On September 28, 2024, Hurricane Helene rocked western North Carolina as a Category 2 storm. The storm was devastating with 119 lives tragically lost, roads destroyed, homes swept away and everything from tourist attractions to colleges flooded.
One month later, on October 26, 2024, the Charlotte, North Carolina, community, including many Community School of Davidson (CSD) students and families, came together for a cause greater than music. The most famous names in North Carolina music came together at the Concert for Carolina to raise funds for relief and rebuilding efforts.
The concert raised $24.5 million with all the proceeds going directly to western North Carolina for the recovery and rebuilding process of the many towns and cities that were destroyed.
Several CSD students attended the concert including Lilly Zuiderveen (‘26) who said, “It was incredible. I felt like I was really helping the people of western North Carolina, and I got to enjoy some great music.”
The list of performers spanned not only musical genres but also age group appeal. Country music star Luke Combs, who grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and attended Appalachian State University (which had to close its doors for more than two weeks after the flooding) was a catalyst for the event.
Immediately Combs knew he wanted to do something to help all those in trouble.
“I remember sitting at home in Nashville and wanting to figure out how I can be of service, how I can help the place that raised me,” Luke Combs said (via Billboard).
His idea was to put on a benefit concert at North Carolina’s largest outdoor event center, Bank of America Stadium. His first call was to his friend, Eric Church, while he had his manager call David Tepper’s organization to propose a partnership. According to Combs, Tepper signed immediately.
With a spot to perform and Eric Church accepting the invite, Luke Combs then reached out to many more North Carolina artists including James Taylor, the Avett Brothers, Scotty McCreery, Chase Rice and Parmalee.
Other national artists including Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Billy Strings and Bailey Zimmerman also joined.
All of these artists agreed to perform for the single, beneficial cause, to help recover and rebuild the mountains of North Carolina.
Explore Asheville helped organize the show and some of the other organizations that sponsored it included Samaritan’s Purse, Manna Foodbank, NWNC, Eblen Charities and Chief Cares (which was founded by Eric Church in 2013).
A sold out crowd of more than 82,000 poured in when the doors opened but a storm and a weather delay ensued for thirty minutes.
After the weather passed, the doors opened once again and Billy Strings first took the stage. For over six hours, Bank of America Stadium was filled with music. The concert even dipped into Sunday morning, ending after midnight.
(Ben Gallagher)
The atmosphere was electric with fans singing to each performer.
The crowd went wild when country music legend, Randy Travis, made a surprise appearance escorted out by his wife. Eric Church invited Keith Urban on stage, as well, as fans in attendance wished him a happy 57th birthday before Keith Urban started singing one of his famous songs, Blue Ain’t Your Color.
In the end, Concert for the Carolinas was just that, a once in a lifetime evening that fans appreciated and cherished, one that everyone at attendance hopes will never have to happen again.
