Country music festival to raise money for veterans
Two-day event set for campground in Virginia Beach
The two-day Veterans Band Aid Music Festival is coming to Virginia Beach for the fifth year to raise money for emerging treatment used to ease symptoms of service-related traumatic brain injuries in military veterans.
Headlining the concert is country music star Randy Houser, festival organizer Jill Crist said. Other musicians include The SteelDrivers, Bryan Martin, Buck Shot, Tracielynn, JB Brown and the Jared Stout Band as well as local artists Chase Payne and Cody Christian.
The event is set for May 31 and June 1 at the Holiday Trav-L-Park campground. Early bird tickets have been on sale and regular tickets go on sale today. Ticket prices range from $55 to $125 for one- and two-day general admission and VIP packages.
Proceeds will go to Virginia Beach-based Coastal Authority Care Foundation, the festival host. The money will be used to offer grants to veterans with service-connected traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder who seek reatment not covered by insurance, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and neurotherapy. Proceeds may also cover travel and lodging costs.
Cara Mae Melton, president of Tier 1 Therapy Centers, told The Virginian-Pilot hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to treat myriad injuries, illnesses and diseases, such as neuropathy, chronic pain, inflammation and stroke. It also treats wounds invisible to the eye, including depression, anxiety, anger and insomnia. The Food and Drug Administration has cleared its use for certain medical conditions, but other uses are considered off-label.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and neurotherapy typically cost $5,000, Crist said. Treatments last 30-40 weeks.
Because it is not yet approved by the FDA for traumatic brain injury treatment, it is not covered by insurance.
In past years, the music festival has drawn 800 to 1,000 people per day, but attendance soared to 2,000 last year, Crist said.
The foundation has donated more than $90,000 to pay for emerging therapies for 33 veterans since the festival began in 2019.
Tickets can be purchased at cacarefoundation.org/ band-aidmusic-fest.