More than 40 local musicians in southern Illinois are performing Friday through Sunday in a benefit concert for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma victims.

The three days worth of performances of performances, dubbed “Couldn’t Stand the Weather,” will take place in three different venues.

The effort was coordinated and organized by Bill Harper, a performer based in Murphysboro.

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“It wasn’t that difficult, volunteers, people want to help,” Harper said. “Musicians have a natural emotional connection to moments of grief like these. Our ability to create joy in sadness and desperation I think is what brought us together for this weekend.”

Each day will showcase a different set of performers, Harper said, with all entry fees going to hurricane relief.

Friday’s show starts at 6 p.m.  at Brews Brothers Taproom in Murphysboro. Musicians featured will be Candy Davis, Roy “Hitman” Hawk, Bill Carr, Larry “LowDog” Davis, Ethan Taylor Stephenson, Clayton Gribble, Sarah Lannom, The Twang Kings, Kristen Kearns Duo and The Violet Hour, according to the event press release.

A food truck will be on site for the evening of music and a $10 minimum donation will be collected at the door.

“I am hoping that we raise $5,000 over the three events,” Harper said. “We were originally looking to raise double that amount but it’s not picking up the way we were hoping.”

The concerts will continue starting 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Varsity Center in Carbondale.

This show will collect a $25 minimum donation upon entry and the bar opens at 6:15 p.m.

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Saturday’s acts include Mama Rocket, the Naas Brothers, Dakota Holden, Sweet KayTee Jay and Exeter’s Landing Duo, with Harper and Ray Maring.

The final day of the benefit concert on Sunday will be held at Trails End Lodge in Cobden. Food and drinks will be sold on site, with a portion of proceeds being donated to hurricane relief.

Musical acts Sunday are set to kick off at 1 p.m. Musicians performing include Clear Eye’d View, Moving Mary, Loose Gravel, Ethan Stephenson Band, Radio Days, Blackberry Blossoms, Lone Howl, Exeter’s Landing Band and Low Dog Band.

“I hope people turn out in large numbers,” said Harper, who referred to the slated performers as an eclectic mix of both “new and veteran musicians.”

All proceeds will be split between the Houston Food Bank and the Second Harvest Food Bank in Clearwater, Florida, according to the event organizers.

Staff writer Francois Gatimu can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @frankDE28.

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