Port City musicians reflect on Hurricane Katrina’s benefit shows

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. When Katrina hit and the damage began to unfold, local musicians came together in the Port City to do benefit shows. Money was raised for the Red Cross to help those affected by Katrina.

Mike Raab, a Wilmington musician, says within two weeks of when Katrina hit they had organized shows.

Raab says it’s always easy for musicians to get involved with benefits because it doesn’t take much to just start to jam.

“All the musicians the same way, here’s what’s happening, you’re going to come down and do this and here’s why we are doing this, okay tell me what time, what do I need to turn up with, do I need an amplifier, how about a guitar, no nos everybody is yes, yes,” said Raab.

Raab said ten years later he’s happy to see how far New Orleans has come after Katrina, but he knows there’s still some work to be done.