I’m excited to share the details on an upcoming concert event that is poised to make a significant impact on relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.
Luke Combs, Eric Church, Billy Strings, and James Taylor have quickly assembled a star-studded lineup for the “Concert for Carolina,” a massive benefit show set to take place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Saturday, October 26th.
While the concert has already sold out, there are still ways for fans and supporters to tune in and contribute to the cause. iHeartRadio will be broadcasting the event live on its stations and through the iHeartRadio app, allowing people across the country to join in and support the relief efforts.
The concert for Carolina website states that it will begin at 5 p.m. ET, and Veeps allows viewers to donate and participate in an auction and raffle. The venue will also host a food drive from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, with all proceeds contributing to hurricane relief efforts.
Combs, who hails from North Carolina, said in a “Good Morning America” interview that Church “was the first guy I called” after seeing the devastating aftermath of the storm in his home state. Church, who recently released a new solo single “Darkest Hour” to support the people of North Carolina, quickly agreed to collaborate on a plan to help.
Joining Combs and Church on the impressive lineup are fellow country stars Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Bailey Zimmerman, The Avett Brothers, Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice, and Parmalee. ESPN’s Marty Smith and Barstool Sports’ Caleb Pressley will host the event.
While the concert itself is sure to be a major draw, several Charlotte-area restaurants and businesses are also stepping up to support the relief efforts in their own ways.
Community Matters Cafe, for instance, is donating the proceeds from its parking fees to rescue missions in Western North Carolina. Haymaker is offering a free appetizer to anyone who brings a non-perishable food item for Manna FoodBank, and the restaurant group has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Crossroads Church in West Asheville’s cleanup and recovery efforts.
Nuvole, a rooftop restaurant in Charlotte, is serving a special cocktail where all the proceeds will go to BeLoved Asheville. WFNZ Dog House is organizing a pre-party featuring live music, food, and drinks, with donations going to Eric Church’s Chief Cares Fund, which is aiding communities affected by the storm.
In addition to these special events, other Charlotte restaurants, such as Botiwalla by Chai Pani, Built On Hospitality’s establishments, and Showmars, are providing opportunities for diners to round up their bills or make direct donations to support the hurricane relief efforts.
The outpouring of support from the local community and the music industry as a whole inspires me as a news reporter. A truly remarkable event, the Concert for Carolina has the potential to redefine large-scale benefit concerts during natural disasters.
Greensboro residents Maury and Carey Kennedy, who are planning to attend the concert, shared their personal connection to the cause. The Kennedys, who had a son displaced for weeks due to the storm, have previously volunteered with Samaritan’s Purse and are eager to contribute to the ongoing recovery efforts.
“I don’t want those people in the mountains to think we have forgotten about them,” Carey Kennedy said. “I understand that it will take a significant amount of time for them to regain a sense of normalcy, and I sincerely hope that the funds raised from this event will significantly aid in this process in the future.”
With 86,000 tickets sold and tens of millions of dollars expected to be raised, Concert Stuff Group, the Triad-based company tasked with organizing the event, believes this will go down in history as one of the largest benefit shows ever held in the country.
As a news reporter, I’m honored to share the inspiring story of this community-driven effort to support those impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Concert for Carolina is a testament to the power of music and the human spirit to come together and make a meaningful difference in the face of adversity.