Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts. Menconi's latest book, "Oh, Didn't They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music," was published by University of North Carolina Press. His podcast, Carolina Calling, explores the history of the Tar Heel State through music.

In its quarter-century anniversary year, Band Together returns for its annual fund-raising benefit concert—Oct. 10, 2026, at Lincoln Theatre’s outdoor street stage in downtown Raleigh.

Florida swamp-rock band JJ Grey & Mofro headline, with The 502s opening. Tickets are available here. 

^{Gov't Mule on stage outside Lincoln Theatre at the 2025 Might Giveback concert in Raleigh. Photo by Robbert Pettus III}

Titled “Mighty Giveback 2026,” this year’s show is the latest chapter of a highly successful, long-running philanthropy series.

Since 2001, Band Together has raised more than $15.4 million for 160 charitable organizations, most of them here in the Greater Raleigh area.

^{2025 Might Giveback check presentation. Photo by Willa Stein @willasteinphotogrpahy}

“For our 25-year anniversary, we went back to our original mission statement and decided to really hone in on ‘community’ and ‘music,’” says Thorne Daubenspeck, Band Together’s executive director since 2017. “So there are four beneficiaries this year and we are one of them, a very small sliver. The others are Raleigh Music Collective, which does music education; Oak City Cares, which deals with issues around homelessness; and Porch Communities, which works with food insecurity. So food, housing, homelessness and music.”

^{Founders and friends share a moment to pose for a photo at Band Together’s first-ever concert.}

Band Together didn’t originally start off as a concert series, but as a one-time charitable fund-raiser to benefit New York City firefighters in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It was successful enough that organizers resolved to keep it going as an annual event, utilizing live-music events as platform for social change while fundraising for a revolving cast of beneficiaries. A Place at the Table, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle and Urban Ministries of Wake County are among the event’s past partners.

^{Two firefighters and 9/11 First Responders from the New York City Fire Department were flown down to Raleigh to join concert-goers at Band Together’s first-ever concert, raising $60,000 for 9/11 survivors.}

“Our original partnership model was to take on one beneficiary per year and really try to lift them up, put them onstage to tell their story,” says Daubenspeck. “Raising at least $1 million for them was always the goal, plus the impact of shining a spotlight on organizations that don’t have a lot of marketing.”

After the Covid shutdown, Band Together management opted to take “more of a thematic approach,” because of the overwhelming amount of need for assistance out there. The post-shutdown return show in 2021 had 90 different partner organizations that each received $10,000 from the show’s proceeds.

^{Description: Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit perform for a sold-out Red Hat Amphitheater at the 2023 Mighty Giveback. Photo by Rich Levine, Bramblebrook Media}
 

In recent years, Band Together has grown in size with its headline acts, including The B-52’s, Lyle Lovett, Michael Franti & Spearhead and Jason Isbell. That put the event at Red Hat Amphitheater the past few years, but timing and logistics didn’t make a 2026 date there possible in the original venue’s final season. Band Together should have its 2027 show at the new Red Hat Amphitheater currently under construction, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.

“That’s the goal, fingers crossed,” says Daubenspeck. “There’s a lot of need in the community each and every day, and I’m proud of all the people have been part of Band Together over the years. Hundreds of volunteers say ‘yes’ every year to this. Live music is the ultimate connector that brings different mindsets together. I’ve never felt more connected to the country than after 9/11 and I wish we could get back to that. In the meantime, live music is a great platform. Come rock out and give back, we’re the fun non-profit. Our partners do all the hard work out in the community.” 

You can purchase tickets for the Oct. 10 concert in downtown Raleigh here, or visit bandtogethernc.org for volunteer, donation and more event info.