Caliber Band, Hybrid Mind, Serenity Hill and Midnight Matinee rocked the stage at the Earl May Boat Basin during the 229 Spring Jam on Saturday, April 23, to support CASA of Southwest Georgia.

The four bands donated their time and played for free to help CASA raise money to support their efforts throughout southwest Georgia.

“The support from the community was amazing,” Nan McIntosh said. “I was just really impressed how the community stepped up and came out and supported us.”

CASA sold almost 300 tickets, all at the gate, to the festival and the four heavy metal bands kept the party going until the early hours of the morning on Sunday. Caliber Band started off the show, taking the stage at 6:45 p.m. They were followed by Hybrid Mind and then Serenity Hill who finished at 11:45. Midnight Madness closed out the show and kept the crowd engaged until the end.

“They were still going strong after midnight. I was really surprised,” McIntosh said.

The event was co-hosted by the Honor Sentinels.

“I think the event was a success,” Dan West of the Honor Sentinels said. “There was a good number of people in attendance. Everybody looked like they had a good time, money was raised for a good cause and Honor Sentinels was proud to be involved.”

Funds raised from the concert will be used by CASA to increase their volunteer base so they can better support kids through their area of responsibility.

“We serve a five county area,” McIntosh said. “We are trying to serve over 100 children with 15 volunteers so we are trying to broaden our volunteer base so we can serve 100-percent o the children.”

McIntosh said that the hope is to make the 229 Spring Jam a yearly event and continue to build the event with support from the community.