The Rock4Xmas Foundation will celebrate its fifteenth year of helping Massachusetts families in need with its annual holiday concerts, a four-date tour that will reach rock 'n' roll and metal fans in four different states.

"Each year, Rock4Xmas just gets bigger and better," said founder, and Wareham native, Wayne Morrison of Morrison Music and Production. "Nobody cares more about needy families during the holiday season than all my rock 'n' roll friends."

The tour kicks off Thursday, Dec. 1 at Cafe Funchal in New Bedford, Mass. The tour will then travel to the Sun Valley Resort in Stafford Springs, Conn. on Friday, Dec. 2; the Nutty Irishman in Farmingdale, N.Y. on Saturday, Dec. 3; and the Newport Blues Cafe in Newport, R.I. on Sunday, Dec. 4. This year the concerts will benefit The Standard-Times' Neediest Families Fund, helping families across the south coast of Massachusetts have a happier holiday season.

This year Corey Glover, lead singer of the band Living Colour; Joey Molland of Badfinger; Stet Howland, drummer for WASP; Kelly Keeling, formally of Trans-Siberian Orchestra; and Terry Ilous of XYZ are slated to perform.

The surviving members of DIO will also perform at each show to honor the legacy of the late Ronnie James Dio. Guitarist Craig Goldy, drummer Simon Wright and keyboardist Scott Warren will take the stage with Morrison on bass and Ilous and Glover sharing lead vocals some of the greatest hits of Dio's bands Rainbow, Black Sabbath and DIO.

Tickets for the New Bedford show will be specially priced at $12 in advance and $15 the day of the show. Tickets for all three of the other shows will be $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.Rock4Xmas.com. Donations of canned goods and toys to help needy families will be accepted at all shows. Updates regarding the shows will be posted on the website, which also features video and audio clips from past events.