LOS ANGELES — Dave Matthews has announced that he will not be taking the stage at the FireAid benefit concert aimed at supporting wildfire relief efforts in the Los Angeles area, nor will he be appearing at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala this week.
The news was shared via a post on the official Instagram account of the Dave Matthews Band, which cited “a critical illness in the family” as the reason for his absence from both events.
A spokesperson from the band indicated that there would be no further details or comments regarding the situation at this time.
At the FireAid concert, Matthews was scheduled to perform at the Kia Forum, sharing the stage with John Mayer in a highly anticipated collaboration. All proceeds from the event are designated to aid individuals affected by the devastating wildfires. To facilitate this, a 501(c)(3) organization was created, with funds managed through the Annenberg Foundation, which has formed a committee for guidance in distributing the contributions.
In addition, Matthews was also slated to perform at the MusiCares benefit gala on Friday, where the Grateful Dead would be honored as the 2025 Persons of the Year. MusiCares is dedicated to providing support to music professionals in need of financial, personal, or medical assistance.
Earlier this month, the Recording Academy, known for overseeing the Grammy Awards, along with MusiCares, initiated the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort, making a generous donation of $1 million. According to a communication sent to its members on January 13, further contributions have allowed them to distribute $2 million in emergency assistance already. To date, they have raised and committed over $4 million in emergency aid to support those in the music sector impacted by the wildfires.
