Most of us in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area know of Las Vegas for two qualities… often having to explain to distant friends and family ‘no, we’re not right next to that place even though it’s the same state,’ and the annual Punk Rock Bowling Festival!!
Maybe that’s an exaggeration, however each year, Punk Rock Bowling’s gathering of dozens of punk bands spanning the genre is often a highlight of concerts, with the pure spectacle of mohawks and leather jackets taking over the casino floors and hotel swimming pools of Downtown Las Vegas, combined with the positivity and inclusivity made by the organizers that shows in the non-concert related aspects of it all creating an epic Memorial Day Weekend.
On the festival end, 2024’s lineup will include the first US shows by UK ska band Madness since 2012. Devo, celebrating the band’s 50 years of angular and off kilter music, along with Descendents will be headlining the 3 day festival portion of the event.
Amongst the other bands announced for the main festival are Rocket From The Crypt, Billy Bragg, 70’s political British punk bands like Stiff Little Fingers and Subhumans, classic hardcore groups Gorilla Biscuits and Madball, current hardcore group Scowl, Gogol Bordello, 999, the English Beat, Quicksand, Reno’s 7 Seconds, riotgrrrl stalwarts Bratmobile, and more.
In addition to the outdoor multi-stage music festival event that takes place in Downtown Las Vegas, Punk Rock Bowling also announces a slew of bar and club shows taking place each night throughout the downtown area that tends to bring out dozens more bands aside from the main lineup. And of course, you and your friends can sign up to compete against other teams in the bowling tournament.
Always an epic event, and one of the more fun shows that we’ve had the opportunity to see each year, 2024’s Punk Rock Bowling will take place May 24th-27th at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.
Full details can be found at PunkRockBowling.com
Some pics from PRBs past…
