The Lexicon: A Church Full of Folking Punks

By Alexis Schlesinger

Editorial Staff

“Film and Gender? More like lame and stupid.”

On Dec. 6, 2025, a “callout” video was posted to several local musicians’ Instagram pages containing clips of folk artists and punk artists insulting each other. 

One folk musician even claimed, “I listened to ‘Maeve’ by Dowsing Rod, and now I have gout.”

Fortunately for New England folk-punk fans, nobody was really fighting, and the roast compilation was a promotional video for the show the musicians were performing that night.

“Folk vs Punk Fest” was organized by Iss of local punk band Film and Gender, and folk musician Lou Mace. Both performed for their respective genre. 

The bill for the night also consisted of three additional folk acts - SB, Connor Storms and His Bouquet, and Colonel Starr - and three additional punk acts - Dinos, Inplainsight, and Dowsing Rod.

“Folk vs Punk Fest” was an all-ages show held in the Allston Abbey church, with music from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Each of the eight artists that night got to showcase their music with 20-30 minute long sets.

While the event was marketed as a sort of battle-of-the-bands, it was also a fundraiser. All door proceeds were donated to people who were affected by a loss of SNAP benefits. “Warm Up Boston,” a local non-profit organization also held a table at this event. 

Despite the way the musicians of each genre pretended to hate each other for the night, the event was a perfect reflection of punk values.

Community outreach, support, and inclusivity are what drove this event to be great and are values that continue to create the safe space that is the Boston music scene. 

The “Folk vs Punk Fest” bill alternated every other set between folk and punk. The night was opened by Inplainsight from the punk side. 

The band’s high energy was a great way to get the crowd excited, and their set even held some nostalgia. From her strong, crying lyrics, to her striking red hair, vocalist Jasmine truly gave Paramore energy. 

Connor Storms followed this set, without his “Bouquet” of bandmates, but delivered a beautiful acoustic folk set nonetheless. He completely charmed the audience with his song “Thank You For Being My Friend.”

Slightly disrupting the back and forth of folk and punk, SB came on next with another folk set. SB was the only musician that night who opted to play without an amplifier, and insisted the audience gather close to the stage to hear him better. 

Most attendees opted to sit on the floor at this point, which proved to be a great chance to rest before one of the most intense sets of the night. 

Dinos was certainly the loudest band at the fest, and immediately got everyone back up off the floor. Some fans even joined the band on stage, jamming around instruments and band members. 

Lou Mace was the first of the two organizers to hit the stage for his folk set, and led the audience in his witty sing-a-long, “Cuck Song.” The audience laughed as he prompted them all to sing “I am a cuck and I don’t want to…” 

You can probably fill in that rhyme for yourself. 

Dowsing Rod followed from the punk side with a fantastic set that got the audience moving again. 

A mosh pit quickly started, but it was probably one of the friendliest pits I’ve ever seen. Throughout the night, the audience was generally respectful of everyone around them and didn’t get too intense when the music didn’t call for it. 

The last folk act of the night, Colonel Starr came onto the stage and delivered a beautiful set full of hopeful lyrics. As the largest and loudest folk act of the night, they were a great closer for the folk side of the fest.

The final act was put on by local punk legends “Film and Gender.” This two-piece punk band is made up of only a bassist/vocalist and a drummer, and is popular around the Boston area for their high energy songs and politically charged lyrics. 

Enough praise can’t be sung for this event, all its organizers, and volunteers, as well as the attendees who made it possible by donating to a good cause and dancing to great music. 

“Folk vs Punk Fest” was not only successful in fundraising and attendance, but is a shining example of the strength and love the Boston music community creates.