The National's Dessner brothers curate new Red Hot compilation

In conjunction with WORLD AIDS DAY on Monday December 1, 4AD have announced the official release date, complete list of participating artists and cover art for the upcoming release Dark Was The Night.

Dark Was The Night will be released in Australia on February 14th, 2009. The album is produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, and John Carlin - founder of the Red Hot Organization - is the album's executive producer. Dark Was the Night comprises 31 exclusive tracks on double CD/triple vinyl and will benefit the Red Hot Organization - an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Red Hot was founded on the premise that even without a cure, AIDS remains a preventable disease, and that music is a great vehicle to raise money for and awareness of it. This is the 20th year of Red Hot and Dark Was the Night is the 20th release.

The complete list of artists (in alphabetical order) on the album is:
Andrew Bird
Antony + Bryce Dessner
Arcade Fire
Beirut
Blonde Redhead + Devastations
Bon Iver
Bon Iver & Aaron Dessner
The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Seregeti)
Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues
The Decemberists
Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
Kevin Drew
Feist + Ben Gibbard
Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear + Feist
Iron & Wine
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Kronos Quartet
Stuart Murdoch
My Brightest Diamond
My Morning Jacket
The National
The New Pornographers
Conor Oberst & Gillian Welch
Riceboy Sleeps
Dave Sitek
Spoon
Sufjan Stevens
Yeasayer
Yo La Tengo

Dark Was The Night will be out through 4AD/ Remote Control on February 14, 2009.