About

Let’s Build A Punk Club

What this is

I'm opening an all-ages punk club and community café in Connecticut, and I want it to be the most musician-friendly venue in the state. Bands get paid fairly, and anyone can walk in regardless of age.

All-ages spaces have always been the backbone of this scene, and Connecticut doesn't have nearly enough of them right now. So we're going to build one.

This site is how we get there. Friends from the folk punk and DIY worlds, including Pat The Bunny, Ceschi (of Codefendants), Jesse Sendejas (of Days N Daze), Myles Bullen and more, are teaming up with their music and love to help bring this to life. 100% of profits from some releases and a portion of others will benefit this project. Check each product page for more detailled break downs. This is just the start, and more benefit releases are on the way soon.

Who I am

I'm Pepe Bandit. I've been booking all-ages DIY shows in Connecticut since around 2000. I never kept a dollar from the door. Every bit went to the musicians.

Before I ever ran a label, I opened an underground, illegal venue called The Factory House. For the year it lasted, a lot of people called it the best punk spot in the state. Eventually the city shut it down. I've been thinking about that space ever since.

In 2003 I started DIY Bandits. Between the label and the shows, I've worked with Pat The Bunny, Erik Petersen / Mischief Brew, Ramshackle Glory, Wingnut Dishwashers Union, Ceschi, Sole and many more people I'm proud to call friends.

In October 2019 I went to federal prison. I was sentenced to nearly 5 years for marijuana sales. A big part of what got me through was mail: letters from across the US, Canada and the UK. The scene put on benefit shows and released benefit records to help pay off my legal fees. When I came home, I knew exactly who my people were. Since then I've started Stay Free Coffee Roasters, the Back On The Grind podcast, and a new label, Back On The Grind Records.

Coming home with a federal record means a lot of doors stay closed. Finding work has been hard. Most recently I've worked on an organic farm throughout the growing season. Instead of waiting for someone to give me a chance, I'm building one. This venue is how I'm rebuilding my life, and it's how I can give back to the musicians and community that showed up for me when I needed it most.
If you want to help out further, check the FAQ page. 

Thank you for being part of this.


Stay Free,
Pepe Bandit

Pepe Bandit
DIY Label Owner · Coffee Roaster · Podcaster · Jungian Coach · Folk Punk Felon