The Los Angeles wildfires hit close to home for many in the Boulder arts community, including Scott Bauer.
The Colorado Chautauqua’s manager of programming and event operations lived in the City of Angels for a decade before moving to the Rockies in 2021. He has many family members and friends who were impacted by the devastating Eaton Fire, in particular.
“My best friend lives in Altadena, and they were lucky in that they didn’t lose their home,” he says. “But they were displaced for over a month.”
While the wildfire that burned over 14,000 acres in January has since been 100% contained, the aftermath of the several blazes that spread throughout the county is far from over, which is why Bauer decided to organize the Concert for LA: A Benefit for Wildfire Victims this month, in collaboration with KGNU Community Radio.
“Everyone’s starting to pick up the pieces again and rebuild,” he says. “I’m hoping this benefit can keep them on the map and remind people that they still need help.”
All proceeds will support the Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Recovery and Relief Fund.
“A lot of my friends live in the Altadena area, so we wanted to pick a charity that was helping hyper-locally,” Bauer says. “The Pasadena Community Foundation does incredible work supporting local nonprofits.”
‘They still don’t have anywhere to go’
The event includes performances from Jason Hann of String Cheese Incident, Megan Burtt, Alexa Wildish, Derek Dames Ohl, Dechen Hawk, Caleb Schwing, Daniel Rodriguez, Jake Leg, Sturtz, Heavy Diamond Ring, The Living Room Band and Bauer himself, among other yet-to-be-announced special guests.
“All of these artists just jumped at the opportunity to participate in the event,” Bauer says. “Some of them have direct connections to friends and family in L.A. as well, or lived out there for a while.”
Concertgoers can also book a stay in a Chautauqua cottage at a discounted rate, with 30% of the proceeds going to the relief fund, through March 31. A silent auction featuring items and care packages from several local organizations is part of the benefit, along with guidance on more ways to give back.
“Despite the scale of the destruction and devastation, it just so easily gets drowned out by the next news cycle and you barely hear about it anymore,” Bauer says. “These people who have lost their homes still don’t have anywhere to go.”
The idea was met with immediate enthusiasm among artists and staff. The lineup came together in a matter of days, further proof that others were feeling similarly and wanted to aid in any way they could.
Close to home
Singer-songwriter Alexa Wildish grew up and went to school in Orange County before settling on the Front Range in 2016. The Lyons-based musician found herself in Altadena last year while writing and recording her latest EP, After Love, and quickly became fond of the town just north of Pasadena, and its people.
“It had this really sweet, magical feel to it. I started to get to know the locals because I was there for two weeks making this record and living there,” she says. “I actually know a lot of the musicians who are misplaced. Thankfully none of them lost their homes directly, but I do know a couple of people who did.”
Wildish says she’s grateful the charity concert is supporting what she considers a second musical home.
“A lot of people had home studios, so there were a lot of instruments being lost,” the 2023 contestant on NBC’s The Voice continues. “I made my record at a home studio in Pasadena. I believe it’s still standing, but I know the family I was working with got displaced for a while, so it’s good to know this is going to that area.”
Both Wildish and Bauer experienced such devastation firsthand during the Marshall Fire in 2021. The most destructive wildfire in Colorado history burned over 6,000 acres, destroying more than 1,000 structures across three days.
“The vulnerability of a fire is so real, and it just heightens everything around you. You have no idea,” Wildish says. “We can only prepare so much for disaster, but at the same time, you try to think of what you would do in that scenario. A lot of people just grabbed what they could and thought they were going to be able to come back. That’s where it just breaks you open, like, ‘I’ve been there. I know that feeling.’”
Bauer recalls driving home to the Table Mesa area in South Boulder the night the Marshall Fire broke out, about a mile to the south. Some of his Chautauqua co-workers were more adversely impacted. Helping the people of L.A. serves as a reminder of how quickly something like this could happen here.
“It’s good to keep this stuff top of mind and prepare for it and support others that have been affected by it just like we would hope to be supported by our broader community,” Bauer says. “Part of the goal is to bring awareness and show some empathy for those in similar situations.”
ON THE BILL: Concert for LA: A Benefit for Wildfire Victims. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, Chautauqua Community House, 301 Morning Glory Drive, Boulder. $50