Parmalee to be part of rock benefit

The benefit concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and John Entwistle Foundation has now morphed into a two-day rock festival, featuring Greenville’s own Parmalee on the second day.

The mega-concert will now open Sept. 19 at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.

On Sept. 20, Grand Society will open the Emerging Artists showcase at 1 p.m., with performances by Parmalee, Supagroup, The Connells and Arrogance.

“We wanted to choose bands from North Carolina that had a lot of promise,” said Rick French, concert chairman and national trustee of the Rock Hall. French said he went to a Parmalee show and thought they could make it on a national level.

“I was impressed by their live performance and what they brought to the stage,” he said.

When it came to acts for the main stage, French said they were looking for diversity and musicians who were either already in the Hall of Fame or could soon be considered for it. Such performers include Jack Bruce of Cream; Blue Oyster Cult front-man Buck Dharma; Deep Purple and Rainbow lead vocalist Joe Lynn Turner; former members of the John Entwistle Band; Jefferson Starship; Rock Hall inductee Dave Mason and former Styx vocalist Dennis DeYoung.

“We are truly honored to share the stage with all of our heroes and to be able to be a part of the John Entwistle Foundation event,” said Andrew White, who works with Parmalee and is director of Golden Music.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit both the Hall of Fame and Museum’s educational outreach, as well as the foundation’s program of providing musical instruments and lessons to disadvantaged youths.

French said only lawn tickets are still available and can be purchased for $50 via Ticketmaster and the Koka Booth Amphitheatre box office.

Visit www.rockhallbenefit.com.