Fight Cancer Fest 2026: Southern Maryland Bands Unite May 23 At Twisted Bar & Grill

HOLLYWOOD, Md. — Southern Maryland musicians and community members are preparing to come together May 23 for Fight Cancer Fest 2026, a multi-band benefit concert supporting David Levine, who has spent the past year battling a rare form of brain cancer.

The event, titled “Fight Cancer Fest 2026,” will take place from 2 to 10 p.m. at Twisted Bar & Grill, 23955 Mervell Dean Road in Hollywood. The lineup will feature regional bands Funkzilla, Copper Pennies, HydraFX and Midnight Sunsets, with $10 admission proceeds going toward Levine’s ongoing medical and recovery-related expenses.

The benefit was organized by St. Mary’s County musician Nathaniel “Nate” Lohn, a longtime friend of Levine’s whom he met through the Southern Maryland music scene as a teenager. The two began playing music together in their early teens, maintaining a close friendship over the years as Levine later became involved in historical European martial arts and competitive fencing.

Levine, 40, was diagnosed with primary B-cell CNS lymphoma, a rare cancer affecting the central nervous system. He underwent neurosurgery for a biopsy, aggressive chemotherapy and ongoing immunotherapy treatment. While currently in remission, he continues to face significant medical costs tied to his recovery and ongoing care. A GoFundMe campaign organized in support of Levine has raised more than $11,000 to date.

In addition to live music, organizers plan to hold raffles featuring donations from local businesses. Currently, prize donations are coming from Two Lions Vineyards, Port of Leonardtown Winery, Xella Winery, Island Music Co. and others connected to the Southern Maryland entertainment community.

A Lifelong Friendship Behind The Benefit

Lohn, a member of the band Midnight Sunsets, described the event as both a fundraiser and a personal effort to support his lifelong friend Levine during and after his battle with brain cancer.

“We met when we were around 13-years-old and we’ve been absolute best friends ever since that moment,” Lohn said. “He’s that person who knows all my secrets, and he’s supported me through everything I’ve ever done.”

Lohn said he and Levine first met through the local music scene and quickly formed a lasting friendship rooted in shared creativity and support. Over the past year, Lohn has watched Levine undergo brain cancer, chemotherapy and ongoing treatment, including costly immunotherapy.

“He’s an award-winning fencer and he was really in the peak of his physical prime, doing incredibly well — and then all of a sudden he got diagnosed with brain cancer,” Lohn said. “It’s been extremely hard and it’s a very helpless feeling when your best friend is going through this.”

Feeling limited in how he could help, Lohn initially launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $11,000.

“That helpless feeling just kept nagging at me,” Lohn said. “I was like, I’ve got to do more.”

With Levine facing the heavy costs of advanced medical treatment and insurance covering only part of the expenses, Lohn said the desire to do more led to organizing the benefit concert, bringing together bands from the tight-knit Southern Maryland music community.

“The Southern Maryland music scene is extremely tight-knit — everybody really supports each other,” Lohn said. “Some of these bands are not only donating their time — they’re really donating money themselves.”

The May 23 event at Twisted Bar & Grill will feature four well-known regional bands and include raffles and community participation. Lohn emphasized that while fundraising is important, his primary goal is to give Levine a meaningful day surrounded by friends and support as he continues his recovery.

“A successful day for me is just David having a great day and seeing that people care for and love him,” Lohn said. “You just try to do as much as you can for the people that you love — you just never know how much time you have with somebody.”

A Life Changed In An Instant

Levine described the past year as a physically and emotionally intense fight against a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. He said the diagnosis came suddenly, but he first treated symptoms like a common headache. After suffering what he initially believed was a stroke during fencing practice, scans ultimately led to the discovery of a six-centimeter brain tumor and an emergency stay in intensive care.

“I basically had a stroke. I kind of walked it off, rode a stationary bike for a little while and figured I could just take some ibuprofen and get over it,” Levine said. “They did a CT scan and found a six-centimeter tumor on my brain.”

After undergoing neurosurgery, a confirmed diagnosis and multiple rounds of intensive chemotherapy, Levine entered remission and now undergoes regular MRI monitoring while continuing immunotherapy treatment. Levine said the treatment and recovery process has included significant physical fatigue, neurological effects and mounting medical costs despite having insurance coverage.

“I’m doing much better than I have in months,” Levine said. “I’m just happy to be alive.”

A longtime competitive fencer and coach, Levine credited his athletic background and mental resilience with helping him endure treatment. He continued adapting his training during recovery, even teaching himself to fence left-handed while recovering from chemotherapy and managing medical limitations.

“You learn how to fight for everything,” Levine said. “A lot of that resilience got me through chemo.”

Levine said the overwhelming support he has received from friends, former acquaintances and the Southern Maryland music community, particularly through the benefit concert organized by his longtime friend, showed him how many people still cared about and supported his recovery.

“It’s emotionally overwhelming to see the support,” Levine said. “People that I probably hadn’t talked to in 20 years started reaching out.”

Levine plans to attend the benefit concert at Twisted Bar & Grill, marking a significant milestone in his recovery following months of chemotherapy, treatment and uncertainty.

The Unseen Side Of Recovery

Levine also credited his wife, Vienna Levine, for helping him through months of chemotherapy and recovery. While continuing to work in the medical field, she took on the role of primary caregiver during treatment, helping manage daily care, household responsibilities and infection precautions while Levine underwent intensive chemotherapy.

“This was the first time in our relationship where I couldn’t have survived without her,” Levine said. “She had to worry about me being neutropenic — you have to keep your house and environment as clean as possible to avoid infection risk.”

Levine’s recovery also underscored the quiet resilience often carried by spouses and caregivers, who are frequently forced to balance fear, exhaustion and responsibility while supporting loved ones through prolonged medical treatment.

“I know she went through moments of caretaker burnout,” Levine said. “She always said she never wanted to be a nurse, but here she kind of had to be one.”

Twisted Bar & Grill: A Local Venue For Community Support

Lohn said the event is intended to be more than a fundraiser — it is an opportunity for friends, musicians and supporters to come together, celebrate Levine’s recovery progress and remind him that he is not facing the road ahead alone.

The May 23 benefit concert at Twisted Bar & Grill is expected to draw supporters from across Southern Maryland’s music community, combining live entertainment, raffles and fundraising efforts to support Levine as he continues treatment and recovery.

GoFundMe: Support David’s battle against brain cancer.

Fast Facts About Twisted Bar & Grill

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