PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I fell in love with punk rock at a really awkward time. Green Day hit the airwaves, but the scene took off in other ways, and everyone started to ruin the fun by calling others ‘posers and messing with them just because of different genre styles. And to me, that was really stupid, so for a short time, I debated walking away for good. It is festivals like Camp Punksylvania that give me hope. We all know how it goes. Punk rock is a bit of a far cry from family-friendly. No matter how much you sugarcoat it, the scene, however, we got old and stopped laughing at fart jokes, and that makes me really sad.
Let’s get into this yearly weekend of well-regulated chaos.
Let the chaos commence!
From the opening set to the big sendoff, the festival did not stop like a speeding freight train. There were plenty of moments where I personally felt at home. These days, I don’t make many shows, and after the weekend, I was reminded what it meant to be in my forties at a three-day festival. That fact did not make it any less fun. The weekend was handled with precise timing and speedy set changes. This year, the three stages cycled their acts, meaning there was never more than one band playing at a time, letting each band have its time in the spotlight. from the opening riffs to the closing set,
Things chugged right along, all while treating us to surprises such as Larry and His Flask opening Saturday afternoon’s festivities.
At Camp Punksylvania, there is a certain positive energy from everyone. The festival is also very family-friendly, letting little punk rockers make memories forever. There are kids and strollers and diaper bags all over the grounds, and it wasn’t awkward. There was nothing but positivity in the air; even gnarly-looking storm clouds couldn’t dampen the festival’s energy. Even in the rain, we would gather together and sing campfire songs. We were one unit, plunging back and forth to stages like a herd of cattle, and not one person complained. The artists throughout the grounds were at their best, with everything ranging from T-shirts to beef jerky. There was something there for everyone to spend their money on.
A Somber End
In the end, Camp Punksylvania renewed my sense of unity. The festival gave me a safe place to go for a few days to unload all the crap I was dealing with throughout the year. There is nothing fancy about it, and there aren’t tens of thousands of people. Camp Punksylvania is a cool little festival that offers everything to everyone. There is something for everyone to do, including a spot to freshen up their mohawks (posers). Just kidding!
I am patiently waiting for next year’s event and to see how the team handles the lineup next year. Come join us for a shady and cool festival with plenty of free water. This is what festivals should be like, and I am proud and honored to be a part of it. I met cool people, cool bands, and even if I couldn’t catch a clear headliner pic. Dust in your lens is a real downer, but I did it, even with social anxiety, I felt at home. This is my life, my scene, my core beliefs, and I almost forgot that until I started taking pictures of this rowdy, controlled chaos
