Photo by Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

The greater Virginia Tech community enjoys a Dave Matthews Band performance at Lane Stadium during 'A Concert for Virginia Tech' on Thursday.

Related

Photo gallery

• See photos from the concert

Video

• See highlights from each of the performances

Were you there?

• Post your photos and video from Thursday's concert
• Check out the user-submitted gallery

Sept. 6 will be a day that Heidi Miller, Matt Webster, Katelyn Carney, and Derek O'Dell will remember for the rest of their lives.

April 16 is one they would like to forget.

The Virginia Tech students, among those in Norris Hall on that fateful day, were now behind the scenes at Lane Stadium meeting music star Dave Matthews and his band.

Matthews wanted to help the Tech community heal after the shootings, and decided to put together this event, "A Concert For Virginia Tech." The concert was free for the Tech community.

Beyond the stage, a carpet of maroon and orange rolled over the stadium. But the seats weren't filled for football; they were filled by Hokies looking to soften the edge of April 16 memories, and Hokies wanting to have a good time.

In all, Matthews, John Mayer, Phil Vassar and Nas played for more than five hours.

This photo essay follows the event through the evening.

-- Sam Dean and Jared Soares