This weekend, the Tucson community will rally in support of musicians who lost their instruments in the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year.
The fundraising event Tucson Loves Altadena aims to help artists regain their livelihoods and ability to perform by donating funds and instruments to victims in the Altadena community. The Eaton Fire destroyed nearly 6,000 homes in Altadena, according to ABC 7.
“Altadena, well, it’s affordable by LA standards,” event organizer Karen Greene said. “If you’re a working musician, it’s more of a place you could afford to live.”
Greene, a librarian at Joel D. Valdez Main Library, explained that she wanted to do something to help the community after her daughter-in-law, an Altadena resident, had friends and neighbors who lost their homes and nearly lost hers.
“My daughter-in-law, essentially, her backyard opens up onto Eaton Canyon,” Greene said. “Just thinking about all of the people losing their houses and all of this stuff, I’m like ‘Okay, I’m in Tucson. What can I do to help?’”
It’s been over three months since the Eaton Fire, and communities are still struggling to recognize the streets they’ve known for years. There have been 18 confirmed deaths, with at least five people still missing.
“Some people are like, ‘Oh, you should’ve done it sooner, closer to the event,’ but you know people are still going to need help in four months,” Greene said. “I know a lot of stuff happened in February, but by May people aren’t going to be talking about it anymore.”
Tucson Loves Altadena will take place Saturday, May 3 from 5-10 p.m. at the MSA Annex. The event will feature performances by Miss Olivia and the Interlopers, Barnaby and the Butcher, Tonight’s Sunshine, Febbo, Fuentes, O’Conner and Determined Luddites.
MSA Annex bar Westbound will be donating a portion of its profits Saturday evening to the event. A $10 donation is suggested upon entry. All proceeds will go to Altadena musicians.