By JIM BURNSLos Alamos
After 30 years of the Gordon family delivering free concerts to Los Alamos during the summer months, the county has determined to go with another vendor.
Whatever the reasoning for the change, I believe it will prove to be a mistake.
Putting aside the commitment of the Gordons to keeping the series going through both good times and rough patches, they deserve special credit for something much more.
Each year they invested significant time and effort to ensure a diverse lineup of artists who offer substantial musical roots and experiences. This is a vastly different task than just providing free concerts. After all, there are always an array of local and regional performers eager for the chance to perform in a ho-hum series.
Over the years the Gordons have signed unique artists from across the continent, bringing to Los Alamos the likes of Dave Alvin, Lisa Morales, the Iguanas, Robbie Fulks, Claire Lynch, Ray Wylie Hubbard, David Gonzalez, Grayson Capps, and of course the Red Elvises … to name but a few.
These exceptional performers provided rich musical landscapes.
A real challenge of bringing in such diverse talents is the risk of staging an occasional performer who offends some locals. In my assessment, this is a small price to pay for years of performances, which have routinely been rewarding.
Finally, it is more than a pity that no public process took place for this momentous decision.
