The fourth-annual Benefest in uptown Athens, organized by students from the Hocking College Music Management program, was from December 4-6 and showcased a variety of local bands to raise money for The Gathering Place and Stuart's Opera House.

The event featured local bands like Weird Science, Waivada, Summoners, Dead Hand of Man and Unmonumental. The bands performed at local Athens bars: The Overhang, Casa Nueva and the Smiling Skull.

The Benefest raised more than $1,000 for the two local charities.  The Gathering Place supports adults with mental illness. Stuart's Opera House After School Music Program partners with Hocking College Music students to teach participants how to play instruments and write.

"The Gathering Place and Stuart's Opera House are two places that I strongly support in this community. Without the university, Athens is really small, and having places like that are unique and important and it's really cool that we can contribute to that," Zach Fuller, lead vocalist and guitarist for Weird Science, said.

For more information, see the WOUB article.