Fake Shark, Generous Thieves, Savannah Read, and Dani Camacho have joined Said the Whale as acts performing at this year’s Foodstock benefit at Swangard Stadium on June 18.

Now in its second year, the 19+ festival will also feature local beer, wine, food, and crafts vendors, with a percentage of all sales going to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Luppolo Brewing, Dageraad, and Pacific Breeze Winery will all be on site, donating 50 percent of all beverage sold. Food and crafts vendors will send 10 percent of their sales to the GVFB.

Foodstock runs from noon to 5 pm, with tickets $30.

Greater Vancouver Food Bank chief operations officer, Cynthia Boulter told the Straight that the festival is meant as both a fundraiser and a showcase for Vancouver’s rich music and craft beer and wine scenes.

“The desire was to create a really fun event that all kinds of people would be drawn to,” she said, “which just happened to be a fundraiser for the GVFB. Add in some delicious food truck options, and we have a truly worthwhile local event that supports a great cause.”

More than ever the Greater Vancouver Food Bank is playing an invaluable role in Vancouver—a city where sky-high property values and a tight rental market have driven some from the city, and where a head of cauliflower can cost $8 at local grocery stores. Boulter described the need for food banks as unprecedented, both in Vancouver and across Canada.

“For eight months straight we were signing up 800 to 1000 new clients every month, rocketing us to 16,000 people supported every month,” she said. “And this number is still growing by 600 to  700 new lives each month. Our clients are a cross section of society from people on fixed incomes that are not indexed to inflation, people struggling with job loss, medically related job loss, people fleeing violent domestic situations, and needing support. New immigrants who need help as they find work and get established in their new homes, and more.”

Often the Greater Vancouver Food Bank sees a dramatic spike in support around the Christmas season, when people tend to spend more time thinking of others. Foodstock is part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness the rest of the year.

“The overall need for our support is actually greatest in the summer, because all of the school food programs are shut down, children are home all day, active and hungry,” Boulter said. “So our client families need our support more than ever at that time.”

Greater Vancouver Food Bank events to watch for in the coming months include the MAYors’ Food Bank Challenge, where, for the entire month of May, catchment city Mayors will help raise funds and awareness in their municipalities, with top honours going to the Mayor who raises the most money for the GVFB per capita. The GVFB’s 3rd annual golf tournament, Fore for Food, will then take place at Northview Golf and Country Club on July 19.

For tickets to Foodstock, go here. And in the meantime, here’s Said the Whale.