Above: The Dessner Brothers and Matthew Ritchie prepare for their performance at BAM last fall

The National will play a benefit show at The Brooklyn Academy of Music on May 15. All ticket proceeds from the event will benefit Red Hot, a leading international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture. The concert will also stream as a live webcast directed by acclaimed filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker ( Dont Look Back , Monterey Pop) and Chris Hegedus ( The War Room , Kings of Pastry ). This will be the first live concert webcast directed by Pennebaker and Hegedus, and the event will be preceded by a short film from the award-winning filmmakers.

The performance will take place four days after The National releases its fifth album, High Violet. The group has played BAM twice as a headliner and the members of the group have performed at the historic venue numerous times with other projects. Guitarist Bryce Dessner recently debuted a song-cycle at BAM Halloween weekend. The National has already sold out upcoming New York performances at Radio City Music Hall and Prospect Park.