Pink Martini

In 1994 in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in politics, thinking that one day he would run for mayor. Like other eager politicians-in-training, he went to every political fundraiser under the sun… but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming, lackluster, loud and un-neighborly. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world—crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop—and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the “little orchestra” Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks.

One year later, Lauderdale called China Forbes, a Harvard classmate who was living in New York City, and asked her to join Pink Martini. They began to write songs together. Their first song “Sympathique (Je ne veux pas travailler)” became an overnight sensation in France, was nominated for “Song of the Year” at France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards, and to this day remains a mantra (“Je ne veux pas travailler” or “I don’t want to work”) for striking French workers.  Says Lauderdale, “We’re very much an American band, but we spend a lot of time abroad and therefore have the incredible diplomatic opportunity to represent a broader, more inclusive America… the America which remains the most heterogeneously populated country in the world… composed of people of every country, every language, every religion.”

Featuring a dozen musicians, with songs in 25 languages, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages on six continents. After making it’s European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998, the band has gone on to play with more than 50 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London. In 2014, Pink Martini was inducted into both the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

Pink Martini has released 11 studio albums on its own independent label Heinz Records (named after Lauderdale’s dog), selling over 3 million albums worldwide. In 2019, the band released two EPs featuring the vocals of Pink Martini’s newest members Jimmie Herrod and Edna Vazquez. Both vocalist have toured with the band for the past year and are officially part of the group with the release of Herrod’s EP Tomorrow and Vaquez’s Besame Mucho, both of which were co-produced by Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes.

All tickets for the Live at The Gardens Summer Concert Series are sold utilizing a dynamic pricing model—which means that for each performance, ticket prices will fluctuate depending on demand—with limited amounts of tickets available at varying price points. Become a Gardens Member or a Lincoln Center Subscriber to receive early access to summer series tickets.

Clear Bag Policy: 

The Gardens on Spring Creek will be enforcing a clear bag policy during all concert events.

Guests are welcome to bring clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12 x 6 x 12 inches. Small clutches that are the size of a hand (4.5 x 6.5 inches or smaller) are also permitted. No coolers will be allowed inside the Gardens during concert events.

All bags must comply with this policy, including diaper bags. 

Chairs / Seating:
Guests are welcome to bring their own folding lawn chairs. No canopies, tents or umbrellas are permitted. Seating is first-come, first-served. We ask that all patrons respectfully consolidate their seating area to three feet by three feet, or nine square feet, per patron. Blankets and tables are discouraged. We reserve the right to consolidate your blanket spread or other personal items to allow space for others.

Accessibility: Accessible seating areas are available for guests with disabilities, such as those who use a wheelchair or have limited mobility.  These areas will be reserved for patrons from the time when doors open until the start time of the concert. There is space for one companion per person requiring accessible seating. Auxiliary aids and services are available for people with disabilities; please contact our team at gardens@fcgov.com or 970.416.2486 at least two weeks prior to the concert date.

Weather: All concerts are scheduled to take place rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to bring items for comfort including hats, sunscreen, sunglasses and jackets/raincoats in order to be prepared for shifting weather during events. In the event of severe weather, concert staff will communicate any necessary updates.

Parking: Free parking is available in The Gardens lot, along Botanical Lane or in the USDA's Natural Resources Research Center lot across the street. The Gardens is also easily accessed by the Spring Creek Trail with ample bike parking and a separate bike gate entrance located directly on the trail.

Entry / Doors: Gates will open to concert ticketholders one hour prior to the scheduled show start time. Note that regular daily Gardens operations will close to guests at least three hours prior to the beginning of scheduled concert performances. Ticketholders may enter the venue through the main Visitor Center entrance, the Rock Garden gate west of The Gardens’ main parking lot, and through the gate south of the Spring Creek Trail. Please have your tickets ready to scan upon entrance. One admission per ticket.

Re-Entry Policy:  Re-entry is prohibited. Guests cannot leave and later regain entry into the venue. Please plan accordingly. 

Food and Drink: The Gardens will have a variety of food and drink offerings inside the venue including food trucks, a full cash bar and water fountains for refillable water bottles. Outside alcohol is strictly prohibited. Guests are permitted to bring factory-sealed non-alcoholic beverages, empty reusable water bottles and food for personal consumption. Food must be packed in transparent bags or containers according to the clear bag policy outlined above. No glass is allowed.

Show Length: Concerts will be approximately 90 minutes long; this may vary by performer.  Due to City sound ordinances, all concerts will end at 8 p.m.

Smoking: There is no smoking allowed. This includes but is not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, marijuana or tobacco in any form.

Prohibited Items:
Prohibited items include but are not limited to:  

• Outside alcohol, marijuana and tobacco in any form
• Glass containers
• Pets (service animals as defined by the ADA are allowed)
• Tents, canopies or umbrellas
• Recording devices
• Noisemakers
• Laser pointers
• Confetti or glitter
• Fires of any kind including grills, fireworks and candles
• Bikes, skateboards and roller skates (bike parking is available outside venue)

Policies are subject to change at any time and may vary by performer. Any person observed in violation of the outlined policies will be subject to ejection without refund.

Animals: Only service animals are permitted at The Gardens. Service animals must be restrained and must remain with the owner. If a service animal interferes with other guests, corrective action may include rearranging seating or removal of the service animal from the amphitheater. Emotional support animals, comfort animals and therapy dogs are not service animals as defined by the 2010 ADA Guidelines and are not allowed at concerts.

Content: Some productions may contain mature language or content. The Gardens on Spring Creek does not censor or guarantee the content of any production.