Olaf Growald
Henry Abuto at Tulips in March 2021
It's been a whirlwind of a year for Tulips, the Near Southside music venue that opened last November and has since survived COVID-19, Snowmageddon, and a slew of other challenges that have come its way.
This Saturday, Fort Worth's first mid-size music venue since the Caravan of Dreams plans to celebrate its one-year anniversary by helping a friend.
Birdtalker will headline a benefit concert for ByWasonga chef Henry Abuto, who recently suffered a heart attack and is facing financial need as he waits for a heart transplant. An auction will also be taking place, featuring handwritten lyrics by singer-songwriter Noah Gunderson (one of Abuto's favorite musicians) and customized cowboy hats by 12 local artists including Diane Pereira, Ariel Davis, Jay Wilkinson, Marielle Guzman, and Shasta Haubrich.
The event will also have barbecue by Yellow Rose Smokehouse.
Prior to his heart attack, Abuto was an ardent supporter of Tulips, having hosted multiple pop-up events there while also frequenting the spot as a regular.
Tulips has hosted over 300 events — from concerts and art markets to private parties and political events — in the past year. Opening in the middle of the pandemic, the venue initially adopted a socially distanced seating arrangement using reclaimed church pews but has since partnered with Spune Productions to host full general admission shows. Touring and local acts like Gunderson, Shakey Graves, Paul Cauthen, Men I Trust, and Fort Worth’s own Grady Spencer are among the many that have graced the stage.
“We can’t believe the love and support this community has shown us, and it’s staggering and humbling that we are able to celebrate this milestone together,” owner Jason Suder said in a statement. “We have so much to look forward to, from New Years with White Denim to exciting additions to the Tulips’ family, and we’re honored to use this moment to give back to someone who cares for this city as much as we do."
Tickets for Tulips' anniversary celebration are available here.
Abuto also recently appeared in a feature by WFAA. Watch it below.