Local performers to play at Dead of Winter concert benefiting the Plastic Ocean Project, attendees asked to donate time to help cleanup efforts

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Local Grateful Dead cover band The Possums, jazz musician Benny Hill and Wes Hunter of Steal Willin’ are set to play at the Dead of Winter Concert benefiting the Plastic Ocean Project on Saturday, Feb. 25.

Instead of a traditional ticket purchase, POP is asking those interesting in attending to commit to a volunteer shift or start a membership with them.

The concert is scheduled to take place at the North Front Theater at 21 N. Front Street suite 501 from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Across the globe, water quality is hampered by the sheer amount of plastic that gets dumped into our oceans. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service estimates that over 14 millions tons of plastic makes it way to the ocean every year, harming and killing marine life.

Plastic Ocean Project is dedicated to protecting human and environmental health by cutting down on plastic pollution. Dead of Winter is their first benefit concert and they hope that people will come to enjoy the music but also be inspired to help keep the ocean clean.

“This arrangement is the epitome of paying it forward! We have regular volunteer opportunities for those interested in showing our community some TLC and this concert is a perk of giving back!” said POP Membership Coordinator Lisa Andree.

There are many volunteer opportunities for people to sign up for. Anything from cleanups on the beach to tree plantings and helping with research in the labs.

“We are always looking for volunteers. We have regular cleanups in Wilmington and outside of Wilmington, and we’re always trying to get the public of Wilmington involved, getting young people involved so they can learn about the plastic pollution problem and help clean up our area,” said Emily Mulvihill, Plastic Ocean Project executive director assistant.

Earlier this month, the group moved into a new headquarters at the MARBIONC facility, located within UNCW’s CREST Research Park. The move not only was able to provide them more resources, but connections with the marine biology community at the university.

“One of the reasons why we decided to make the move to MARBIONIC was because of the bigger lab facility. We needed a bigger space for our instrumentation with identifying plastics, but also MARBIONIC has helped us with creating collaborations with different professors at CMS and here at MARBIONIC,” said Mulvihill.

For more information about the Dead of Winter concert, including obtaining a ticket, please visit the POP website.

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