NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) – Last Sunday (November 24), Madison Square Garden (MSG) hosted the sold-out “SOULSHINE” benefit concert, bringing together an outstanding lineup of legendary performers. The evening was a celebration of music featuring unforgettable collaborations and classic hits, all supporting relief and recovery efforts for Western North Carolina and Florida following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Through ticket sales, merchandise, sponsorships, and donations, the event raised over $4.5M for the Soulshine Concert Fund, which will distribute funds to a variety of organizations on the ground in North Carolina and Florida.
Headliners included Dave Matthews Band (DMB), Warren Haynes Band (with Haynes hailing from Asheville), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Goose, with an impressive roster of special guests such as Trey Anastasio, Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph, Joe Russo, Trombone Shorty, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and Ben Jaffe.
“SOULSHINE” was the grand finale of DMB’s Fall Tour, capping off three consecutive sold-out nights at MSG. Matthews and Haynes opened the concert with a heartfelt rendition of “Soulshine,” written by Haynes, setting a warm and generous tone for the night. Later, Matthews joined Goose for a stirring performance of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is,” and Staples sat in with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats, emphasizing the concert’s spirit of bringing together different musical generations. Other memorable moments included guest sit-ins from Trombone Shorty and Randolph during Warren Haynes Band’s set and an intimate rendition of Phish’s “Waste” by Matthews and Anastasio, highlighting the unique connection between the two artists. DMB kicked off their set with a powerful “The Weight” performance by The Band, featuring Anastasio, Rateliff, and Tedeschi. The entire ensemble of performers and special guests then returned to the stage at the end of the night for a unifying rendition of The Beatles’ “Come Together.”
Live Nation produced the event in partnership with Day Glo Presents. Volta Media, sponsored by Cisco, produced the live stream, which allowed fans around the world to tune into the night of music and donate online.
