This year marked 25 years of PRB, and it was one for the books. What started as a DIY bowling league among punk friends has grown into a full-on celebration of resistance, resilience, and radical joy. Thank you for showing up—for the music, for each other, and for the kind of community that doesn’t back down.

We don’t take lightly the responsibility of building this space. We must contend with deep-pocketed mega-corporate promoters who wish to control the artists and the music that we love and celebrate. And while some “festivals” are supporting figures and ideologies that stand in direct opposition to the ethos of punk rock, we double down on our commitment: PRB will always be a home for those fighting fascism, bigotry, and corporate control, with guitars, grit, and solidarity. We continue to be an independent festival created by and for the artists, and for you.

It was the kind of weekend that reminds us why we keep doing this. From Social Distortion making their PRB debut with Mike Ness’s tales of love and loss, to Peter Hook & The Light performing the haunting brilliance of Joy Division. We celebrated the final festival appearance of the legendary Cock Sparrer, stood in awe as Gang of Four tore through Entertainment!, and lost ourselves to FLAG, who didn’t just play, they recalibrated the room.

The Interrupters, Cockney Rejects, Power Trip, The Damned, Frank Turner, Amigo The Devil, FIDLAR, Youth Brigade, The Bouncing Souls, The Adicts, and so many more brought generations of punk together on one stage. And we welcomed young new artists as we always do, with performances from Lambrini Girls, Angel Du$t, Bad Nerves, Upchuck, Civic, The Bar Stool Preachers, Babe Haven, and NOBRO, fresh off their Juno win.

Punk Rock Bowling was created by musicians, for musicians, and those who love the music, to celebrate the sounds and ideals of punk rock. Here’s to 25 years of Punk Rock Bowling. We’ll see you in the pit!

– The PRB Crew