More people should adopt the local punk scene’s values of the importance of the DIY, do it yourself, initiative to promote more community collaborative music and art.  The punk scene in Iowa City refers to a subculture that emerged throughout the ‘70s, characterized by their music, fashion, art and ideology that challenges societal norms.

The punk scene in Iowa City plays a major role in shaping social and political conversations, contributing to community activism and social awareness. It has continued to maintain its nonconformist spirit over the years, while staying true to its roots.

Pokey’s Fest is a recurring punk music festival in Iowa City that brings a warm, chaotic, high energy set atmosphere and promotes DIY ethics. Even if you are not in the community personally or do not listen to punk music more spaces should be taken among creative artists that focus more on authenticity and local support that fosters a sense of independence and inclusivity than profit.

Iowa City’s development into their own punk identity and community came about in the late 1970s and early 1980s with connections to a much broader Midwest underground movement happening at the time that reflected the community values amidst national trends.

“I feel like the older people in our community are leaders for the younger folk, as they had to help shape what the community is today,” Leo Harris, member in the local punk scene and University of Iowa student, said.

“There was a time when we weren’t as organized and 10 years ago we didn’t have the spaces that we know today, older members also tend to be more political in the scene because they had to fight to make things safer for us as a predominantly queer and trans community,” Harris said.

Venues in Iowa City like Gabe’s and Wildwood, have been the cornerstone of punk culture and support for local punk artists. Gabe’s especially holds the most historical significance for being the most foundational venue for its punk and alternative music and having well known bands like, The Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana, perform throughout the ‘90s.

With over decades worth of Iowa City’s music culture being immersed with influences from the punk scene, it has created a vibrant space established in grassroots punk. Grassroots punk refers to community-driven, innovative origins of punk music. Iowa City’s roots within grassroots punk paved the way for fostering politically engaged music scenes and driving independence from mainstream music industries.

Punk is inherently political and it has been that way since its birth.

Dolly Sperry, a well established member within the scene, says in an Instagram post,  “The whole reason punk and anarchy are so deeply embedded is because they very much are refractions of the same thing. True autonomy. The reason DIY is the utilized tool is not because we like crafts or want to be community leaders but because it gives people the agency to create unprohibited by the systems that stop us and are meant to take away that agency.”

Origins of punk’s political nature is a direct reaction to social injustice, economic disparities, and political apathy. It was and still is more than just a different music genre, it is a counter-culture movement based on anti-capitalist values that still remain relevant in the scene in Iowa City and all around. 

Iowa City’s ever-evolving punk scene leaves influences in not only our local music and art, but our collective attitudes and action towards political and social injustice. With more people adopting the values of punk culture, even without necessarily claiming the scene as their own, there will be more open, diverse spaces among artists, people in general and increased political empathy.