New Found Glory To Headline #ParklandStrong Concert

John Davisson – New Found Glory
New Found Glory performs in this file photo from 2012.

Pompano Beach Amphitheater in Florida will host a benefit concert for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, with homegrown favorites New Found Glory to perform. The pop-punk band has numerous members who attended MSDHS.

The #ParklandStrong concert is May 16 in the Pompano Beach, Fla. venue, roughly 15 miles from the site of the Feb. 14 shooting at the Parkland, Fla., high school that killed 17. Tickets go on sale March 5 at 10 a.m. local time. The event will also feature acoustic sets from Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional, who lived in Boca Raton, Fla.; and William Ryan Key of Yellowcard, who is from Jacksonville, Fla.

“[The idea] came from the band. They reached out to John O’Connell with the [local] radio station the day after the tragic shooting, [and] we happened to have a meeting that day,” Jeffrey Chabon, director of operations at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater told Pollstar.

“We’re talking about different events and programming and John said he had a call with folks from NFG and they wanted to do a benefit show. We started working on it that night and everything came together really quickly. The best part is everyone involved – Broward County Sheriff, the city, our security company, everyone is donating their time, equipment – all the money is going to the Broward Education Foundation Stoneman Douglas Fund, which is the official foundation [supporting victims of] this tragedy.”

Chabon said he understood the fund has raised $2.3 million in response to the tragedy and saw many people in the industry helping. He emphasized that proceeds from ticket sales, concessions, merch and sponsorships all go to the Broward Education Foundation Stoneman Douglas Fund, and AXS was waving service fees and surcharges, so every effort was being made to keep the ticket price at $25 to get as many people to the show as possible.

 “While we feel there are no words that we can say or do to fix this in any way, we wish to let you know that our hearts are heavy with the pain that this event has caused to so many,” NFG said in a statement. “We want to stress that the most important part of the grieving process is to focus on the healing of those affected by this senseless act.

“As some of you may or may not know, half of our band went to MSD so it is important to us that we do as much as we possibly can to help the school and families of the victims. They deserve our love, support, and help, and we will help in any way we can.”

Chabon said the event was an attempt to help South Floridians heal from the shooting. “[I understand] today was the first day that students were coming back, at least for a half-day. It’s not about actually going to classes but how to deal with all this. You see national news down there. Anything that happens in South Florida, from Miami to West Palm Beach, its one big mega-opolis, it’s one big community. Something happens in another town or even another county, it’s still very close to us and we are all affected by it, and feel it.”