Join Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Coalition for the Upper South Platte, and many other partners in rallying support for wildfire restoration and recovery in our beautiful Pikes Peak region. Concert lineup includes Haunted Windchimes, Radio London, Ceol Ceili, Charlie Milo Trio, Thorn's Musical Journey, Florissant Fossils, and Ben Knighten. Event is at Aspen Valley Ranch. $15 advance tickets, $20 at the door. Firefighters get in FREE!

The partners organizing the July 22nd Benefit Concert at Aspen Valley Ranch, Woodland Park, CO are refocusing the fundraising efforts of this event to address the immediate needs of local fire, emergency services and recovery agencies involved in the Waldo Canyon Fire and other regional wildfires of the 2012 fire season. We have a wonderful line-up of great musicians – the Haunted Windchimes, Radio London, Charlie Milo Trio, Ceol Ceili, Florissant Fossils, Thorn’s Musical Journey and Ben Knighten. The event runs from 10a – 8p and tickets can be purchased online for $15 ($20 at the gate – kids 12 and younger free and fire fighters free) at: www.waldofire.org or by calling CUSP at 719-748-0033. Local businesses selling tickets include The Leechpit 802 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO and Seven Arrows Gallery, 118 Midland Ave., Woodland Park, CO.

The unimaginable devastation caused by recent fires is rapidly draining local resources. Our community though, continues to show amazing resilience and generosity and a deep and committed desire to help. This benefit concert provides one of those opportunities to support the heroic efforts of the agencies involved in suppressing the fires that have been raging through the Pikes Peak region.

As we watch the details of loss and destruction mount, we also see the rising numbers of success and containment increase. Recent and vivid experience with the Hayman Fire has taught us that once the flames have been extinguished and the smoke has cleared, the work of recovery and rehabilitation will have just begun. Fire has a life, long beyond its blaze. Once the earth has been scorched and scarred, new dangers and threats erupt as floods and erosion pound and reshape the fragile and vulnerable landscape. It is critical that we take the lessons we have learned and apply the mitigation factors we know are effective and that need to be implemented as soon as it is safe to enter the burn zone. It is equally important for our community to be aware and supportive of this work that must be done once the fires are out.

Help our communities recover and move forward. Join our sponsors and hosts, The Colorado Springs Independent, Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining Company, Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP), the Gordon Jackson Foundation, MAMA, Woodland Park Arts Alliance, Teller County Search & Rescue, The Firefighters Fund and Rocky Mountain Field Institute for the July 22nd 2012 Fire Season Relief and Recovery Benefit Concert.