On Saturday evening Band Together NC will hold it’s Tenth Annual Charity Concert with Michael Franti and Spearhead headlining. The event features local and national acts and if last year’s crowd of 3,000 people is any indication, a large crowd is expected Saturday.

This year’s beneficiary is StepUP Ministry , an interfaith nonprofit organization that aims to give individuals and families a second chance in life by teaching basic life skills, offering a caring community, providing safe housing, and opening doors for self-sustaining employment. What’s truly impressive is that the group is able to rehabilitate people at about 6% of the annual cost of incarceration in North Carolina. StepUP has an interesting arrangement with Band Together this year. They’ve asked Band Together to simply match funding that StepUP has already found.

While Michael Franti will put on a great show, the opening acts are interesting, too. One eskimO , The Old Ceremony , Holy Ghost Tent Revival, and a special appearance by American Idol top-10 finalist Anoop Desai will open the show. Additional activities include silent auction, live painting and prize raffle.

As before, the event takes place in front of the Lincoln Theatre (126 E. Cabarrus St. – map it ). Doors open at 5 p.m., and performances go from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (rain or shine).