The Decemberists Announce Portland Benefit Show to Help Tucker Martine Rebuild His Studio

The Decemberists have announced a benefit show to help producer Tucker Martine recover the equipment that was stolen from his studio last month. The Decemberists, Blind Pilot and more unannounced special guests will be performing at the Crystal Ballroom in Martine’s native Portland, Ore., on June 3. The show is officially called “A Benefit for Flora,” after the name of Martine’s studio, Flora Recording & Playback, that he runs with his wife Laura Veirs.

Help us defray the costs of the theft at @TuckerMartine’s studio, Flora! We’ll be performing at the @CrystalPortland on June 3rd with @BlindPilot & a few as-yet unannounced guests. All proceeds from this concert will go to a fund to help replace the equipment stolen. pic.twitter.com/FE1LdQiXCk

— The Decemberists (@TheDecemberists) April 17, 2019

Martine is a prolific and influential producer who has worked with artists like R.E.M., Modest Mouse, Neko Case, Sufjan Stevens and Death Cab for Cutie. He also has a long-standing relationship with The Decemberists, having worked on four albums of theirs dating back to 2006’s The Crane Wife, which he co-produced with Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla.

Decemberists bassist Nate Query started a GoFundMe for Martine and his family last week that has already raised over $31,000 of its $55,000 goal. The donations came from 482 individual donors over just eight days. An update posted by Veirs on the campaign page says Martine has been able to resume a bit of work with the crucial pieces of gear that were saved and that he’s been working on a project with an artist who flew in from Norway this week. Veirs also said that she and Martine will be working on her own 11th solo project this summer.

Tickets for the benefit show go on sale Friday at 3 p.m. ET. Check out the GoFundMe for Martine and his family here.