<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=04BmIX_1FXf954X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=04BmIX_1FXf954X00" width="1680" height="1120" ><figcaption>Aiden Griffith performs with his band Three Volley Salute at the second-annual Gutter Fest at the Rapid City Labor Temple on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. Zac Zwaschka / Forum Communications</figcaption></figure>RAPID CITY S.D. — For Ti Murphree and Levi Masuen, the power of punk rock is the power of community, one where people of all ages come to celebrate a shared passion.This duo are the leaders of Gutter Fest, a punk fest hosted at the Rapid City Labor Temple Thursday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Sept. 26. 20 bands, most local to the area, turned out for the second year of the event, which saw crowds of over 50 each night. The fest aims to honor Rapid’s punk rock legacy while offering the new generation a safe and inviting space to continue the scene."Punk, to me, is all about the music and having a place where you can just go and be yourself and not have to worry about anything else,” Murphree said.Murphree, a Rapid City native, explained that Gutter Fest emerged as a natural manifestation of his DIY (do it yourself) booking agency, Rapid City Gutter Shows. He’s been putting on concerts throughout the area since 2021, with the Labor Temple and Rapid City VFW becoming the shows’ main hubs.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0yCA6u_1FXf954X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0yCA6u_1FXf954X00" width="1680" height="1118" ><figcaption>Denver, Colorado-based duo Graveyard People perform at Gutter Fest. Zac Zwaschka / Forum Communications</figcaption></figure>“The reason I do shows is for those kids who are looking for something to do and sitting in their rooms listening to music and want to go out and experience it without going to the Civic Center and paying a lot of money or somewhere else," he said.Despite punk’s angry and sometimes aggressive aesthetics, the message behind the music is often one of unity and solidarity. According to Masuen, the main mission of Gutter Fest is to give people a space and an outlet to express themselves, especially for those who might consider themselves outcasts.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0HviVw_1FXf954X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0HviVw_1FXf954X00" width="1680" height="1030" ><figcaption>Local youths smile together in the Gutter Fest crowd. Zac Zwaschka / Forum Communications</figcaption></figure>Originally from Boise, Idaho, Masuen said joining a local scene is a great way to experience the connective power of art and build friendships and connections with other like-minded people."I've been involved in various punk scenes around the country, having traveled, and I've always found a sense of belonging," Masuen said. "I love the people.”The sense of belonging and personal expression was palpable when watching the crowd, as local youths and adults came clad in their best punk rock attire, with many dancing wildly to their heart’s content.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1mwk1l_1FXf954X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1mwk1l_1FXf954X00" width="1680" height="1118" ><figcaption>People dance around the mosh pit at Gutter Fest. Zac Zwaschka / Forum Communications</figcaption></figure>"The way I know that it's a successful fest is the floors are dirty and there's trash everywhere," Murphree said.In between sets, attendees thanked bands for their performances, chatted about their favorite artists or just played hackysack in the parking lot.To the bands themselves, this care-free energy is what makes the local scene special."It's very important that the local scenes of music stay popular. I love seeing the kids come out here to listen," Nolan Saufley, guitarist of Paradise White, said. "It's awesome to see everybody come together with this music and just have a good time.”In Paradise White, Saufley plays with bassist Cid Wiereng, drummer Gage Flick and guitarist/singer Derek Flick, with the band having been together for around two years and performing at numerous Gutter Shows in that time.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3mXWCs_1FXf954X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3mXWCs_1FXf954X00" width="1680" height="1118" ><figcaption>Paradise White, a local Rapid City punk band, performs at Gutter Fest. Zac Zwaschka / Forum Communications</figcaption></figure>According to Flick, shows now have a safe, all ages venue that supports them. He explained that, previously, most shows were forced to take place in local bars, limiting a key part of their audience from even attending."Gutter Shows does a really fantastic job of keeping everything safe and family friendly for everybody," Flick said. "It's an amazing place to play, and we really cherish the spot because there's not a lot of places we can play.”Keeping the shows open for all ages isn’t just important for the crowd, as several of the performing bands were composed of local high-schoolers.One of these was Three Volley Salute, a group featuring drummer Aiden Griffith, guitarist/singer Bre Griffith, bassist Cody Hoover and guitarist Tayshawn Taker. The band played their first-ever show as Thursday’s opening band, performing five songs to the roaring support of the crowd.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2gwVOu_1FXf954X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2gwVOu_1FXf954X00" width="1680" height="1118" ><figcaption>Gutter Fest attendees clap in support. Zac Zwaschka / Forum Communications</figcaption></figure>The members explained that they met each other working at a local Walmart and have been practicing together for about five months. Aiden said they were already planning on attending Gutter Fest as guests when they learned that two bands had fallen out, leading to Murphree putting an open call for replacements. They jumped at the chance.The group praised Gutter Fest for giving young bands such a fun opportunity and for keeping the scene alive."I think it's sick. Not a lot of people get access to a local scene like this. Here in Rapid, we've got a pretty strong scene," Aiden said.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3qexAi_1FXf954X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3qexAi_1FXf954X00" width="1680" height="1118" ><figcaption>Three Volley Salute, a Rapid City band, plays their first-ever show at Gutter Fest. Zac Zwaschka / Forum Communications</figcaption></figure>Their advice to other young people looking to make a band was to get involved in the scene, make the music you want to make and have fun doing it.The fest also tied itself to Rapid City’s punk rock lineage, with the event kicking off with a screening of Jake Batchelder’s DIY documentary “Who the (expletive) Wants to Play in Rapid City?” The film featured interviews and raw live footage showcasing the city’s punk movement during the 1980s and 1990s while preaching the same ethos of community involvement and passion.This connected to Murphree’s mantra of “support local anything.” He and Masuen discussed how while punk rock might be its own scene, it’s still a part of the overall local arts collective in Rapid City.“I think bringing community together at the end of the day for any reason, is always a positive thing," Maseun said.The pair's ultimate goal is to eventually open The Gutter and Leseratte Cafe, a venue startup of their own. Funds from Gutter Fest as well as other donations are being used to cover initial costs, with hope to create a sober event venue and coffee shop with plant-based food and drinks, a virgin bar, live music, game nights, art workshops and much more. Those interested in learning more can check out their Instagram page for additional details.The final night of Gutter Fest kicks off at 5pm Saturday night.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1ak55q_1FXf954X00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1ak55q_1FXf954X00" width="1680" height="1268" ><figcaption>The Sovereign performs at Gutter Fest. Zac Zwaschka / Forum Communications</figcaption></figure></div></body>

Block Source: newscenter1.tv

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

RAPID CITY S.D. — For Ti Murphree and Levi Masuen, the power of punk rock is the power of community, one where people of all ages come to celebrate a shared passion. This duo are the leaders of Gutter Fest, a punk fest hosted at the Rapid City Labor Temple Thursday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Sept. 26.

Twenty bands rock Gutter Fest

NewsBreak

RAPID CITY S.D. — For Ti Murphree and Levi Masuen, the power of punk rock is the power of community, one where people of all ages come to celebrate a share

Twenty bands rock Gutter Fest

Comments