Break Free Fest, Philly’s three-day festival featuring BIPOC bands across the punk and hardcore spectrum, returned for its eighth year over the weekend. Tristate, midwest and international acts alike, the festival attracted 17 bands to perform.

The unfortunate closing of Foto Club — the festival’s longstanding host — hasn’t slowed down organizers Adesola Ogunleye, Darby Cox, Nate Harris, and Scout Cartegena. This year, Cousin Danny’s Lounge in West Philly hosted day one, while Ukie Club in Northern Liberties hosted days two and three.

The fest is sponsored by Headroom Studios, Punk Rock Fleamarket, Get Better Records, and more. In keeping with tradition, Break Free made donations to Mohamed’s Mission and Homies Helping Homies this year.

Check out a photo recap of day one below:

LustSickPuppy

New York City-based quintuple threat LustSickPuppy made their Break Free Fest debut with fiery vigor. Music artist, painter, illustrator, fashion trendsetter and producer announced that their new album has been mixed on Instagram and the release is coming very soon.

ShyGodwin

This year’s festival welcomed back Philly’s own ShyGodwin for the second time. Since 2023, the outfit came into WXPN for a live session and established their full band lineup. ShyGodwin released their latest single “indoctri-nation” in August of 2025.

Survival Tactics

A community-driven hardcore band out of Raleigh/Greensboro, North Carolina, Survival Tactics released their first two EPs within months of each other and got a proper Philly welcome at Break Free.

Chromafix

Chromafix, a Baltimore four piece influenced by anarcho- and Russian-post punk, is cut their teeth in Philly for the first time at Break Free Fest.

Haley Heynderickx: “Simple Song” (Folkadelphia session)