By eu.coloradoan.com

• The concert supported Clinton Johnson’s Zimbabwe House of Stone, which sells sculptures to aid people in Zimbabwe.
• The event featured a lineup of local artists, including former members of the Subdudes.
• Proceeds from the concert also benefited the Fort Collins Sproutin’ Up nonprofit.

UNITED STATES: For the second straight year, a star-studded lineup of Fort Collins musicians came together to play a benefit concert for a fellow city resident who has fallen in love with Zimbabwean stone sculptures.

Former Subdudes members Tim Cook and John Magnie joined Liz Barnez, Dave Beegle, Joe Schicke and Seth Strickland for a concert at Bath Garden Center on June 24 to benefit Clinton Johnson’s Zimbabwe House of Stone.

Johnson, a fifth-generation Fort Collins native, buys sculptures from Zimbabwean artists and sells them in his Zhos Gallery locations, with profits from sales benefiting the people of Zimbabwe.

Johnson said he fell in love with the artists and community of the south African country in 2021 and has bought more than 600 sculptures to bring to the United States to sell.

“I’m just trying to get as much money to Zimbabwe as possible,” Johnson told the Coloradoan during the concert. “It’s a very poor country and they are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.”

Cook also took a liking to the sculptures and the two came up with the idea for Cook’s musician buddies to play the benefit concert.

“Clint is such a good dude and I wanted to help him out,” Cook said. “It was definitely a fun night and great turnout considering the weather called for lightning and heavy winds.”

The event included sculptures for sale around the garden center, a beer garden and food trucks. It also benefited the Fort Collins Sproutin’ Up nonprofit.

Last year’s concert drew around 200 people, and Johnson believed there was a similar turnout at this year’s event.

“Music and sculptures in the garden kind of works,” Johnson said.

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