Hello all! Just another friendly reminder that the August 12th Sharon Van Etten benefit concert has been moved to the Golden State Theatre in downtown Monterey.

It is now a benefit for those affected by the ongoing Soberanes Fire.

Tickets (available here) range from $35-100. Joining Sharon will be Al Jardine, Johnny Rivers, Meg Baird, and some very special guests.

Now you may be wondering: Why, exactly, was the concert moved?

Let us explain.

First off, the fire, which is currently only at 27 percent containment, made having the concert — or any concert for that matter — at the Library both impractical and unsafe. The risks involved — which include adding to highway congestion, the possible loss of power, and in a worst-case scenario, having to cancel the concert entirely should the wind shift and the temperature rise — were simply too far great.

And then we figured, why not the Golden State Theatre?

As luck would have it, the theatre wasn’t booked that night. What’s more, with 850 seats, the theatre presented the perfectly obvious idea:  Why not have the show be a benefit for those affected by the fire?

Indeed, the fire has already gone down as the most destructive in history in terms of property lost. Approximately 57 structures have been destroyed, including the homes of many of our dear friends and neighbors. We proposed the idea to Sharon and she graciously and generously agreed: all proceeds from the 850 tickets will go to the Soberanes Fire Relief Fund.

And there you have it.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. If you can make it great! And if you can’t, please do tell your friends.

Once again, get your tickets HERE.

By getting together you will show your support for your neighbors in need as well as your support of the arts as a wonderful way for healing and health in our communities.

See you August 12th!