Blog by Matt Albrecht
Before I joined Goldenvoice, I was President of a company that produced large music festivals on military bases across the country. It was some of the hardest work I’ve ever done…..so much red tape, politics, and chaos, but also the most rewarding.
I didn’t fully understand the impact until I was on the ground with service members and their families, watching the joy and connection that music brought to their lives. There were a lot of unforgettable moments, but one sticks out this Memorial Day.
We were doing a show with Lee Brice at Naval Station Mayport in Florida. About halfway through the day, I got a call from the base meteorologist saying that a massive storm was coming. We evacuated the 5,000 people who had already arrived, and the storm absolutely leveled our main stage. Speakers flew 50 yards. Just like that, the event was over. We were out well over six figures and completely heartbroken.
Then I got a call from Lauren Duski’s (shoutout Lauren) tour manager asking if there was anywhere on base she could still play. The base team found an old PA system in a church closet and set it up in a small bar on base with a little assembly stage. Lauren tweeted that she was still going to play, and the room filled up.
I called Lee Brice’s tour manager just to give him the heads up, thinking they were long gone(their bus was about 30 minutes out of town already). But 40 minutes later, Lee pulled up. He played an hour and a half set for a packed room of Navy families…..many with loved ones deployed.
That night is still the most meaningful show I’ve ever been part of.
Much love to Lee Brice for being such a class act, and to all the service members and families out there. Thank you for your sacrifice. Happy Memorial Day.
