It’s almost impossible to discuss the state of punk and hardcore music in this town without someone making a grand pronouncement like “the D.C. scene is dead”. Ask any of the old timers and they’ll tell you that the kids in Washington just don’t care about punk rock anymore. It’s not hard to understand where these folks are coming from; given the vital role that our city played in the evolution of hardcore music, it’s surprising that relatively few bands in the District carry the torch to this day. However, declaring the scene “dead” is a tad hyperbolic — a punk community does still exist in D.C., it’s just a little harder to find nowadays.

But don’t take our word for it. Head on down to this weekend’s Different Kind of Dude Fest in Mount Pleasant and see for yourself. A two-day festival consisting of live music and workshops, DKDF’s stated aim is “to present an alternative to the self-indulgent dudedom of the average fest,” by promoting an open dialog on gender in the punk community. A quick glance at the schedule reveals that this year’s lineup is both absolutely killer and surprisingly local. Representing the District are post-hardcore weirdos Mass Movement of the Moth, progressive punks Des Ark and Aghast, whose sound is probably the closest you’re going to get to the D.C. hardcore of yore. Rounding out the roster are a number of acts from Maryland and Virginia, as well as a few larger touring bands: DIY evangelists Ampere, French screamo act Daitro and experimental hardcore technicians Circle Takes the Square.

In addition to the music, there’s also a whole afternoon of workshops on Saturday, with discussions addressing a wide range of topics including sexual violence, gender identity in subculture and reproductive health. And if none of those appeal to you, there’s always the “Puppet show on consent and sexual relationships”. If that isn’t punk, we don’t know what is.

Bands at St. Stephens Church
16th and Newton NW
Doors at 6pm Friday 8/10 and Saturday 8/11, $7/night or $12 for both nights

Workshops at the Dance Institute of Washington
14th and Monroe NW
Workshops at Emergence Community Arts Collective
733 Euclid St NW
From 12-5:30pm Saturday, Free (participants also get a dollar off of admission to the shows)