Day-long concert for flood victims begins today at southside festgrounds

A day-long charity for flood victims kicks off at 11 a.m. today.

Just two weeks after severe flooding swept through the La Crosse area, many volunteers have joined together to put on the Fight the Flood event at the southside festgrounds and is free to the public.

The 12-hour program came to life thanks to Andy Hughes with the band TUGG, imagining it as another Thursday night concert downtown.

“I can’t believe this concert is an entire season of Moon Tunes on one special day,” Hughes said.

TUGG will perform at 9 p.m. Grammy-winner Bill Miller, making the trek up from Nashville, will perform at 6 p.m. The complete schedule at the end of this story. Join the Facebook event page here.

Along with the 24 musical acts, there will be plenty of food and other entertainment.

The goal is to raise $150,000 to provide flood relief to area communities. The Local Rotary Clubs will distribute the proceeds to flood victims throughout the region.

“We don’t know how far the dollars are going to go but we’ll stretch them as far as possible,” La Crosse Rotarian Bill Hoel said.

Festival organizations such as Oktoberfest and Irishfest are helping coordinate the event.

For those who wish to donate by check: “RW Foundation-Fight the Flood” to RW Foundation, P.O. Box 1571, La Crosse, WI 54602-1571.

Or pledge by phone: 608-782-9307 or drop off contributions at the La Crosse Center sponsored by Mid-West Family Broadcasting.

Lamers Bus Lines will be running free shuttles to the festgrounds.

A Viroqua flood relief concert raised over $42,000 on Spet. 8 from ticket sales, drinks, food, merchandise and monetary donations.

Fight the Flood schedule

11 a.m.: Pat Watters

11:35 a.m.: David Nash

Noon: Humbird

12:35 p.m.: Luke Callen

1 p.m.: Matt Monsoor

1:35 p.m.: Coulee Celtic

2 p.m.: The Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers

2:35 p.m.: Rhythmic Justice Motown Tribute

3 p.m.: Gregg Hall and the Wrecking Hall

3:35 p.m.: Frank Moore and David Burch

4 p.m.: Irene Keenan Jr.

4:35 p.m.: Merry Weathers

5 p.m.: The Coulegans

5:35 p.m.: Crooked Willow

6 p.m. Bill Miller and Friends

6:35 p.m.: Actual Size

7 p.m.: Old Soul Society

7:35 p.m.: Pigtown Fling

8 p.m.: Mr. Blink

8:35 p.m.: Red Sky Warning

9 p.m.: TUGG

9:35 p.m.: Handsome Animals

10 p.m.: Dan Sebranek and Mary Cortese

10:20 p.m. Heatbox with Reed Grimm