley Everett recalls in her devastating lyrics. “I watched a child play in the mud that took his home.”

“And there were lines, lines for everything,” croons Steve Silver. “Water, propane, gasoline, groceries. Ice and cash was king.”

“Cut off from society, really tested my sobriety,” sings Lisa “Sas” Sasdelli. “I’ve never seen this town come more alive.”

Each song is a window into personal and collective grief, but also into resilience. They chronicle not only what was lost, but what was found in the aftermath: neighbors becoming family, strangers lending hands and a community refusing to break. Seven months later, the small mountain communities of Western North Carolina are still picking up the pieces.

To further support the cause, a live benefit concert has been planned for Sunday, May 4th at White Horse Black Mountain, just minutes from Swannanoa, one of the most devastated communities in the region. All 14 songwriters will perform, according to Smith.

“This may be one of the most moving shows we’ve ever produced,” he says of the donation-based event. “We’re bringing the healing music back to where the destruction was deepest.”

Stream The Flood: Music For MANNA below. You can donate and learn more here.

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Follow MANNA FoodBank:

Instagram: instagram.com/manna_foodbank
Facebook: facebook.com/MANNAFoodBank
Spotify: spoti.fi/2WHsl2t

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