Palouse Punk co-founder Alicia Gladman, of Moscow, said she always quotes a friend when she’s asked to define punk: “If you don’t fit in anywhere else, you’ll fit in here.”
This weekend’s Punk Palouse Fest furthers that spirit of making space to be experimental, playful and weird, bringing 16 diverse local and national bands to two Moscow venues.
“We really just want it to feel like a fun and inclusive and encouraging environment,” Gladman said.
Fundraising shows over the past few months, featuring area bands like Monopines and Desolation Horse, set the stage for the festival that starts Friday with a 5-8 p.m. show at John’s Alley Tavern, 114 E. Sixth St., followed by one from 8-11 p.m. at Mikey’s Gyros, 527 S. Main St. Saturday’s shows follow the same schedule.
Gladman drew on her background in the grassroots DIY punk scene — musicians recording their own tapes, playing house shows — to conceive Palouse Punk with collaborators Chris Proctor, of Moscow, and Hannah Smith, of Pullman.
Though she’s relatively new to Moscow, Gladman said, she has old friends who played here or toured through the region. Area businesses — including the show venues and the Monarch Motel, where performers will stay — supported the trio as their plans to bring a punk festival to town developed.
“Moscow’s such a positive place to be planning arts events of any kind,” Gladman said.
All focus is on this first festival for now, but Gladman said she hopes it will become an annual event.
“We’re just doing it because we love making music,” she said. “I think everywhere struggled during the pandemic to maintain momentum and art spaces. There has been a desire for it, but there hasn’t always been an infrastructure for it.”
Festival passes are available for $40 through the end of today via Venmo @punk-palouse; tickets are $12 per show at the door.
Punk Palouse Fest bands to watch for:
- The Sacramento-based band The Globs will play during the 8-11 p.m. show Saturday at Mikey’s Gyros. “I really love them,” organizer Alicia Gladman said, noting the group is made up of members from longtime punk band The Bananas. “It’s a really distinct sound — fast-paced, dynamic, many layers.”
- Boise’s The French Tips, a “dancey” post-punk band Gladman described as “really upbeat, really energetic,” closes out Friday’s 8-11 p.m. show at Mikey’s.
- Lipsick, from Spokane, wraps the festival with the last set Saturday, which has been announced as its last show, Gladman said, because a member is moving away. “If you wanna catch them,” she said, “this is the time.”
Early shows, 5-8 p.m., are at John’s Alley Tavern; late shows, 8-11 p.m. are at Mikey’s Gyros.
Friday early show: Induce Psychosis, The Himbos, Mall Goth Moths, Creature Party.
Friday late show: Portal to the Goddamn Blood Dimension, Love in Hell, Ruffle, The French Tips.
Saturday early show: Old Face Magenta, Dotgov, Psychic Death, Subsumer.
Saturday late show: Ideomotor, Sleep Cult, The Globs, Lipsick.
A full schedule is on Instagram @punk-palouse.
Stone (she/her) can be reached at mstone@inland360.com.
