The Kalah Bar was full of people who had turned up to both enjoy rock music and support a good cause.
Rock guitarist Lex Waterreus, who plays in hit Australian band Seedy Jeezus, organised Spoonful Festival - a concert today at Kalah Bar in Ngongotaha - which was all about raising money for Love Soup Rotorua.
The Spoonful Festival featured his band, Kindred, 50 Daze and Contraband.
All proceeds from the concert go to Love Soup Rotorua, as well as the sale of artworks which Waterreus did.
Waterreus grew up in Rotorua, leaving in 1994, but often comes back as he gets homesick.
Seedy Jeezus was in New Zealand this month touring with Head Like a Hole.
He said the whole thing started when he read a story of "Kernel Klink", a Palmerston North gang member called Te Kai Po Ahuriri, who fed the homeless in his city.
About two weeks after, he heard from Kernel Klink and realised he was originally a school friend.
He said they got talking and Kernal Klink was telling him about Love Soup in Rotorua.
He told Waterreus they had school mates who were being helped by Love Soup and a couple of others who had apparently died after living on the streets.
Waterreus said Love Soup Rotorua was a great cause to support because they were doing what they did off their own bat without getting a government grant.
"So, what money they do get they need to manage it well, and from what I've seen and heard they do manage it well."
He said he was hoping to make it an annual event and had already started looking at the next fundraising concert.
Waterreus said he was nervous about the concert as he would be performing for people who were his childhood friends, and some he had not seen in years.
"I'm proud to know Rotorua can come together and do this."
He thanked local musician Chris Duff for his help in the organising and saving him from stress as he was touring.
Love Soup Rotorua co-founder Elmer Peiffer said they had been happy with the turnout, having more than 100 people come through in the first half.
"Everything that's been collected is going to be a huge help for what we do."
He said money raised would not just go towards operational costs, but anything people needed which they could not afford.
Love Soup Rotorua co-founder Gina Peiffer said it had been great and everyone had been enjoying the music.
"The response has just been amazing. We've got people buying the supporter t-shirts so it's just wonderful."