Well, it’s safe to say that it only took a month to recover from Camp, but we’re already counting down the days until next year (about 325 days to be exact). Sunday, the last and final day of Camp Punksylvania, kicked off with no signs of slowing down and kept the momentum going with a stacked lineup including highlights from The Car Bomb Parade, JER Band, and Bridge City Sinners.
Not only did we get down and boogie to these headliners, but we also had the chance to hang out with the nonprofit Punk Rock Saves Lives, learn more about the rad work they’re doing in the community, and connect with like-minded folks who care about more than just music. Oh — and did we mention we witnessed a full-blown wedding proposal in the middle of it all? Yeah.
If you’re into true anarcho-fueled punk, super soakers, and chaotic pool noodle fights in the heat amongst sweat and beer, then this was the set to catch. The Car Bomb Parade made the trip down from upstate New York and brought a raw classic sound that channels the grit of Sick Of It All and T.S.O.L., fused with the of modern punk bands like Propagandhi.
You’ve probably seen them pop up on your feed at some point — those wildly fun, hyper-niche ska covers of everything from Britney Spears’s ‘Toxic’ to Smash Mouth’s ‘All Star,’ and even the ‘Scooby-Doo’ theme song. That’s Skatune Network, the brainchild of the insanely talented JER. Drawing inspiration from video games, ’90s cartoons, and grassroots activism, JER took the internet by storm with these inventive reimaginings. But they didn’t stop there — after building a devoted following on YouTube, JER brought in a crew of equally passionate musicians, and thus the JER Band was born.
Punk Rock Saves Lives (PRSL) is a nonprofit organization rooted in the heart of the punk community, using the power of music and culture to drive positive change. Their mission goes beyond the music — PRSL focuses on mental health awareness, human rights advocacy, and encouraging blood and bone marrow donations through on-site activations at shows and festivals. Whether they’re registering voters, handing out free Narcan, free earplugs (yes, I have almost run them dry of their earplug inventory), or simply creating safe spaces to talk about mental health, PRSL always shows up where the community needs them most.
Bonus: A marriage proposal? (She said yes)
Bridge City Sinners brought Camp Punksylvania 2025 to a close with a spellbinding set, as the festival’s most-requested act. Blending their originated street style with dark folk instrumentation, the Portland based band tore through a long setlist packed with favorites like “The Devil’s Swing” and “Break the Chain.” Their performance was theatrical, and emotionally charged, with banjos, violins, and vocals that echoed all the way to the far end of the grounds.
Check out more photos and galleries from the final day on Instagram!