Punk rock was never meant to last.
Born in the gritty clubs of New York and the underground pubs of London in the mid-1970s, it was a sonic and cultural explosion — raw, aggressive, and defiantly simple. It sneered at mainstream music, rejected corporate influence, and embraced a DIY ethos that empowered anyone to pick up a guitar and shout their truth.
But five decades later, punk is still alive and well, its influence visible in music, fashion and activism worldwide. And Denver is set to celebrate punk and its Jamaican-influenced cousin ska music (which had been embraced by British punks) with a three-day Punk in the Park festival July 18, 19 and 20 at the National Western Stockyards.
All three days will present the gamut of ska and punk rockers from OG to today’s thrashers and the best of Denver’s long-lived punk community.
Tickets are available now, including a three-day pass to enjoy 40 bands and a beer fest featuring local and national microbrews.
Tickets are on sale now to see 40 bands over three days.
Graphic provided by AEG
The lineup mixes veteran and new generation punks and ska bands like Bad Religion, Descendents, Dropkick Murphys, Pennywise, Streetlight Manifesto, Screeching Weasel, Circle Jerks, The Queers, The Bombpops, Younger Than Neil, Teen Mortgage and lots more to keep audiences in the pit and on their feet.
Sax adds that Denver deserves the best show that Punk in the Park can promise.
“Denver has one of the best music markets in the country, and the best ska scene in the country, whether it’s for local shows, for national shows, and it’s a special thing," he says. "It’s something that sets Denver apart. So we want to make sure that we are serving the community correctly here, and with the excitement we had doing Denver Ska Fest at Sculpture Park last year, I knew we had to go bigger and better this year.”
It’s a dream come true for Sax, who considers himself a punk and ska fanatic, to bring this weekend of music to Denver. “This music matters to so many people, and it’s outside of the mainstream," he says. "We need punk rock up front. We need to make sure everyone’s voices are being heard. This is how I know how to do that.”
Punk is the voice of the outsider, whether you’re in a band or a fan of the music. Just as it was in the 1970s when punk emerged, it’s a statement of opposition to the mainstream, to the safe and sound pop stuff.
“It’s a huge aspect of both these styles,” Sax adds as he waxes philosophical about the music. “I mean, it’s outside the mainstream, right? Like The Bouncing Souls said, this music is for ‘The Freaks, Nerds, and Romantics’ and that authenticity inherent to both ska and punk.”
“’It’s not a phase, Mom,’” Sax adds. “When I was a kid in the ‘90s, it changed me and it wasn’t a phase — we’re still here. We’re lifers. And there are a lot of people in Colorado who feel the same, and Punk in the Park is a place that we can all get together and celebrate. This is more than just the music. It’s a celebration.”
The celebration is an important point, Sax notes. In this age of being able to listen to almost anything on a device in your pocket, he values live music more than ever. “That’s why I think festival scenarios like this are so important,” he says.
“The Descendents and Bad Religion are well-known, but you might not know Catbite, who are an incredible new ska band, or Kill Lincoln that we’re really excited about, or Denver’s Potato Pirates, who I’d argue are one of the most influential Denver punk bands of all time. And you know, celebrate what it means to be one of the outsiders with all of us.”
