Raleigh, N.C., March 19, 2012 — Band Together NC has announced the complete lineup for its benefit concert to be held May 12 at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. The “World’s Greatest Party Band,” The B-52s will top the bill for this year’s benefit concert and will be joined by regional favorites Southern Culture on the Skids of Chapel Hill and BIG Something of Burlington.

The mission of Triangle-based Band Together is to raise funds and awareness for select nonprofits through events that showcase and support musical talent. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Urban Ministries of Wake County, a nonprofit human service organization dedicated to alleviating the effects of poverty in Wake County. Funds will be used towards the nonprofit’s Open Door Clinic, which hosted 7,000 patient visits in 2011 alone. Last year, Urban Ministries served 24,000 people, providing more than 8,000 families with one week’s worth of groceries.

“We are excited to have Southern Culture on the Skids and BIG Something round out the list for our 2012 event,” said Matt Strickland, executive director of Band Together NC. “We are well on our way to reaching our goal of $600,000 funds raised for Urban Ministries of Wake County. By hosting the event at this new venue, we are now able to accommodate more fans and sponsors while keeping the same Band Together atmosphere.”

Last year’s Band Together main event featured Third Eye Blind, Dillon Fence, Lonnie Walker and I Was Totally Destroying It. The sold-out performance attracted more than 3,500 music lovers and raised $482,000 for Alliance Medical Ministry.

The Line-Up

Recently celebrating their 35th anniversary, The B-52s, commonly known as “the world’s greatest party band,” have sold more than 20 million albums. Best known for the singles “Rock Lobster,” “Planet Claire,” “Private Idaho,” “Roam” and “Love Shack,” the band has released nine albums.

According to a statement from The B-52s, “Music moves people, and we know it has the power to bring people together for a meaningful cause. We are glad to be supporting Band Together and Urban Ministries, who are both doing good things in their local community, and we hope this event will inspire people to give back in a meaningful way.”

Since they formed in 1983 in Chapel Hill, Southern Culture on the Skids have played their unique hybrid of Americana, surf, R&B, rockabilly and swamp pop. From their 1985 debut Voodoo Beach Party, to the international smash, 1998s Dirt Track Date (featuring the hit single “Camel Walk”), and up to 2007s gender-bending album of cover tunes — Countrypolitan Favorites, Southern Culture on the Skids have continued to throw what Rolling Stone dubbed “a hell raising rock and roll party.”

Burlington-based BIG Something, winner of Band Together’s 2nd Annual Last Band Standing competition, is an alternative rock group with a BIG groove. Winner of the Home Grown Music Network’s 2010 “New Band of the Year” award, BIG Something is a tight six-piece ensemble that brings arena-sized grooves to every stage they play. Their debut album “Stories from the Middle of Nowhere” was recorded in Raleigh, N.C. with Grammy-nominated producer John Custer and was named the Home Grown Music Network's Best Studio Album of 2010.

Tickets for the event are only $29.50 in advance or $40 day of the show. VIP tickets are $150 and include exclusive access to catered food and beverage, an exclusive VIP area close to the main stage, and a silent auction. A meet-and-greet option for The B-52s will also be available for $135, with only 40 slots available. Tickets are available now at http://bit.ly/bt52s2012.

Giving Back to the Community

Through corporate and individual donations, Band Together NC has raised nearly $1.5 million for local nonprofits since 2001. Major past contributors include Cargill, S&A Cherokee, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Bank of America, Duke Realty Corporation, Lincoln Theatre, Synergy Commercial Advisors, RPG Solutions, Brand Fuel, Trisure, CapTrust, Prometheus, Hosted Solutions and Manning, Fulton & Skinner, PA. Sponsorships begin at the $500 level and are still available.

For more information about Band Together NC, please visit www.bandtogethernc.org, become a fan on Facebook or follow @BandTogetherNC on Twitter. For more information about Urban Ministries, go to http://www.urbanmin.org. Additional information on The B-52s can be found at http://www.theb52s.com.