Feature / One Question Interviews
Damaged City Fest

Words: Loren • April 8, 2016

Damaged City Fest
Damaged City Fest

Damaged City Fest

SPB: Festivals are a continually popular concept, though varying in formulas. What do you think is best about a festival versus a “regular” line-up of 3-5 bands?

Nick and Chris: We don't see festivals as an "alternative" to normal shows and prefer to view the two types of events as separate entities. I think if every single show was a festival, people would get pretty burned out. Both of us (Chris and Nick) have always set up normal shows and we'll always continue. 

I think the advantage to festivals are primarily their scale. The larger turnout of people can help finance bigger headliners and help pay for international bands that probably couldn't afford to come otherwise. Festivals also act as a meeting point for punks to congregate from all over the world. Fests also make it easier for DIY bands to plan tours and help gain some security about traveling in from long distances. 

Again, it has never been our intention to "replace" the traditional 4 band show with a fest. I think, if anything, there are many many many more "normal shows" as a direct result of the fest. 

Loren • April 8, 2016

Damaged City Fest
Damaged City Fest

Related features

Noise Real Records

Interviews • February 9, 2026

Noise Real Records recently released Noise Pollution Volume 1, a limited run 7" that features two new versions of "The Recluse" by Cursive. The new series will continue this revision theme as we move forward. Founded in 2021 by two long-time friends from California's Central Valley, the label is focused … Read more

Verböten

Interviews • February 9, 2026

ver·bo·ten adjective forbidden, especially by an authority. Verböten was formed in 1982 by a bunch of kids aged 10 to 14 years old, soon opening for Chicago's finest punk bands. Thanks to Dave Grohl's HBO series and best-selling book, mentioning Verböten led to opportunities to play Riot Fest and the … Read more

Time Thieves

One Question Interviews • February 4, 2026

Time Thieves SPB: While you’ve all played in punk bands Time Thieves is in the power-pop realm. What is a personal favorite album you feel is overlooked in the genre? Annie: Teenage Heartbreak (1980) by Sorrows. Heard it with a friend for the first time just a few months ago … Read more

Dauber

One Question Interviews • February 3, 2026

Mike (Dauber) SPB: What was the first album you ever bought? Mike: I'm not quite certain what the first album I ever bought was, probably Dookie or Smash. What I can remember is the first time I ever went to the legendary Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ (RIP). I had … Read more

Ian Glasper

One Question Interviews • February 2, 2026

Ian Glasper (A Country Fit For Heroes : DIY Punk in Eighties Britain) SPB: What was the first punk show you saw and do you remember how it inspired you at the time? Glasper: I'm not sure which was the very, very first punk gig I went to, because it's … Read more

Related news

Damaged City 2020 info

Posted in Shows on February 29, 2020

Damaged City 2019 full lineup

Posted in Shows on March 3, 2019

Damaged City 2018

Posted in Shows on February 24, 2018

More from this section

Time Thieves

One Question Interviews • February 4, 2026

Time Thieves SPB: While you’ve all played in punk bands Time Thieves is in the power-pop realm. What is a personal favorite album you feel is overlooked in the genre? Annie: Teenage Heartbreak (1980) by Sorrows. Heard it with a friend for the first time just a few months ago … Read more

Dauber

One Question Interviews • February 3, 2026

Mike (Dauber) SPB: What was the first album you ever bought? Mike: I'm not quite certain what the first album I ever bought was, probably Dookie or Smash. What I can remember is the first time I ever went to the legendary Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ (RIP). I had … Read more

Ian Glasper

One Question Interviews • February 2, 2026

Ian Glasper (A Country Fit For Heroes : DIY Punk in Eighties Britain) SPB: What was the first punk show you saw and do you remember how it inspired you at the time? Glasper: I'm not sure which was the very, very first punk gig I went to, because it's … Read more