Everyone talks about the weather in San Diego. That’s cool and all, but sunny days are nothing without our beautiful coastline. Don’t be a beach -- help save one this Tuesday, May 13, at the Belly Up, when Oceanside funk-rockers the Barnwell Shift and other local bands come together for the 3rd Annual Ocean Commotion Concert to benefit San Diego Coastkeeper.
“We were lucky enough to meet the Barnwell Shift when they came to us as a local band wanting to help our mission to protect and restore fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters in San Diego County,” says Coastkeeper executive director Megan Baehrens. “Now [the concert] has a life of its own, and these talented bands use their musical genius to raise money for our critical efforts to keep San Diego County's water clean.”
Onsite cleanup could be as easy as paddling out for one attendee: The grand prize in the raffle giveaway is a custom, wood-grained Firewire surfboard, with Oceanside-based surf company Stay Covered throwing in a leash, board bag and wax. Other prizes include original artwork from Disney artists, gift certificates from breweries, and merch from local businesses like golf outfitter Linksoul. In short, bring cash: You can score killer prize packages -- like stay-cations at Grand Pacific Palisades Resort in Carlsbad and other beachside rentals -- and good karma, with 100% of the raffle proceeds going to Coastkeeper.
“The ocean is really close to a lot of our hearts,” says the Barnwell Shift’s bassist and vocalist Josh Weigel, who notes that the first show the band ever played was for Coastkeeper. “We go to the beach every day, so we need to keep that ocean as clean as possible.”
So come Tuesday, pack the motion of the ocean on your hips for this locals’ night of music and fundraising that also includes reggae-infused classic rockers the Blue Moonies of Encinitas and Temecula’s Americana singer/songwriter Lee Koch. Buy some raffle tickets, become a member, and raise a glass to the ocean -- and to peeing in your wetsuit for many years to come.
The 3rd Annual Ocean Commotion Concert takes place at the Belly Up on Tuesday, May 13, at 8 pm, $10-$18, 21+. The Barnwell Shift headlines; Lee Koch, the Blue Moonies open.
Hannah Lott-Schwartz, a San Diego native, recently moved back to the area after working the magazine-publishing scene in Boston. Now she’s straight trolling SD for all the music she missed while away. Want to help? Hit her up with just about anything at all over on Twitter, where -- though not always work-appropriate -- she means well.
