The return of the Interstellar Food Drive takes place April 16 at the Staggeringly Brewery warehouse for an Easter all-dayer, where entry is a donation of non-perishable goods that will be donated to Portsmouth Food Bank.
The usage of food banks was already rising year-on-year, pre-pandemic due to a decade of austerity and government cuts, whilst the the pandemic itself and the rise in the cost of living has also contributed to the usage of food banks to escalate. Due to this, the Portsmouth collective of Strong Island Recordings, Thank God For Sinners, Mark Kellett, Velvet Candy and Vol.1 have come together once again to help aid local food banks in this time of need.
This year’s line-up includes: Dad Hair, Dead Rabbits of Fuzz Club Records (Jesus & The Mary Chain, The Black Angels, Acid Baby Jesus), Emptifish, Jimmy Stuart of Is Bliss, Megan Linford, Tom Bryan, Sierpinski, Web, Slug Money and Frankie Knight.
The Interstellar Food Drive itself was birthed out of previous food bank drive events, and over the years has seen the likes of Drug Store Romeos, Dead Rabbits, Melt Dunes, Barbudo and Pregoblin play the food bank fundraiser. The 2020 version due to the Covid-19 pandemic took place online and featured the likes of Tina, Rosie Alena, TV Priest, Lynks, Jessica Winter, Ugly, Thyla, Maripool, Breathe Panel and lots more emerging artists from the UK – as well as international acts including BADGERS, Sunfruits, Dear Doonan and Tropa Magica. The 6 and a half-hour event can be revisited here.
The cosmic fundraiser will also feature an art exhibition and stalls along with psychedelic visuals, whilst Staggeringly Brewery itself is also a family and dog friendly space, which also hosts a number of free-to-play retro arcades and kicks off at 13.00pm.
