Darius Rucker Readies Second Annual Benefit Concert for St. Jude

Darius Rucker is gearing up to once again host his annual Darius and Friends benefit concert for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital during the 2011 CMA Music Festival this June.

Last year, Rucker raised nearly $49,000 for the organization, and he hopes to exceed that amount with his second event, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, June 6, at the Wildhorse Saloon.

"We started [the event] last year, and it was amazing," Rucker tells Taste of Country. "It was cool how it turned out. This year, all we wanted to do was see if we could make it that cool again. We knew it would be hard to get great acts again, and we’re still getting people together. It’s cool to call up friends and say, ‘Hey man, do you want to play a concert for St. Jude?’"

While he hasn't made any formal announcement of the special "friends" who will be joining him at the Wildhorse, Rucker has a pretty good feel for who he plans on asking. "This year it’s probably going to be a bunch of guys that I’ve toured with and hang out with," he reveals. "It’s really cool to be able to call up people and have them come out and do it, but it’s also cool when the fans show up to that to hear good music and they show up for St. Jude"

Tickets for the Darius and Friends St. Jude benefit concert range from $30-$75 and are available for purchase through TicketMaster by clicking here.