In-between dates on her 2018 Witness World Tour, popstar Katy Perry will perform at a benefit concert in her hometown of Santa Barbara, California, for those affected in the area by the deadly mudslides.
Southern California was hit hard last year with wildfires, mudslides, and drought; the mudslides in 2017 were the worst in the state’s history. Specifically, the Thomas Fire, which tore through Ventura County, burned more than 280,000 acres of land, according to National Geographic.
Perry announced that she wants to give back to “our community, our neighbors, our heroes” with this special concert, titled “Witness: Coming Home” at the Santa Barbara Bowl on May 19. She will be performing all of the songs heard on her current tour. All proceeds from the concert will go toward The Santa Barbara Foundation, the 93108 Fund, Cold Spring School and the 805 UndocFund, which assists the city in charity efforts.
“Santa Barbara is the reason my [heart] beats,” she said in an tweet. “#WitnessComingHome benefits those who support us in the community, who are still recovering from the fire and mudslide.”
Tickets to the benefit concert will go on sale at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 15 in-person at the Santa Barbara Bowl box office for local residents only. The general on-sale will begin online at 7 p.m. local time the same day.
In addition, the rock singer/songwriter Jack Johnson, alongside friends, will be performing to a sold-out show on March 18 at Santa Barbara Bowl. This will also be in support of the Thomas Fire and flood recovery.
