What happened in our city this week has consumed us all, and it should. We should find it hard to turn away from what’s wrong with our community, state, and country, but we should also celebrate what’s right with our city.
In the past few days, many individuals have stepped up, rising above the hate by organizing vigils and marches to honor the nine members of our community who we lost on Wednesday night. A long list of businesses have committed to donating proceeds to the victims’ families, and musicians are joining in on the donation drives, too.
The following local shows will all donate proceeds to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund. Please consider attending one, to not only support the cause but to gather with your neighbors in our broken community, lean on one another, remember those who we’ve lost, and cultivate unity in the Holy City through music, a healing agent if there ever was one.
Thurs. June 25
Hearts Out Turnabout (H.O.T.), Upper Deck Tavern, Downtown: 8 p.m. Free. Upper Deck Tavern has organized a benefit drag show in which its male bartenders will dress like ladies to raise funds for the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund. Calling it a drag “turnabout show,” performers and staff will trade places: drag queens will tend bar while bartenders, regulars, and staff perform, according to the event’s Facebook page. Upper Deck bartenders Cullen Baney and William Mosley will get dolled up and perform, and other local bartenders are in on it too, like Jimmy Longbottom from Green Goat and Faculty Lounge’s Brian Cashman. Brandon Fudge will DJ, while Martina Williams emcees. All performers’ tip money will go toward the fund, in addition to any raffle money collected. Raffle tickets are $2 each or three for $5; prizes include a free carriage tour, one-year family membership to the Children’s Museum, a $100 candy gift basket, $25 gift certificates to Lowcountry restaurants, and much more. Details here.
Take a Drag, Dudley’s, Downtown: 11 p.m. Dudley’s on Ann Street will host its first ever Player Drag Show featuring Charleston Blockade Rugby Football Club players dressed in drag. This is a special edition of the Patti O’Furniture Show. Details here.
Sun. June 28
Charleston Together Unity Concert, Burwell’s Stone Fire Grill, Downtown: 7 p.m. Performances from Manny Houston, One Kool Blow, David Higgins, and DJ Kevbo. Details here.
If you have organized a show or know of another show that should be added to this list, please contact kellyrae@charlestoncitypaper.com. We’ll keep this article updated as we receive more information.
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