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Several local bands are joining together this weekend to offer a mix of live music in the hopes of helping neglected and abused animals.

Created by pianist Nathaniel Waggoner, "Rescue Me: An Animal Rescue Benefit Concert," will kick off at 2 p.m. Sunday at Frederick's Café 611 and feature nine local bands.

Admission is $5 and proceeds will benefit three charities: The Frederick County Humane Society, Days End Farm Horse Rescue and The Garuda Aviary.

"The event is about awareness. I really wanted to bring the cause into people's minds," Waggoner said.

A regular around the city's music scene, Waggoner developed the idea after several band members expressed a desire to put together a concert.

"Several of us really liked the idea of benefitting animals," he said, adding that he researched area charities and selected those who represented a variety of animals.

Waggoner then solicited bands specializing in a variety of different music and wanting to support the cause. Area businesses chipped in, offering door prize donations.

"There's been a great positive response from the community," Waggoner said.

The musicians, too, are excited about the concert, which many hope will become an annual event.

"Nate did a really good job of putting this together. It's great to have this in Frederick," said Sean Wilhide, a drummer for a progressive experimental metal band called Sea of Static and a 90s indie band called Abaddon. Both Frederick-based bands will perform during the concert.

The event kicks off with acoustic singers and songwriters who will entertain with original tunes. Participating bands include the FCC Doo Wop Ensemble, Adalia, Life After You and Eugene Benjamin, and Mainstream Jazz.

DJ AJ Lor will take the mic to award door prizes and keep the crowd moving.

"It should be really cool," Lor said of the event. Although he typically performs with two others in a group called The Bang Bang DJs, Lor will perform solo for the Rescue Me concert.

In the business for 15 years, Lor prides himself on offering an eclectic mix of music. "That's what makes us so unique," he said of The Bang Bang DJs.

"We've been working to bring a city vibe to Frederick. We want to create a nightlife in Frederick, since there hasn't been much here," he continued.

For Wilhide, the idea of performing for Rescue Me appeals to the lifelong musician because he is an animal lover himself.

"All of us are involved in animal rights and we wanted to do something nice for the cause," he said of his band mates.

While Abaddon performs specifically in Frederick venues, Sea of Static takes their show on the road to Baltimore clubs and to northern Virginia.

Both groups write all of their own music and are working on CDs they hope to release soon, said Wilhide.

"We're hoping to have something new for the show. We're always writing new material," he said of the groups, each of which has four members.

In addition to Wilhide's bands, The Carousel Rogues will round out the evening.

Waggoner hopes to attract at least 500 concert goers throughout the seven-hour concert. "I just want to bring the community members together for this cause," he said, noting that he hopes to raise $5,000 for the three charities.

"It's been great so far. We're already talking about doing something around Thanksgiving for another benefit," Waggoner

Rescue Me

Animal Rescue Benefit Concert

When: Doors open at 2 p.m. Sunday; Music until 9 p.m. or later

Where: Cafe 611, 611 N. Market St., Frederick

Tickets: $5 at the door

For information: 928-301-4644

FEATURING

Abaddon

Adalia

The Bang Bang DJ's AJ Lor

Carousel Rogers

Eugene Benjamin

FCC Doo Wop Ensemble

Life After You

Mainstream Jazz

Sea of Static