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Did you catch that hailstorm on Sunday afternoon? It came in the middle of the Eclectic Preview Party that was held at The Daily in South Pasadena and threatened to upstage the speaker at the time. But fear not, team Eclectic will not be deterred! The annual fundraiser that helps “keep the music free” at the highly anticipated Eclectic Music Festival, was a festive musical event in its own right, supported by music-loving South Pasadenans that gave them a chance to enjoy some great food and drink at the newly opened “The Daily” cafe, bid on some incredible auction items, listen to some terrific music and honor two of our own with Creative Community Awards.
Festivities included music by Elliott Caine, who played a soulful trumpet solo, followed by The Salty Suites, and finally the guitar stylings of Twanguero! All three will be performing at The Eclectic Music Festival. Check the Eclectic website for the list of performers and stages which will be updated as we approach the festival on April 27.
South Pasadena Chamber CEO, Laurie Wheeler, welcomed the crowd and introduced our maestro of all things live music in South Pas, Brad Colerick, who is responsible for curating all the music acts that we will have the privilege of seeing at The Eclectic. Colerick introduced the musicians who were to perform and thanked everyone who continues to support live music in South Pasadena. He went on to introduce David Plenn, whose Dinosaur Farm provided a stage for performers for the past several years and has been an integral part of the festival every year. There won’t be a stage behind Dino Farm this year but in its place will be a stage in the old Carrow’s parking lot. Colerick also let people know that there would be no street closure on Mission Street this year due to a decision by the city – news that was met with groans of disappointment from the crowd.
“I was at the very first one (music festival) that was held in the parking lot of Walter Zooi’s music store,” explained Plenn. “Justo Almario, who is one of the best saxophone players in the world, played, and Charlie Hickey, who was ten years old at the time – and I looked at him and said, ‘this is what this guy’s going to do’ – he was just such a professional at ten, I couldn’t believe it. Charlie went on to play at several Eclectics and was a part of the emerging artists along with Phoebe Bridgers and then she ended up signing Charlie to her record label – so that’s what Charlie did.” He went on to talk about how Scott Feldman and Zooi began to grow the festival with Colerick joining in 2011. It was Feldman who created the iconic “eye in the guitar” logo that has been used on all the Eclectic posters. “It truly has been an eclectic festival,” says Plenn, “with everyone from The Dubliners to Ozomatli, opera singers, the clarinet choir, Joe Davis and Lynn – it’s been an amazing thing. Brad is in charge of 62 acts on 15 stages – herding cats is nothing compared to organzing musicians, it’s not even close! He does an incredible job, so thank you Brad! This was originally designed to bring people to the city so they could see what a hip, cool city we have and it’s been very successful at that. And also to stimulate business because the Chamber was involved and that has been very successful too. As a business owner I can tell you it’s always a day we look forward to. New people come to the city, new people come to the stores, everybody going to the restaurants. It’s a good day for business. So come see me at the main stage – it’s going to be a full day and it’s going to rock.”
Creative Community Awards were presented to Gloria Bennett, owner of Young Stars Theatre and Diana March, owner of Jeweled Universe. The Creative Community Awards are given to South Pasadenans who have made significant contributions to art, music, and culture in South Pasadena. James and Lissa Reynolds, Managing and Artistic Directors of Fremont Centre Theatre, presented the award to Bennett.
“Great people can do amazing things,” said James Reynolds. “Great people do beautiful and joyful things. Gloria Bennett is a great person. Gloria and her late husband, Jack, who was taken from us so soon, opened a joyful, happy, entertaining space for young artists living in our community. Nearly every day, sounds of young voices sing through the halls of our Fremont Centre Theatre – all that happiness was inspired by Gloria and Jack Bennett.” He went on to explain that after Actor’s Equity changed the rules for small theatres in 2016, they searched for a resident company to come and lease the theatre on an on-going basis. “We were gifted this wonderful couple who could work magic with children.” Lissa joined in as James led the crowd in the Van Morrison chant of “Gloria, G-L-O-R-I-A, Gloria!”
After the sudden passing of her husband in 2022, Bennett and her daughter Miranda, supported by the YST families, kept their company afloat and thriving. Accepting the award, an emotional Bennett said, “this is for Jack. 27 years ago I was hired to run a childrens theatre camp in Jacksonville, Florida. I hired my friend, Jack Bennett, as the director – I musical directed, stage managed and produced. The next year we started our own company for kids so they could have theatre to do year round called Young Stars Theatre.” A few years later they married, moved to Los Angeles and 8 years ago they had the good fortune of answering the Reynolds’ ad to lease Fremont Centre Theatre. Bennett went on to say that she is someone who doesn’t need recognition or her name in a program and finds getting up and speaking makes her uncomfortable. But she loves theatre and she loves providing this place called theatre to the kids who walk through her door. “They come to the theatre and they create their own family,” said Bennett. “I’m working to help these kids not just put on good theatre but to be kind human beings and productive people, people who care and learn how to work with each other – and that’s my purpose – to help kids. I’m honored to get this award, I’m honored to do what I do for a living, I appreciate this community. Out of 27 years of doing this, South Pasadena has been the only community that has come out and supported us, meaning you may not know the kids or the families, but you come to see the shows and we so much appreciate your support and I hope to be here until my last day.”
Diana March opened Jeweled Universe on a wing and a prayer during the pandemic. Her dream was to provide not only a shop to feature her designs along with other local artisans but also to have a performance space where she would feature live music. March’s sister, Sharie Palatt, introduced her saying, “it would have been enough for Diana to create a store where she could sell her own jewelry designs, to invite other local designers to to display their wares, but Diana wasn’t finished. It wouldn’t be a proper retail space without a stage,” she said to cheers from the audience. “She built a stage because she loved to perform which would have been enough but no, she wanted to open the doors of Jeweled Universe to all musicians and performers. But the fact that Diana has created a successful Thursday open mic night, Friday Broadway Musical Theatre night, and Saturday special shows of all kinds is more than enough and I would like to introduce my sister, Diana, who sparkles from head to toe!”
March, who is also a widow and cancer survivor and comes from a family of artists, explained that “through adversity sometimes comes our greatest achievements.” After battling cancer and coming through the grief of losing her husband, she began to dare to “come back out” in 2020. She told the story of coming out of her apartment to help someone with a flat tire and in doing so, someone pointed out that there was a store space for rent in her building (the Alexander Building). “Basically it was one of those crazy things that happen and I walked in and I was like, ‘yes’. Everybody has been so supportive. What an amazing community South Pasadena is – I couldn’t love it more.”
In describing Brad Colerick finally performing at Jeweled Universe March said, “it was like, ‘oh my god, a Beatle knows who I am! In South Pasadena he’s like Paul McCartney – and now he’s playing at my place once a month! It’s such a blast and I can’t believe how lovely this town is to support me like this and have this honor.”
This year’s Community Awards were designed and created by local artist, Kim Baise, who has participated in Artisans’ Alley at the Arts Crawls many times. This year’s colorful poster that features the metro tracks at sunset looking down Mission Street, parrots flying overhead and the musical acts listed on a giant guitar was designed by South Pasadena artist Peter Wilson.
South Pasadena get ready to rock on April 27 at the 2024 Eclectic Music Festival!
