A Sad Ending: R.I.P. To Lubbock’s 4th On Broadway, Or Is It?

Broadway Festivals announced they would no longer produce Lubbock's Fourth On Broadway.

The Statement

Just so you don't have to go back, the statement was "Broadway Festivals announced they would no longer produce Lubbock's Fourth On Broadway".  I could be wrong, but it's interesting that this news is being couched this ways. It did not say, "Fourth On Broadway Is Cancelled". While unlikely, I guess it's possible for some other organization to step in and get the job done.

The Organizer

4th On Broadway was pretty much a Don Caldwell production, and after he passed away, I'm not sure anyone else has the passion, energy, or time to get it down. Don had a very good knack for drawing in various elements from the community and using that critical mass to shape this enormous undertaking.

Our Part

I witnessed, and brainstormed with Mr. Caldwell for many years, and he kept a keen eye and ear out for trends, even if they weren't personally his cup of tea. How else would you explain someone who would let us host a mostly heavy metal/punk/scream-o tent at a family event? Don knew it was just what "kids" at the time were into, and he wanted them to be a part of the festival as well. That inclusion really meant something to the rock crowd and they turned out in force for it.

The End?

Right now it does look like the annual festival is done, at least in it's present form. It's okay. I think everything we do should be reviewed and reinvented when possible. I would think another event with a nominal fee, like the Lubbock Arts Festival, would be successful, but it still requires someone with the time and effort to pull it all together. I think that's going to require a full-time, paid position and how that would be handled is well beyond my pay grade. So while there's a glimmer of hope that this festival may be reborn someday, it's pretty darn faint.