In a show of support, organizers of the Blue Ridge HarvestFest, to be held on October 7-9 in LaFayette, are turning their 8th annual event into a benefit for those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Berkeley-based High Sierra Music and Atlanta's T-Dawg's Productions have announced that 100% of net proceeds from HarvestFest will be given as direct aid to those in the music community affected by the hurricane.

A food drive and raffle will be held as well. Additional funds raised through the High Sierra Foundation will also be donated to hurricane relief efforts.

Featuring a bounty of bluegrass and Americana artists with a dash of rock, soul and funk, this year's HarvestFest line-up includes world-class bluegrass ensemble The Del McCoury Band, whose new album The Company We Keep is earning praise from The Washington Post to People Magazine; Victor Wooten's Soul Circus led by the innovative bassist from Grammy-winning supergroup Bela Fleck and The Flecktones; The CodeTalkers featuring "The Godfather of Southern Alternative Music" Col. Bruce Hampton, Bobby Lee Rodgers and special guest Jimmy Herring (The Dead, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Allman Brothers Band); Tim O'Brien, Hot Rize founder and acclaimed multi-instrumentalist whose band features Danny Barnes (Bad Livers, Bill Frisell), Casey Driesen (Bela Fleck, Steve Earle) and Dennis Crouch (Johnny and June Carter Cash, Emmylou Harris); recently reunited the subdudes from New Orleans whose new release Miracle Mule prompted Billboard Magazine to declare the band "still has it"; Drew Emmitt Band led by the incendiary mandolinist formerly with Leftover Salmon; Great American Taxi featuring festival favorite Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon; Railroad Earth, The Duhks, Split Lip Rayfield, and many more.

HarvestFest is celebrating its third year at Cherokee Farms, a 250+ acre private site that offers room for car camping, RVs, and tent camping in the woods, showers, and a swimming pond.

The three-day music and camping festival attracts music lovers of all ages with two stages, children's activities, quiet family camping, a food and beverage court featuring microbrew beer from Sweetwater and Terrapin Brewing, a craft fair, and the opportunity to catch artists in an intimate and relaxed setting.

The festival is holding its first Vassar Clements Band Competition, open to bluegrass bands who are not performing as part of the official HarvestFest line-up with the winner receiving a performance slot on the main stage on Sunday and other prizes.

Three-day, two-day and single-day tickets are available, so whether patrons camp out for the weekend or come up for the day they will be helping to contribute toward hurricane relief. HarvestFest tickets are available online via harvestfest.com, by phone at (510) 595-1115, and at local ticket outlets Cat's Records in Chattanooga, IFO in Atlanta, Wuxtry and Athens Music Museum in Athens, and Hernes' in East Rome.

Group discounts are also available: with the purchase of 15 or more 3-day HarvestFest passes patrons will receive 10% off the ticket price plus a reserved camping spot. Please call (510) 595-1115 for more information on group ticket sales.