Palisades Dolphin Strong to Host Benefit Concert

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Palisades Dolphin Strong will host “The Amazing Music Store Benefit Concert” on Sunday, July 20, to launch support for fire recovery and area businesses.

“Excitement is in the air,” read a description of the event. “Get ready to be part of something extraordinary for Palisades Dolphin Strong’s first fundraising benefit event. We want you to be there for music, food and fun to benefit programs of the music community of Pacific Palisades.”

Nonprofit Palisades Dolphin Strong was formed by Palisades Charter High School alum Scott Berger and Larry Goldberg to “support those affected by the 2025 wildfires through community rebuilding, business revitalization and wellness programs.”

The event will honor Patrick Hildebrand and his son PJ of Amazing Music Store—“a beloved Pacific Palisades institution for over four decades.” Proceeds from the benefit concert will be used toward “relief efforts” for the store, as well as “ongoing community support initiatives and grants for families affected by the fires,” which will be organized by Palisades Dolphin Strong. The store, which was destroyed in the Palisades fire, was located at 867 Swarthmore Avenue.

“The event will be the first in a series of efforts to rebuild the touch-points of our neighborhood and safeguard the future for those that were most severely impacted by the Palisades fire,” the description continued. It will be emceed by Palisadian and Honorary Town Sheriff Sam Laganà.

The concert will take place at Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club, which is located at 1210 4th Street. It will be from 5 to 9 p.m., with a red carpet starting at 3:30 p.m.

Food will be available from Sunset Smash Burgers, CHX and Gracias Señor food trucks. There will also be a “multitude of local talent,” as well as a silent auction and “opportunity for our community to gather in celebration of reviving the Palisades’ heartbeat of musical arts.”

“Auction highlights include a signed instrument from Grammy-winning saxophonist Tom Scott of Steely Dan, a guitar from Taylor and SWAG from Norman’s Rare Guitars, a Matador-Fire eco-friendly home protection system (valued at $5,000), a full architectural design package from Everlasting Homes (valued at $144,000), and many more unique items,” the organization wrote.

Tickets are available starting at $75 for general admission.