Basements easily transform from eerie urban catacombs to anything-goes live music venues dedicated to the sweaty glory of Punk Rock. These claustrophobic spaces are perfect for music fans willing to pack in for a more immediate experience than the one offered by a lot of local clubs. Bucking an increasing generational trend favoring reserved behavior, Hands Across Basements (this Thursday through Saturday) is Cincinnati’s three-day celebration of the pure, fun-loving spirit of loud music in subterranean settings. And putting together and ultimately enjoying the celebration on one’s own terms amounts to way less hassle and far more fulfillment than trying to work with a bar to plan such an event.
Organizer Kaleb Keefer says he “wanted to book a completely D.I.Y. festival where people live and have the entire local spectrum of Punk bands play, plus the respectable ones within driving distance.”
That means there are no riders, no guest lists, no bouncers and (hopefully) no problems. The fest is just fans and bands of all ages, backgrounds and experience representing all known permutations of what’s considered “Punk” and coming together to have a good time and rock out on private property.
Read more about the Hands Across Basements Fest here.