Revolution Summer: Punk and Politics in Washington D.C.

In the summer of 1985, Washington D.C. punk faced a crisis.
Hardcore had grown violent, toxic, and burned-out. But out of the chaos came something new: Revolution Summer.
Bands like Rites of Spring, Embrace, and Dag Nasty rejected macho posturing and turned punk inward — writing about love, honesty, and vulnerability. At the same time, they brought politics back into the music: anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-apartheid.
This short documentary explores how a few months in D.C. reshaped punk forever — laying the foundations for emo, DIY activism, and a scene that proved punk could be more than just noise.

📲 Follow the show on Instagram for daily punk history: ⁠@history_is_a_riot⁠

🎧 New episode every week. No permission required.