Punk Island: Staten Island Pier, New York, NY, June 21, 2015

By Julie Kolakowski

Sunday, June 21 wasn’t just the Summer Solstice, and it wasn’t just Father’s Day, either. It was also the eighth annual Punk Island Festival on Staten Island, NY.

With seven stages and over 100 amazing bands, Punk Island was a tribute to what Warped Tour used to be. Included in the lineup were bands ranging from pop-punk, folk-punk, ska and hardcore. This event was a little different than most festivals: the cost was free, all ages were welcomed, and alcohol was not permitted. And although it’s considered a local event, people traveled from nearby states like Connecticut and New Jersey. Meanwhile, bands traveled from everywhere, including from as far away as the Philippines. Punk Island offered scenic views of the New York City skyline and water all around because, well, it’s on an island!

The week prior, the weather called for rain, and all were prepping to spend the rain or shine event under umbrellas and bundled up in rain jackets. But come Sunday, the clouds disappeared just as the bands started playing and a hot, sweaty, skankin’ day in the sun began.

RVIVR played the Brooklyn Transcore stage in late afternoon, drawing a large and excited crowd, jumping up and down and singing along. Nobody Yet’s set was not complete without a quick flash of singer/guitarist Joe Humeas’ pale behind. Wombat In Combat, playing an acoustic set, admitted this was their first show they ever played sober and their guitarist exclaimed that he finally understood most of their vocalist’s lyrics. Later in the evening, Portland, Oregon’s Rum Rebellion tin-whistled and rocked their way into the sunset at the Dispatches from the Underground Stage. It was impossible not to dance along to their punk drinking anthems.

With so many different genres represented at Punk Island, people had a chance to check out bands and genres they might not usually listen to, as we all know how easy it is these days to “poke your head into your sub-sub-sub genre, and never come up for air,” according to Joey Steel, a leader of the Punk Island Coordinating Committee. By all accounts, Punk Island’s eighth year was a success.

For more photos of Punk Island, check out this Flickr gallery.