The sold-out Soulshine benefit concert at MSG raised $4.5 million for hurricane relief efforts in North Carolina and Florida.
On Sunday, November 24, Madison Square Garden hosted the sold-out Soulshine hurricane benefit concert, which brought together a stellar lineup of performers, including Dave Matthews Band. The event raised $4.5 million through ticket sales, merch, sponsorships, and donations for the Soulshine Concert Fund, which will distribute funds to a variety of organizations in North Carolina and Florida.
Headliners included Dave Matthews Band, Warren Haynes Band, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Goose. The evening also featured an impressive roster of special guests, like Trey Anastasio, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph, Joe Russo, Trombone Shorty, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and Ben Jaffe.
The concert served as the grand finale of Dave Matthews Band’s Fall Tour, with three consecutive sold-out nights at MSG. Dave Matthews and Warren Haynes opened the concert with a heartfelt rendition of the Haynes-penned “Soulshine,” setting a generous tone for the evening. Dave Matthews also joined Goose for a warm performance of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is,” and Mavis Staples joined Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats to emphasize the spirit of bringing different musical generations together.
Other memorable moments included guest spots from Trombone Shorty and Robert Randolph during Warren Haynes Band’s set and an intimate rendition of Phish’s “Waste” by Dave Matthews and Trey Anastasio. Dave Matthews Band kicked off their set with a performance of “The Weight” by The Band, featuring Anastasio, Rateliff, and Susan Tedeschi. The entire ensemble of performers and guests returned to the stage at the end of the night for a unifying rendition of The Beatles’ “Come Together.”
The event was produced by Live Nation in partnership with Day Glo Presents, while the livestream, which enabled fans around the world to tune in and donate online, was produced by Volta Media and sponsored by Cisco.