LOCAL

Concert looks to raise environmental awareness

Sustain with Sound Music Festival entering its 3rd year

Brian Tucker StarNews correspondent

Sustain with Sound Music Festival is growing, the homegrown event combining live music with raising awareness about protecting oceans. This year musical acts move beyond local performers, headlined by garage rockers The Nude Party and danceable rock/funk band The Fritz along with ILM-centric acts Signal Fire, Blue Footed Boobies, UN!TY, Michael Eakins Band, and Sustain Artist Discovery Contest Winner Hannah Kol.

“We like to keep things local. Supporting the arts is a large part of this,” said Sustain founder Katy Nickel. “Having a wide range of musicians is another factor to bringing out people of all mindsets to enjoy a day of sustainability, music, and art.”

Now in its third year, they expect 2,500 people -- double the previous year -- for an event born from UNCW students bonding over Jack Johnson’s devotion to oceans. Nickel asked UNCW’s student outreach organization Plastic Ocean Project to help. It was vital Sustain be done as completely sustainable to illustrate how to live a more environmentally minded life.

“Music is such a unifying factor. ‘Environmentalism’ and ‘zero-waste’ can sometimes come off with negative connotations so bringing everyone together was important,” Nickel said. “We put this together to support the oceans and the stewards working towards the health of our oceans, and to have a great time while doing so. A portion of ticket sales and all the merchandise sales will go to UNCW POP.”

Sustain’s headliners are experiencing growing popularity as well, and nabbing The Nude Party and The Fritz (both have broadened tour schedules this year) is a win for the festival.

“We were excited to hear this was a charity event for the environment, we've made great friends playing Wilmington for so many years,” said Mikey “Spice” Evans, percussionist for The Fritz, a dynamic live act whose energetic, sometimes lengthy songs have colorful, heady adventures. “We tailor sets for the general vibe of the setting; day or night, or depending on what we’re working on in rehearsals. We like to change songs up to keep on our toes.”

It’s also important for Sustain to be zero-waste, something Nickel stressed that Riley Alber’s Wilmington Compost Company has been helpful with, providing ECO Product cups, utensils for beer and food distribution, plus compost services and disposal mechanisms. In addition, Cape Fear Solar will help offset the event’s on-site energy usage and there are plans for transportation to offset carbon footprints as well as water refill stations.

“The most difficult part of zero-waste, for any event or business, is always the cost. It does tend to be more expensive. However, it comes from the idea to make it possible if it’s something one is truly passionate about.”

Putting on Sustain has seen lessons learned and comprises for those involved. Before the show is fraught with nervousness but Nickel, who graduated last December from UNCW for Marine Conservation Biology, describes it as the most amazing feeling. But as the one putting on the party; does she get to enjoy it?

“It does go by very quickly. Watching everyone so happy, especially at no cost to the planet, is truly rewarding. This event is a team effort and without everyone’s passions and drive, it would not be as big as it is. It is absolutely worth it to see a community come together to support an amazing group of kids dedicated to protecting and preserving our oceans, all while having a great experience supporting the arts.”

Contact StarNews arts and culture at 910-343-2343.

Want to go?