Belize Barrier Reef Benefit

Poster by Ryan Kerrigan

New Monsoon will headline a benefit on May 16th, 2014 at the renowned Brick and Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco, California. Chris Zanardi’s band High Beamz open. The show will support the conservation efforts of the Placencia Mooring Masters (PMM), a community-based initiative in Placencia, Belize, that promotes sustainable tourism along the Belize Barrier Reef.

Chris Zanardi’s band High Beamz open with Cecil Daniels on Midi Horns, Mo Sardella on drums, Jefferson Bergey on vocals, and a new addition to the High Beamz family George Lacson on bass. Also featuring Kai Eckhardt on bass and special guest on percussion Waahid Jones. RAFFLE PRIZES include: $2000 in Belize vacation packages! And on top of all that BOTH bands have new albums out! This is going to be a great night!!

The Placencia Mooring Masters have established a network of mooring buoys that reduce anchor damage from recreational tour boats and protect fragile reef ecosystems in southern Belize. Maintaining the network across a large expanse of reef requires sustained revenue and countless volunteer hours.

The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest coral reef ecosystem in the world. The reef is a vital natural resource for coastal communities, yet is threatened by overfishing, pollution, climate change and the rapid growth of unsustainable coastal development and marine tourism. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared the area a World Heritage Site in 1996. The reef represents the crown jewel of the Belize tourism industry.

The California Friends of the Placencia Mooring Masters provides ongoing support for reef conservation in Belize. Funds raised from these benefit concerts are used to purchase equipment, increase the number of moorings along the reef, design educational materials for boat operators and offer incentives to young tour guides who commit time and labor to support the program.

For more information contact Rich Wilson 415-515-2317.