Local event producer Ellijah Jules has packed his program like a generous hamper for Friday’s Feed Your Head food bank benefit at The Dirty Jersey.

“Blues, rock, electronica and hip hop,” plus a spoken word introduction by interdisciplinary artist Chris Bose, Jules said while promoting the benefit with DJ Ravi and guitarist Yogi Raweater.

As Ghost Dance Productions/Darksyde, Jules has been promoting concert events since he finished high school. He got started after the smalls riot at the Oddfellows Hall in 1996, staging a second smalls concert on the Kamloops Indian Reserve to show how it should have been done in the first place.

This time his focus has changed, though.

“I was watching TV and they did this bit about how people only give to the food bank at Christmas,” he said. “It’s not a seasonal thing.”

Due to the concentration of giving at year’s end, food bank shelves can run short at other times of the year.

“I decided to use what I do for some greater good.”

The benefit comes at a critical time for the Kamloops Food Bank, said Kari Smith, events and fundraising co-ordinator. Their recent Christmas in July campaign matched last year’s food donations, but monetary donations were down 30 per cent in the face of rising need.

“We are definitely very busy down here,” Smith said. “We have seen such an increase this year, especially families.”

The next Rotary food drive isn’t until the end of September, so any additional support will help fill a gap.

Jules is counting on a good turnout, offering half-price admission for a food bank donation. The entertainment lineup includes local bands Sick Steen, Creepsolow, Aileron, Basic Value and Lex Plexus (Sean Luciw) in addition to Raweater and DJ Ravi.

Ravi, who’s been deejaying since high school, does a regular gig every weekend at the Sports Central Lounge.

“I just came back from Shambhala 2010 (the Kootenay music festval),” he said. The lineup was packed with DJs and the experience was invigorating. “It literally changed my life. Since I’ve been back, I have the newest of the new in a variety of genres.”

Raweater plays what might be described as alt-country in a raw and edgy style.

“It’s more of a mirror for me,” he explained. “I don’t pull any punches on myself.”

How’s that for eclectic?

As Grace Slick wails across the void in the Jefferson Airplane classic White Rabbit, “Feed your head, feed your head.”

Local sponsors have donated gift certificates for door prizes.