Isla Vista Surfrider hosted its 27th annual Concert For The Coast on May 16 to raise money for the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute. The free event at Anisq’Oyo Park included live music, taco trucks, clothing vendors and opportunity draws.
The concert featured live music, block printing, glitter tattoos, clothing and jewelry shops as well as free Yerba Madres and tacos provided by Maria’s Tacos. Dylan Vo / Daily Nexus
I.V. Surfrider hosts Concert For The Coast annually to promote conservation efforts, build community in I.V. and raise money for environmental organizations. This year’s event proceeds will be donated to the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI).
The event is I.V. Surfrider’s largest fundraiser of the year and planning begins every October shortly after recruitment and is led by a designated committee. Funding this year was entirely grant-based from organizations such as the Associated Students (A.S.) Program Board, the I.V. Community Relations Committee and the Coastal Fund, which also helped market the event.
The concert featured live music, block printing, glitter tattoos, clothing and jewelry shops as well as free Yerba Madres and tacos provided by Maria’s Tacos. Island View Outfitters, CIMWI, I.V. Community Services District, the A.S. Environmental Justice Alliance, the Environmental Defense Center and the Coal Oil Point Reserve tabled at the event.
Eight local bands performed live at the concert including GardenStreet, Eternal Wave, Dead Set 805, Birchwood, The Helltones, Ray and Paul, Moxie and The Frights.
Third-year environmental studies and aquatic biology double major and I.V. Surfrider Director of Internal Affairs Izzy Christoff said she enjoyed the community building aspect of the event.
“I think this is a really great event, and it brings together a lot of different people. It happens every year, so if anyone’s here next year in Isla Vista, they should definitely stop by,” Christoff said.
Third-year economics and environmental studies double major and Co-Chair of the Concert for the Coast Committee Eden Burnett said she enjoyed seeing the hard work the committee put towards making this event come to life.
“I like seeing all of the hard work of my friends and I come together and then seeing everyone come and have so much fun,” Burnett said. “People in the club will tell me, ‘Oh my gosh, Concert for the Coast is my favorite event of Surfrider.’ And seeing people coming off the streets and be like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know about this, but this is really cool.’ That makes me really happy.”
First-year history of policy, law and governance major Maya Schwartz highlighted the positive experiences she has had with both the organization and the event.
“Surfrider has been one of the best organizations I’ve been a part of my freshman year at [UC Santa Barbara], and it is such an awesome event that not only helps conserve the coast and bring about substantial change, but what is so beautiful is getting to see community come together as well,” Schwartz said.
Fourth-year biology major of Santa Barbara City College and Intern at CIMWI Jonah Rhoades shared his thoughts on the concert’s profits going towards CIMWI.
“I’ve been seeing some of the money come through our accounts. People are very gracious and super willing to support such a great cause such as us. And everyone here living in Isla Vista is going to love the ocean and the environment and be stewards of that,” Rhoades said.
Third-year environmental studies major Kate Bierwagen said she enjoyed the awareness the event spread to its attendees.
“I believe that we should protect the oceans in so many different ways, especially in more recent years. And so supporting a good cause like the Marine and Wildlife Institute to protect the marine mammals is really awesome,” Bierwagen said.
A version of this article appeared on p. 6 of the May 21 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
