Rock Against Hunger music festival at Bay Street Yard to support Harry Chapin Food Bank Nov. 7

Bay Street Yard, Harry Chapin Food Bank and an all-star lineup of musical artists are teaming up to host Rock Against Hunger on Saturday, Nov. 7, a music festival benefiting Southwest Florida neighbors facing hunger.

Presented by DeAngelis Diamond Foundation and Bob and Barbara Crown, the festival runs from 6 to 10 p.m. and will feature live music spanning multiple genres, food and drinks, prize drawings and opportunities to support Harry Chapin Food Bank's mission of providing food for neighbors in need. 

Leading the lineup are The Poelker Brothers alongside special guest Dave Isaacs, a Nashville-based guitarist, singer-songwriter and one of Music City’s most respected music educators. Isaacs has rocked a muddy crowd at Woodstock, jammed the blues with Les Paul and played thousands of gigs from dive bars to concert halls. His 14 albums released over nearly 30 years cover a wide musical range, from ambient guitar instrumentals to a vibrant Americana cocktail of rock, blues and country.

The evening will also showcase a talented roster of Southwest Florida musicians, including Sarah Hadeka, Riverside, Exit 31 West, Green Dragons, DVS Band and Smokin' Bill Zink. Live performances will span classic and modern rock to pop and country. 

Bay Street Yard will donate 20% of all beverage and merchandise sales during the event to support Harry Chapin Food Bank, the largest hunger-relief nonprofit and the only Feeding America partner in Southwest Florida. Guests can also contribute through direct donations and participation in prize drawings featuring a variety of items and local experiences.

“We're honored to bring together an incredible lineup of musicians in support of a mission that has lasting impact across Southwest Florida,” said David Fry, co-owner of Bay Street Yard. “Bay Street Yard is proud to serve as a gathering place where people can enjoy themselves while supporting important causes, and this partnership with Harry Chapin Food Bank is a perfect example of that.” 

The mission behind the event holds special significance for The Poelker Brothers band because of Kevin Poelker's late brother John, whose friendship with the late singer-songwriter, philanthropist and hunger activist Harry Chapin inspired their involvement in the important work against hunger. John Poelker was a longtime supporter and former board chairman of Harry Chapin Food Bank and was instrumental in working alongside nonprofit leaders Hawley and Joyce Botchford to rename the food bank in Chapin’s honor in 1994.

An estimated one in seven people in Southwest Florida – and one in five children – are food insecure. Each month, Harry Chapin Food Bank serves 300,000 neighbors who are experiencing hunger, providing access to free food supplied by the nonprofit’s 175 agency partners, food pantries, senior centers and schools spanning Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties.

“Support from our community plays a vital role in advancing our mission,” said Jennifer Denike, chief development officer for Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Every contribution helps ensure that individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.”

Bay Street Yard is located at 2136 Bay Street in downtown Fort Myers and offers seating for over 300 guests with two full-service bars, onsite food trucks and a variety of outdoor games such as cornhole, ping pong and more. Event admission is free.

For more information, visit BayStreetYard.com/Specials-Events.