Members of Heart, Wilco, Dr. Dog, Deer Tick and more join New Orleans artists in a benefit for the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. 

Local and national musicians and comedians from a wide range of genres will come together July 17 at Tipitina's for Stones Fest, a fundraiser for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. So far, Ann Wilson of Heart, former Saturday Night Live cast member Jason Sudeikis, and George Porter Jr. have confirmed that they'll be a part of the evening, along with John Mccauley of Deer Tick, Jesse Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius, Karen Elson, Doyle Bramhall II, The White Buffalo, Pat Sansone and Glenn Kotche of Wilco, Scott McMicken and Toby Leaman of Dr. Dog, Joe Pug, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Matt Sorum and Ace Harper, Vanessa Carlton, Eric Pulido of Midlake, Butch Walker, Ryan Miller of Guster, Nikki Lane, Lukas Nelson, Ruby Amanfu, Jonathan "Boogie" Long and many more.

The show will be part of a series of similar benefit concerts around the country including Dylan Fest and a couple of Petty Fests, all sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey. A dollar from each ticket will go to Tipitina's Foundation's efforts to get and keep musical instruments in the hands of New Orleans' students, with the rest of the ticket revenues going to Sweet Relief to help musicians in need in New Orleans. 

Sweet Relief began in the early 1990s to help the Shreveport-born Victoria Williams with her medical bills after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In 1993, the Sweet Relief album was released with Pearl Jam, Soul Asylum, Lou Reed, and The Waterboys among bands covering her songs. In 1996, Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation was released with R.E.M., Garbage, Smashing Pumpkins and Sparklehorse among the artists playing songs by quadriplegic musician Vic Chesnutt. Ben Harper, Shelby Lynne, She & Him, and Joseph Arthur are among those who contributed to a third album, last year's Sweet Relief III: Pennies from Heaven, which simply supported the fund.

Tickets are on sale now.