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You may have seen the news recently about small, independent venues being shuttered around town. Places like Vantek, the Birdhouse, and Take Your Time Back have been targeted by the city, which is seemingly operating at the whim of some bigger nightclubs and bars. 

Now, some members of the Vancouver indie music scene have decided to do something about it. 

Bottle Rocket Festival was launched this week by local musicians “in reaction to an ever-shrinking space for community activities in ‘Vancouver,’” reads a post on the newly created organization’s Instagram page.

The festival has a donation goal of $3,000 toward the Greater Vancouver Food Bank that will come from ticket sales, combining a charity goal with sustainable artist pay. 

The one-day festival runs on July 3 at the Russian Hall in Strathcona and features seven Vancouver indie bands, including cherry pick, Hillsboro, Often Wrong, Scarlet Fever, Jian and Kitten Co., Land Assembly, and Gnawing. 

Tickets are available on Gigpit, a new community-based ticketing platform. 

Bottle Rocket Festival runs July 3 at Russian Hall.