Dave Matthews Band to Hold Benefit Concert for Helene and Milton Victims
On Tuesday, the Dave Matthews Band revealed plans to hold a concert aiding those affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton. This benefit event, dubbed "Soulshine", is set for November 24 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, following the band's performances there on the preceding two evenings.
The lineup for "Soulshine" is impressive, featuring the Warren Haynes Band from Asheville, North Carolina—a region that bore the brunt of the storms. Also performing are Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Goose, with special appearances by Trey Anastasio, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph, Trombone Shorty, Joe Russo, Susan Tedeschi, and Derek Trucks.
All proceeds, after expenses, will bolster the "Soulshine" Concert Fund at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. This fund supports Habitat for Humanity’s 2024 Hurricane Recovery initiative, along with various non-profits in the hardest-hit areas of North Carolina and Florida, as detailed on the Dave Matthews Band's website.
Hurricane Helene, last month, drenched Appalachia and western North Carolina with unprecedented rainfall, resulting in catastrophic flooding. The casualty count has climbed to over 200 across six states. It ranks as the second-most lethal hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland in five decades, just after Hurricane Katrina.
Merely weeks later, Hurricane Milton struck Siesta Key, Florida, as a formidable Category 3 storm. It unleashed torrential rains, fierce winds, and extensive power outages, claiming at least 17 lives.
In addition to "Soulshine," other benefit concerts include Ben Folds' "From Wilmington, with Love," happening in Wilmington, NC. Tickets for the Dave Matthews Band's concert will be available to the public starting Thursday at 10 a.m. EDT.
