Rob Machado Foundation concert on tap

Local students have access to clean and free drinking water, thanks to funds raised during an annual benefit concert in support of the Rob Machado Foundation.

For the fourth year, the Nov. 9 show is back at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, featuring intimate acoustic performances by Matt Nathanson, Brett Dennen, Grouplove’s Andrew Wessen and Timmy Curran.

“It’s a special night of music with some great artists,” said Machado, a local surfer, environmentalist and philanthropist.

Founded in 2004, the Rob Machado Foundation supports various environmental programs, with an emphasis on children’s educational initiatives. Concert proceeds will again benefit the nonprofit’s programs, including its effort to give people access to clean water while eliminating plastic water bottles.

According to the foundation, 1 in 6 people worldwide has no access to clean water, and other sources estimate that number could be as high as 1 in 9 people.

To provide access to clean water and keep plastic water bottles out of watersheds, the foundation has installed water-bottle refill stations at local middle schools and high schools, including Machado’s alma mater San Dieguito High School, now called San Dieguito Academy. Participating schools such as San Dieguito Academy and Canyon Crest Academy pledge to eliminate single-use water bottles and also raise funds to donate water filtration systems for communities around the world.

“Kids should have access to water at school,” said Machado, who was born in Australia and grew up in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. “But we’re not just putting in a refill station. Our goal is to inspire the kids to start a water club and help communities in need of water.”

With funds from last year’s concert, the foundation installed 10 filtered-water stations at schools in San Diego County, in addition to other programs, including donating two outdoor recycling stations to Ocean Knoll Elementary School and sponsoring Cardiff Elementary School’s annual Ocean Week.

The annual benefit concert is the foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Event organizers expect about 700 people if the concert sells out, as it’s done for the past three years.

“I came into it with the intention of creating something we could do year in and year out,” Machado said. “The idea stemmed from my love of music and my love of live music.”

This is the first time Matt Nathanson, Brett Dennen and Grouplove’s Andrew Wessen are featured on the concert lineup. Singer-songwriter Timmy Curran was a part of last year’s event, which also included headliners the Goo Goo Dolls, folk rock band Run River North and local talent Austin Burns.

“We are so fortunate to have a place like the Belly Up right down the street. It’s one of the best venues in San Diego,” Machado said.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.

General admission tickets cost $50 and loft tickets cost $75. A limited number of VIP packages are also available for $150 and include a 6:30 p.m. meet and greet with Machado and the artists.

“It’s going to be a great night of music,” Machado said. “It’s a great lineup of people.”

To purchase tickets, visit bellyup.com. For more about the foundation, visit robmachadofoundation.org.