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As a touring singer/songwriter, Brad Colerick, with five albums to his credit, has performed in his share of venues while traveling all over the country.
That might make him the resident expert when it comes to acoustics and sound, and as a result, South Pasadena officials just might want to tap into his knowledge for the ideal location for what calls as an untapped resource – a revenue generating outdoor amphitheater.
Colerick is convinced the moneymaker is right in the city’s backyard. Along Arroyo Drive, near the corner of Monterey Road, Colerick has discovered what he believes just might be the perfect spot for outdoor concerts and more.
“Right there,” said Colerick, pointing down an embankment nestled behind the Arroyo Seco Golf Course.
For now, the site is overgrown with trees, weeds and bushes, but what it could become if Colerick follows his dream and the city buys in would be, well, something special for the community.
“The top seats could be here, looking down,” said Colerick, looking down a slope in the area. “I can see it.”
So might others who have enjoyed his music and storytelling over the years. “We could have entertainment, and the city could sell food, beer and wine during events,” he said. “It could really be fun.”
Colerick is longtime community member, recognized for booking musical acts on Wednesday and Thursday nights as part of his ‘Wine & Song’ and ‘Blue Guitar’ series, respectively, at the Arroyo Seco Golf Course.
With about 200 seats, Colerick believes it would quickly become another popular destination for South Pasadenans and others throughout the region.
A tunnel over the trail below the amphitheater could be installed, he explained, not to obstruct frequent horse traffic from nearby stables.
“I think this is an untapped resource right here that the city could utilize for generating revenue,” said Colerick, whose songs have grabbed the attention of audiences all over the United States. His latest release, “Nine Ten Thirty,” which happens to be South Pasadena’s zip code, is a love letter to the city, with lyrics in the title tune a tribute to the place he’s called home since 2001.
Billboard Magazine praised the Emmy-Award winning producer and composer of music and commercials as “one of a baker dozen acts to watch in the folk community around the world.”
Colerick is the music director of the annual South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival and was a recent winner of the city’s Image Award, which recognizes individuals who have made a positive impact on the city.
With his vision for a new musical venue, Colerick is convinced “…it would make this whole area a bigger draw,” he said. “My dream is to put in an outdoor, open-air, city-owned, money making, easy-to-build event space. The slope for the amphitheater is already here. You don’t have to do a lot of grading.”
At street level on Arroyo Drive, there’s a walking path near the proposed area for the venue Colerick sometimes takes, which ends behind the miniature golf course in the Arroyo. He’s surveyed the area an believes there’s plenty of space to create ample parking.
“I was walking the path one day, saw the land, and just thought this would work out great,” explained Colerick on how he came up with his plan he wants to run by city officials. “When I saw it, I thought it would be perfect.”
To cut his time walking time down the path, Colerick joked, “I’m going to put in an air-tram” as part of the project.”
That won’t happen, he promised, laughing at the thought, but he hopes his dream for an amphitheater will.
“It would be great for the community,” he insisted. “It really would.”
