Taverns, which plays Green Bench Brewing Co. in St. Petersburg, Florida on Oct. 19, 2024. Credit: Photo via tavernsbandfl/Facebook

St. Petersburg and Gulfport were hit hard by Hurricane Milton, with many musicians in Pinellas County losing pretty much everything.

Two Saturday concerts less than a mile apart want to help.

The show inside The Nest at St. Petersburg Brewing Co. wasn’t originally booked as a benefit, but promoters have since pivoted and will now use all proceeds made from tickets, donations and profits from the venue to assist Gulfport residents as they pick up from Helene and Milton, which leveled the town with storm surge, and wind, respectively.

The lineup will be paid out of pocket by the event organizers.

“We chose Gulfport because it’s not a tourist area and there are a lot of poor and old and alone people in that neighborhood who were devastated,” said Leadfoot Promotions Paul Williams told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

Hardcore bands playing the benefit show at St. Pete Brewing Co. on Saturday, Oct. 19 include local outfits No Fraud, Flag Burner and Chilean band Deuforia. Tickets start at $6.

Just over a half-mile away at Green Bench Brewing Co. another hurricane relief concert features a trio of indie-rock favorites including Pilot Jonezz, Taverns and Glass House Point.

Green Bench—located at 1133 Baum Ave. N—will also have raffles for hurricane relief, plus donate proceeds from its special “City Stellar” beer to hurricane relief.

“This event is about more than just great music—it’s about bringing the St. Pete community together for a night of healing, community impact, and fun,” Micki Bell, Marketing & Communications Director, told CL.

There’s no cover for the show at Green Bench Brewing Co. hurricane relief show happening Saturday, Oct. 19 in St. Petersburg.

The shows aren’t the only way musicians can get help either.

As reported after Helene, the National Independent Venue Association has emergency relief funds available for Bay area venues affected by the storms, and so does the Grammy organization’s MusiCares program.

As pointed out by legendary Tampa studio Morrisound Recording, MusiCares offers assistance to musicians affected after back-to-back storms.

“To qualify you do need to be able to show proof of at least 5 or more years of paid professional experience in the music industry AND/OR at least 6 commercially released singles and/or music videos,” Morrisound wrote, adding that the organization will then offer financial assistance plus grocery gift cards.

To get started with MusiCares relief, interested parties should complete a request form.

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