EASLEY — Marty Moore just wanted a CD — what he got was a bluegrass concert.

What began as an effort to collect bluegrass memorabilia to sell to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life has blossomed into “Pic-A-Cure,” a bluegrass showcase — with all proceeds going toward cancer research.

“I’m a cancer survivor,” Moore said. “I want to see other people survive like I have.”

This year’s “Pic-A-Cure” concert begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16 at Rice’s Outdoor Arena in Easley and goes all day.

“Rusty Rice, the owner, heard about our cause,” Moore said. “When he called to offer his arena, I couldn’t believe it. It’s a great location.”

The organizers are asking for a $10 suggested donation.

“If you don’t have $10, come anyway, have a big time,” Moore said. “Maybe the person behind you in line will be blessed enough to be able to donate $50.”

The concert began after Moore approached bluegrass artists to ask them for merchandise that could be sold to raise money.

When he approached Amanda Smith, of the Kenny and Amanda Smith band, she offered to perform a fundraising concert — for free.

“I was blown away,” he said. “She said, “What about us coming to play for you?

“I said, ‘Amanda, you live 5, 6 hours away’ and she said ‘So you don’t want us to play for you?’”

Cancer research is a subject near to Kenny Smith’s heart. His mother passed away from cancer several years ago.

Soon other bluegrass acts got onboard, which led to the first Pic-A-Cure concert held last year at Gettys Middle School.

This year’s line-up includes The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band, Last Road Bluegrass, Tugalo Holler, the King James 1611 Boys, Carolina Backroads, Tucker’s Turnaround and Steve Rackley — with more to come.

“The bluegrass community has really wrapped their arms around us,” Moore said. “The groups we’ve approached have been more than generous.”

Moore and his family and other members of Team Aloha have worked tirelessly in to put together the concert

Are you a bluegrass collector? Come browse the memorabilia available for sale, and add rare finds to your collection.

“We’ve got baseballs signed by bluegrass musicians,” Moore said. “We’ve got a couple signed by Earl Scruggs, of all people. We have music, in just about every format you could want, LPs, cassettes, CDs.”

Concessions will be served all day at the rain-or-shine show. Bring your lawn chairs.

Though the concert promises to be great time for players and audience alike, Marty hopes it can be something more for everyone fighting cancer or helping a family member wage the battle.

“Maybe it’ll bring in the money needed to find the cure,” he said. “Maybe everyone at the show can look back one day and say, ‘Hey I was part of history. I helped find a cure for cancer.’”

For more information about the concert, call 859-2280 or 430-9556.

Rice’s Arena is located on Bakersville Road off of Highway 8.