Laura Gibson Postpones Portland Show In Wake of New York Apartment Fire

An online relief effort for the singer-songwriter has already doubled its goal.

By MATTHEW SINGER

As you've likely already seen, Portland singer-songwriter Laura Gibson's New York apartment was the victim of a gas line explosion in the East Village on March 26 that collapsed two buildings and killed two people. Though she escaped unharmed, Gibson, who moved to the city last year to attend grad school at Hunter College lost nearly all her possessions, including lyrics for a new album and a musical she was writing for PHAME, a local arts program for developmentally disabled adults.  

The disaster occurred literally a minute or two after I got off the phone with Gibson. We had been speaking in advance of a homecoming show at Mississippi Studios, scheduled for April 5, and though that date has been postponed, you can read our Q&A in print and online Wednesday.

An online relief effort, launched by friends the day after the incident, doubled its $10,000 goal in three days. Today, Gibson posted a message of gratitude on Facebook which also included some rather frightening details about the moments right after the explosion occurred:

MORE ON LAURA GIBSON IN WILLAMETTE WEEK:

  1. "The Lion and the Lamb" (Feb. 1, 2012)

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office.

Support WW

Support