It’s almost hard to believe that Punk Rock Bowling started out nearly two decades ago as a small private bowling tournament for punk musicians and their crews. It’s now one of Las Vegas’ biggest and longest-running music festivals, with satellite events in Denver and Asbury Park, New Jersey. PRB still involves bowling, although now the tournament is open to the public, and this year’s festival is expected to include nearly 200 teams competing at three different Vegas-area bowling alleys.
But as much fun as it is to bowl with punk rockers, the real draw of PRB is the music, with three days of shows at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Headlining the festival’s first day is punk rock legend Iggy Pop (pictured), possibly the biggest star to ever play PRB and one of the founding fathers of punk, with his seminal 1970s band The Stooges. SoCal punk veterans Bad Religion headline the second day, and cult favorite English punks Cock Sparrer headline the final day. Other acts on the bill range from ’70s pop-punk pioneers The Dickies to acclaimed indie/garage rockers Fidlar to local Las Vegas band The Quitters. And after they rock, they’ll all have the chance to bowl.
Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, 200 S. Third St., 3 p.m. May 27-29, starting at $50, $125 three-day pass plus tax and fee. 702.388.2111
