Daiana Feuer on September 28th, 2016

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Over the last 14 years, Inara George has hosted countless tribute shows at Theatricum Botanicum, a rustic outdoor amphitheater surrounded by trees in the funky little community of Topanga Canyon. On Oct. 9, the Bird and the Bee singer continues the tradition by honoring her godfather on his birthday, none other than Jackson Browne, with proceeds benefiting this special venue.

Browne was a good friend of her father, Lowell George, founder of the 1960s-’70s rock band Little Feat. When her father died suddenly of a heart attack in 1979, her mother asked Browne to be Inara’s Godfather. Browne wrote “Of Missing Persons” in the wake of his friend’s passing, dedicated to her family.

Browne has participated in many of the annual tributes Inara George has done at the Theatricum, which include nights dedicated to Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Dolly Parton, Bessie Smith, David Bowie and Woody Guthrie (who actually used to live in a little house on the property of the Theatricum Botanicum), so when the venue offered her the date of Browne’s birthday, she seized the opportunity to spend a night singing his songs with her many talented friends.

George has deep roots in Topanga. She explains, “My mom and dad bought a house in Topanga when I was 2. And I lived there for 20 years. I went to Topanga Elementary. I went to the summer camp at the Theatricum starting at the age of 8 or so and spent almost every summer performing in the plays. Before I got into music I wanted to be a Shakespearean actor.”

Special guests at the tribute show include Eleni Mandell, Mandy Moore, Van Dyke Parks, Alex Lilly, Juliette Commagere, Barbara Gruska (The Belle Brigade), Mike Andrews, Sean Watkins, Harper Simon, and more.

Tickets are $35-$55 and available here.