When the devastating fires swept through Los Angeles on January 7, 2025, they left a profound mark on our city and its vibrant music community. Among the hardest hit were musicians—instrumentalists, singers, composers, sound engineers, studio owners, and the like—who lost their homes, studios, and livelihoods in the Palisades and Eaton fires.
In the face of this tragedy, a remarkable initiative emerged: Free Concert Clothing Co-op. This volunteer-powered, heartwarming effort was spearheaded by a team of dedicated individuals, including Wendy Prober, Karen Garrity, Colleen Coomber, Dynell Weber, Laurie Niles, and Rena Urso. Together, they formed a resource to help musicians rebuild their wardrobes and return to doing what they love—creating and sharing music.
The Free Concert Clothing Co-op offers pre-loved, gently used concert clothing, shoes, and accessories—everything from tuxedos and evening gowns to concert tails and black attire. Musicians from Los Angeles and beyond have opened their closets and hearts, contributing to a growing collection of items to assist colleagues affected by the fires.
Pianist Wendy Prober, has opened her home to serve as a free “store” where musicians can browse the collection in person or explore inventory online through www.freeconcertclothing.org. Affected musicians can contact the organizers via the website to arrange a visit, or even have items brought to them through personalized support.
If you’d like to contribute to this effort, donations of clothing and accessories are warmly welcomed. Colleen Coomber is the point of contact for donations and can be reached through the website or via email at freeconcertclothing@gmail.com.
This community-driven initiative went live on January 20, 2025, and is a shining example of the resilience and generosity of the music world. Let’s continue to support and uplift one another as we rebuild our beloved artistic community.
Website: www.freeconcertclothing.org Email: freeconcertclothing@gmail.com