Photos by Johne Edge
It’s been a crazy few weeks since Punk Rock Bowling 2023 ended. Straight back on the road, there was no rest for the weary. Just this month Punk Rock Saves Lives has already activated at Forest Fest (IL), Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival (NJ), Bonnaroo (TN), Punk in Drublic Fest (OH), and – let’s not forget – been on tour with the Dresden Dolls.
Looking back though a big part of raising monies so P.R.S.L can attend these events all started in Vegas with Punk Rock Bowling and Punk Rock Hoedown. These two events allowed P.R.S.L to elevate their messages of hope and activism. While affecting positive change and driving awareness, the 501C3 charity was able to collect donations (monies and harm reduction supplies) and helped to fight against Blood Cancer and blood disorders by registering people with DKMS for the national stem cell donor registry.
Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival has been showcasing the best in new and old school Punk since 1999. The event roared back to life this past Memorial Day weekend after being cancelled in 2022 following COVID. The four-day event saw more than forty big name acts play the outdoor festival grounds and twenty-one official PRB club shows. Some of the acts included Bad Religion, Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, Suicidal Tendencies, FEAR, The Interrupters and Suzi Moon just to name a few.
With the almost always sold-out status of the official club shows many people began looking for unofficial alternatives for live music once they exited Punk Rock Bowling. Milling around the streets of Sin City, wanting to spend more time with their musical family, Punk Rock Saves Lives decided let’s work with our friends over at Hogs and Heifers Saloon to host a Punk Rock Hoedown. What started with a single band on one night back in 2015, has now grown to twenty bands over four nights. This year’s bands included Coleman Williams, Frank’s & Deans, Urethane, Deviates, Joshua Fleming, Chaser, Counterpunch, Jugheads Revenge, System Restore, Egoista, Let Me Downs, Amy Gabba, SkipJack, Middle-Aged Queers, Hans Gruber and The Die Hards, Parade of Horribles, SecondSelf, Generation Exit and Endless Struggle. Night after night was filled with great music that literally kept the party going into the wee hours of the morning. There were nights that we got back to the hotel after 4am. Myself and the charity are eternally grateful to all the artists, staff and volunteers that make it possible for P.S.R.L not only to save lives but also to improve the communities and neighborhoods we live and play in.
What’s next for Punk Rock Saves Lives you ask? A week off and then a local Denver event as Ratio Beerworks presents The Second Annual Punk Rock Saves Lives Festival on Friday July 21st and Saturday July 22nd. The lineup includes Smoking Popes, Flatfoot 56, The Dollyrots, Bad Cop Bad Cop, Potato Pirates, Egoista, Plasma Canvas, Suburban Resistance, Antagonizers ATL, Nuns of Brixton, Boss’ Daughter, Dryer Fire, All Waffle Trick and more TBA. This event will be held at the Ratio Overland Taproom at 2030 South Cherokee Street, Denver, CO. Ticket and event information can be found here. Come on out, after being on the road, we miss your faces and I need a cold beer or three.
See you in the pit!
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