[photo credit: JamBase]
The concert, organized by Los Angeles-based folk rock band Dawes, arrives as Altadena faces both physical reconstruction and threats of gentrification. Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith lost his recording studio and equipment in the fire. His bandmate Griffin lost his home with his wife expecting their first child, who was born just over two weeks after the fire.
Rather than let January 7 remain a marker of trauma, organizers chose to reclaim it. “We didn’t want this anniversary of the fire to come along and simply lay everybody low,” Goldsmith said. “Hopefully, this show can help keep everyone motivated, inspired, and hopeful, while also continuing to process the heartache of it all.”
A UCLA study found the fire disproportionately devastated west Altadena, where African American homeowners concentrate. Fifty-seven percent of Black homeowners in Altadena are 65 or older, making them more vulnerable to rebuilding challenges.
The concert promises unrepeatable collaborations. Artists will perform together in historic combinations, with organizers committing that no commercial recordings will be sold. Stephen Stills and co-producer Eric Krasno, both with deep community ties, spotlight the event’s significance for Altadena’s recovery and resilience.
A Concert for Altadena will run on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green Street, Pasadena. For more call (626) 449-7360 or visit https://www.jambase.com/show/dawes-pasadena-civic-auditorium-20260107. Ticket prices: $150 – $550
