Punk Rock Bowling 2025 Weekend Recap
Well, Punk Rock Bowling 2025 turned out to be one for the books.
Yet another absolute barnstormer of an event, this time marking its 25th anniversary, Punk Rock Bowling befittingly managed to pull out all the stops and tick the box on pretty much every punk rock experience that any fan could want, justifying the esteemed festival’s place as the annual centre of the punk rock universe for one dusty long weekend in May.
This year, we had various creative takes on circle pits of ever-increasing intensity featuring people of all ages, orchestrated by bands that ran the absolute gamut of this indomitable, inimitable scene.
We had one major viral moment where one misguided chap wearing a nazi SS-logo’d t-shirt was “politely” escorted off the premises by irate punk rockers in a powerful and invigorating example of punk rock praxis and community service.
We had intimate, politically defiant and hopeful sets from unaccompanied folk-punkers Frank Turner and Amigo the Devil (“unaccompanied” as in they appeared alone without band, I’m not suggesting that folk-punkers need to be monitored by an adult at all times).
Photo credit: Amigo the Devil by Taryn Lee
We had various famous punk faces dropping in on other bands’ sets, such as Laura Jane Grace providing volcanic backing vocals during Gang of Four’s “I Love a Man in Uniform” and NOFX’s festival-omnipresent Fat Mike adding harmonica to Frank Turner’s earnest, acoustic version of NOFX classic “Bob” (before running off stage as Turner jokingly called for security) as well as a brief cameo providing backing vocals for Codefendants.
We had triumphant and much lauded debuts for Canada’s NOBRO and Bad Waitress (the latter having to contend with the brain-melting 100 degree plus afternoon heat on the Main Stage that did nothing to diminish their intensity or the energy of the watching crowd. Great set. NOBRO played on the shadier, but no less prestigious Monster Street Stage. We were able to pass out some good natured and polite post-set “told-you-so’s” to the various curious American and international fans we spoke to who seemed unaware of Canada’s secret weapons.
Photo credit: Fat Mike & Codefendents by Taryn Lee
We had triumphant and much lauded debuts for Canada’s NOBRO and Bad Waitress (the latter having to contend with the brain-melting 100 degree plus afternoon heat on the Main Stage that did nothing to diminish their intensity or the energy of the watching crowd. Great set. NOBRO played on the shadier, but no less prestigious Monster Street Stage. We were able to pass out some good natured and polite post-set “told-you-so’s” to the various curious American and international fans we spoke to who seemed unaware of Canada’s secret weapons.
Photo credit: NOBRO by Taryn Lee
The highlights were numerous and relentless over the four days of the festival (which also included the off-festival site pool party shows), but I’ve tried to distill the experience into some essential moments.
Top 3 Moments of the Weekend
Photo credit: Lambrini Girls by Taryn Lee
The Lambrini Girls Pit
Lambrini Girls grabbed the crowd by the scruff of its neck and wouldn’t let go for their entire stage time. The trio demands your attention, almost literally. One memorable moment saw lead singer and guitarist Phoebe Lunny march into the center of the crowd, part it, create a circle around her and make everyone crouch down (the collective crackling sound of the elder punks in the crowd’s knees was akin an explosion in a bubble-wrap factory). A fearless band with total command of the audience.
The Interrupters Broke My Toe
Yes, I blame them, and not myself for jumping up and down when the band started their set with certified banger “Gave You Everything” and then dropping Taryn’s very expensive, very large and very rented camera lens that I was “keeping safe” right on my big toe. The camera lens was fine, thanks for asking, Taryn. The Interrupters were brilliant though, totally worth it.
Nazi Punks F*** Off
Yes, the moment that was seemingly everywhere on social media post-festival. In an inclusive space that prides itself on the punk rock ethos of safeguarding the marginalized a shirt openly displaying nazi iconography is a direct affront. There could have been no better illustration to the outside world of the values of the community as that brief video that captured the ejection of the shirt’s wearer. It was a glorious sight and one that should be roundly celebrated as punk as f***, one that made us proud to be attendees.
Top 5 Performances of the Weekend (in no particular order)
Photo credit: Spiritual Cramp by Taryn Lee
Lambrini Girls – See above; raw, aggressive, funny, the peoples’ champions of the weekend.
Upchuck – Brilliantly hooky and sonically diverse band, mixing elements of punk, hardcore, doom, hip hop and other genres to thrilling effect.
Codefendants – An utterly compelling live experience, aggression mixed with humour, and a really cool and seamless melding of hip hop and So Cal pop-punk.
Spiritual Cramp – Great songs, music chops across the board, with charisma and stage presence, and catchy hooks for days. For sure one of my new favourite bands. Thanks Shannon from Reverie for the heads-up!
NOBRO – Did Canada proud. Raw, energetic, heavy with great riffs and some extended jams, they showed their versatility as a band. A lot of festival goer’s new favourite.