Louisiana Rising Benefit Concert adds more star power: Hunter Hayes signs on to perform

MONTGOMERY, AL (August 31, 2016)…Five-time GRAMMY nominee Hunter Hayes has signed on to perform in the concert that will support victims of the recent South Louisiana floods. Raycom Media will present Louisiana Rising: A Benefit Concert to support for Flood Relief on Labor Day, September 5, 2016, from 7-9 PM (CT).

Hayes, 24, was born and raised in Breaux Bridge, La. Hailed as a “country-rock-blues guitar hero in the making” by the Los Angeles Times, Hayes is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who roared onto the music scene with his Double Platinum-selling, No. 1 self-titled debut album and chart-topping sophomore album, Storyline, on Atlantic / Warner Music Nashville. He has three No. 1 singles already under his belt, including the multi-Platinum smash “Wanted,” “Somebody’s Heartbreak” and “I Want Crazy”.

“I am so thrilled to be a part of this benefit concert,” shared Hayes. “I hope it not only helps the people who need our help, but also brings much needed attention to the beautiful people of my home state.”

Hayes is currently recording music for his forthcoming third studio album, with a new single anticipated later this fall.

Hayes joins two other big names, also hailing from Louisiana, who will co-host the LIVE concert, Randy Jackson and Harry Connick Jr.

More than a dozen well-known artists will play in the concert, including New Orleans-based Better Than Ezra. Sonny Landreth, Chris Thomas King, MacKenzie Bourg, and Luther Kent have also joined the cause. A complete lineup will be available in the coming days. Raycom Media’s Tupelo-Honey Raycom will produce the show, and Johnny Palazzotto, a fixture of the Baton Rouge music scene, will serve as music director. The show will be broadcast from Baton Rouge’s River Center Theater and will benefit American Red Cross Louisiana Flood Relief. Information is available at www.louisianarisingfloodrelief.com.

“We are so pleased that so many big name artists are willing to help us in this worthy cause,” said Pat LaPlatney, Raycom Media President and CEO.

The August floods are responsible for the deaths of 13 people and damage to an estimated 154,000 homes. Tens of thousands of people need assistance. Thousands are still living in shelters. Early estimates put total damage at $20 billion and initial recovery efforts are critical. Louisiana Rising will benefit American Red Cross disaster relief efforts to help people affected by the Louisiana Floods, estimated at 35 to 40 million. The Red Cross says the disaster in Louisiana is the worst to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy, which devastated the Northeast in 2012.

Tupelo-Honey Raycom is producing the LIVE show. LaPlatney says the goal of Louisiana Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Relief is to raise awareness about the devastation caused by the floods, and to raise money to help the thousands of people who are still displaced with the resources to rebuild their lives.

Louisiana Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Relief will be broadcast LIVE across all Raycom Media television stations which reach more than 14 percent of U.S. television households and will be carried nationally on Bounce TV (Visit BounceTV.com for local channel information.)