Dave Matthews Band Pledge Charlotte Gig Proceeds to Equality Groups
After the passing of North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2, commonly known as the “Bathroom Bill,” many musicians protested by canceling scheduled concerts in the state. In a statement, Dave Matthews Band said they will carry forward with their May 27th gig at Charlotte’s PNC Music Pavilion, but donate a portion of proceeds to five charitable organizations defending equality: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Lambda Legal, ACLU of North Carolina, Equality NC and Time Out Youth.
The band selected these groups with the assistance of NC Needs You, an organization that encourages performers to keep their North Carolina dates and raise awareness and resources in response to HB2. The law removes local legal protections for LGBT people and requires transgender people to use public facilities matching the gender listed on their birth certificates.
ACLU, Lambda Legal and ACLU of North Carolina are each challenging HB2 in federal court. Equality NC is “dedicated to securing equal rights and justice” for LGBTQ North Carolinians, and the grassroots Time Out Youth provides support for LGBTQ teens around Charlotte.
Dave Matthews Band will donate the funds through their Bama Works Fund, which has contributed a portion of sales from each concert ticket since 1999. The fund has raised over $40 million and made over 1,300 grants, primarily to charitable programs in and around Charlottesville, Virginia, where the band formed in 1991.
DMB kicked off their massive 25th anniversary tour earlier this month. The jaunt stretches throughout the summer and concludes with a Labor Day weekend residency at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington.