Marc Tonglen, Nederland. The state of the music industry remains in flux as we enter into our first full winter in the era of Covid-19.  Lucky for the Nederland community, we have had true pioneers of our local arts culture keeping doors open for concert goers this past summer and early fall. Pete Fiori and his partner in crime, Kimba Stefane took quick action, utilizing the necessary resources available and the scientific acumen of leading experts to keep the parking lot gates of The Caribou Room open and accessible to the local community.

As Pete Fiori explains, “About six weeks in we realized we had to do something because people were freaking out. There were folks who hadn’t seen each other in a couple of months so we started doing food delivery as a public service and we then quickly realized we could soon hold socially distanced concerts outdoors, and lucky for us, we had the parking lot to accommodate.”  He continues, “It quickly evolved. People were starved for something to do. It was as social as we could make it, even though people were restricted to social circles and parking pods.  We ended up being able to fit forty-five cars and seven or eight social circles.  We made it so we could sell about 150 tickets plus food and drink. Amazingly, we were able to make it work enough to cover our overhead and to make sure everyone was modestly paid.  Surprisingly to us all, it became very successful.”

The Caribou Room quickly became a pioneering venue that modeled to others around the country what could be done to still hold some safe summertime shows. The performers were mostly local, and the shows felt very intimate and heartfelt.  Highlights included performances by Daniel Rodriguez, The Herman Clan, The Magic Beans, 300 Days, The Tenth Mountain Division, The Alcapones and many more. Although the music industry has all but collapsed at the national level, there is still an opportunity for patrons to gather in appreciation and celebration, as music plays the catalyst at the local community level. 

This new approach also plays into past, present and future discussions about new sustainable models. As Pete explains, “There are three main parts to maintaining sustainability at the community level. These include economic, environmental and social sustainability. To really have a thriving community you must have social interaction. There is an overarching need that has become evident during this time for all kinds of performance art. Anything that involves the gathering of people where artists are attempting to convey an emotional or intellectual idea is important.” He carries on, “The environment has changed now but it has to still happen. Music is a Necessity; That is real. Without music, what are we doing? I am grateful that we were able to fulfill this need for the community over the summer and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing team that surrounded me. Between all of us we figured out the different aspects of being able to throw a show and to keep it safe.”

As for pioneering a new model for the winter months, Fiori isn’t going to be so quick to lead the charge. “I’ll let Cervantes and The Boulder Theater take the lead with that; right now, there’s just too many unknowns for us to feel comfortable.” And with that, I for one would like to take this moment is to share our thanks and appreciation for the essential cultural service that Pete Fiori, Kimba Stefani and the entire crew at The Caribou Room has provided thus far for our community during these unprecedented times. We are forever grateful. 

(Originally published in the October 22, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)