Styx (Credit: Rick Diamond)Styx and former Eagles guitarist Don Felder have a concert scheduled this Wednesday in Cary, North Carolina, and the veteran rockers have announced plans to donate proceeds from the show to a number of local charities, including ones that support the LGBT community.
In a joint statement, Styx and Felder explain that while they have decided to go forward with the concert, they condemn the recent law passed in North Carolina — nicknamed the “bathroom bill” — that many consider discriminatory against LGBT citizens.
“Ever since original bass player Chuck Panozzo let the world know that he was gay at the turn of the century, we’ve been incredibly enlightened in regard to LGBT social issues,” says Styx guitarist James “JY” Young. “Styx’s music has always been inclusive for everyone and this is just us doing our small part to continue to be a band that excludes no one from our fan base or our concerts.”
Felder adds, “Our nation was founded on liberty and justice for all and should remain the core essence of freedom for all people…I look forward to seeing fans from all walks of life, race, religion and sexual orientation in North Carolina. I am proud that we are able to do our part to contribute to organizations fighting for equality.”
At the show, a raffle will be held by Styx’s Rock to the Rescue charity offering fans the chance to win a guitar signed by Styx’s members and Felder. Funds raised by the raffle, combined with a portion of ticket sales and donations collected at the show, will go toward Girls Rock Camp Foundation, as well as North Carolina-based LGBT charities including Equality NC and The LGBT Center of Raleigh.
In addition to Saturday’s concert in Cary, Felder will be opening for Styx at shows in St. Augustine, Florida, on Saturday; Alpharetta, Georgia, on Sunday; and Charleston, South Carolina, on Thursday.
Here are all of Styx’s upcoming 2016 tour dates, according to StyxWorld.com:
5/13 — Clearwater, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall
5/14 — St. Augustine, FL, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
5/15 — Alpharetta, GA, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
5/18 — Cary, NC, Koka Booth Amphitheatre
5/19 — Charleston, SC, Volvo Car Stadium
5/21 — Nashville, TN, Ascend Amphitheater
5/27 — Cleveland, OH, Cleveland State University – Waetjen Auditorium (Tommy Shaw joins the Contemporary Youth Orchestra)
6/16 — Oshkosh, WI, Leach Amphitheater
6/17 — Champaign, IL, Grange Grove at Memorial Stadium
6/18 — Ft. Wayne, IN, Foellinger Outdoor Theatre
6/19 — Burlington, IA, Burlington Steamboat Days American Music Festival
6/21 — Rockford, IL, Coronado Performing Arts Center
6/23 — Sylvania, OH, Centennial Terrace
6/24 — Joliet, IL, Joliet Memorial Stadium
6/25 — Brainerd, MN, Lakes Jam
6/26 — Prior Lake, MN, Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
6/28 — Wichita, KS, The Orpheum Theatre
6/30 — Milwaukee, WI, Summerfest
7/1 — Sterling Heights, MI, Freedom Hill County Park
7/2 — New Buffalo, MI, Silver Creek Event Center at Four Winds New Buffalo
7/4 — Blue Ash, OH, Blue Ash Summit Park
7/15 — Costa Mesa, CA, OC Fair
7/16 — Laughlin, NV, Edgewater Casino
7/17 — Temecula, CA, Pechanga Resort & Casino
7/18 — Sacramento, CA, California State Fair
7/20 — Layton, UT, Edward A. Kenley Centennial Amphitheater
7/21 — Lewiston, ID, Clearwater River Casino
7/22 — Lincoln City, OR, Chinook Winds Casino Resort
7/23 — Lincoln City, OR, Chinook Winds Casino Resort
7/24 — Tulalip, WA, The Tulalip Amphitheatre
8/4 — Ventura, CA, Ventura County Fairgrounds
8/12 — Malone, NY, Franklin County Fairgrounds
8/13 — Flushing, NY, Citi Field
8/15 — Lancaster, PA, American Music Theatre
8/16 — Lewiston, NY, ArtPark
8/25 — Dodge City, KS, United Wireless Arena
8/27 — Omaha, NE, Baxter Arena
8/29 — Morrison, CO, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
9/15 — Knoxville, TN, Tennessee Valley Fairgrounds
9/16 — Ocean City, MD, Ocean City BikeFest
9/17 — Sunbury, PA, Spyglass Ridge Winery
9/22 — Newark, NJ, Prudential Hall
9/23 — Poughkeepsie, NY, Mid Hudson Civic Center
9/24 — Stroudsburg, PA, Sherman Theater
10/13 — Bowling Green, KY, SkyPac
10/21 — Hampton Beach, NH, Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
10/22 — Lincoln, RI, Twin River Event Center
11/10 — Waukegan, IL, Genesee Theatre
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