On episode 7 of Scene Support, I sit down with Mike Dietz and Phil Bartsch of RBNX—not to talk about their band, but about something even bigger: Punk Island, NYC’s annual free, all-ages, DIY punk festival. Since 2008, Punk Island has showcased the raw power of community and creativity, putting on a massive, multi-stage event run entirely by volunteers and powered by passion, generators, and sheer will.

Mike and Phil break down what it takes to organize this beast of a fest—everything from booking over 100 bands (with an emphasis on new blood), wrangling stages, staggering set times, backlining gear, running benefit shows, and holding the line on no drugs, no booze, and all punk.

We talk the origins of Punk Island, the logistical highs and hurdles, the challenges of booking without a set date, the joy of punk dads and their kids in the pit, and the importance of holding space for all punks—queer punks, trans punks, street punks, ska punks, grindcore fans, and beyond.

Whether you’ve been to Punk Island or are just finding out it’s real, this episode will fire you up. As Mike and Phil put it: You gotta see it to believe it.

Punk Island

https://www.instagram.com/punkislandnyc

https://linktr.ee/PunkIslandNYC

DCxPC Live

https://www.instagram.com/dcxpc_live

https://www.facebook.com/dcxpcbooking

https://dcxpclive.com

Intro Song: "Cheap As You" By Runnamucks

Outro Song: "Any Means Necessary" By RBNX

https://www.instagram.com/the_rbnx/

Executive Producer: Trev Allen https://www.instagram.com/struggling_artist_record_club/