The Punk Rock Bowling Festival in Las Vegas

Punk Rock in the City!

In the last days of May, thousands of music lovers will head to the desert to enjoy a three-day open-air concert. But at this festival, you won’t see flower garlands, gourmet dishes, or $15 cocktails. Instead, you’ll find cheap beer, BBQ, and crowds of wild fans in the little town known as Las Vegas.

Though now renowned as one of the biggest and wildest festivals in Vegas, Punk Rock Bowling didn’t start that way. Read on to find out why this festival is so memorable.

The Festival Today

Starting in 1999 as a DIY bowling tournament, Punk Rock Bowling quickly evolved into a mix of competition and music. Punk rockers and bowling fans from around the world gather in Las Vegas at the end of May for this grand event. Bands, independent labels, fanzines, college radio — the entire underground punk community that lived and thrived on its own will be represented here.

Today, Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival is a combination of concerts, competitions, and an unmatched atmosphere. Veterans of the punk scene and new bands perform on the same stage, creating an unforgettable show. It’s clear that the Sterns know their stuff and are more than capable of curating the best punk party of the year. But the main question is, who do you want to see? There are 48 festival bands to choose from!

The History of the Festival

Punk Rock Bowling is a music festival founded in Las Vegas in 1999 by brothers Shawn and Mark Stern. Although the festival is based in Vegas, its roots are in Los Angeles — a big part of its heart and soul. The Sterns appeared on the Hollywood music scene in 1977, inspired by performances from punk pioneers like The Screamers, The Go-Go’s, The Weirdos, and The Dickies. They created their own band, Youth Brigade, in 1980 and, due to the lack of festivals where punk bands could play, began organizing their own shows. They started at small venues, then had their own short-lived venue.

Eventually, they organized one of the largest punk shows of that era at the Hollywood Palladium. “We had about 3,500 people come out for it. The Hollywood police were also there in full gear!” Stern recalls. The following year, the brothers presented the Youth Brigade ’83 show in Huntington Park, which ended in a huge punk riot. Stern says that after this, the guys decided to focus on their record label and leave promotion behind. This continued until 1999.

It all started one morning when brothers Shawn and Mark Stern decided on tour that they wanted to host a bowling party for their friends in the punk rock community. What began as a small party and an excuse to head to Las Vegas has grown into what is now known as the Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival. The event was held for the first nine years in hotels with bowling centers, but the star-studded lineup began to outshine the venue, necessitating a bigger and better location.

“In 2010, we decided to add a festival element and move the date to the Memorial Day weekend when the weather is better,” Stern says. “We moved everything downtown, where new venues, bars, and restaurants have sprung up over the past few years, and we got a huge space just a few blocks from the hotel.”

How It’s Organized

• Veteran bands of the festival remain relevant by releasing new material, and according to the organizers, there are 30 new bands that have never played here before.
• The music will play continuously, but unlike other festivals, there are no simultaneous performances by different bands, so you won’t have to miss anything.
• If you arrive early, the first thousand people at the festival will get a free drink!
• Festival passes for the 3-day event start at $125 and are currently on sale. VIP passes start at $350.
• All three-day passes come with an access code for shows, allowing the buyer to purchase up to three late-night show tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

Tours with American Butler

Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival is a unique event that shouldn’t be missed. Join thousands of punk rock lovers and enjoy an unforgettable experience in Las Vegas!

American Butler invites you to visit the punk rock festival in Las Vegas and offers exclusive tours and ticket booking. We will help you organize an unforgettable trip and do everything possible to make your stay at the festival the best it can be.