Episode Description
On this episode of DCxPC Live Presents: Scene Support, Scott talks with Brian Westbrook, co-founder and production manager of RPM Fest, about what it really takes to build and sustain a DIY heavy music festival.
Brian traces his path from piano lessons and teen-center punk shows to touring with Lich King, working in live sound, and helping turn RPM Fest from a backyard party into a full three-day rock, punk, and metal gathering rooted in community, logistics, volunteers, and slow, intentional growth.
The conversation gets into the behind-the-scenes work most people never see: budgeting, generators, porta potties, tents, stage flow, sound, backline, sponsorships, vendors, posters, yard signs, social media, booking headliners, and the thousand small decisions that make a festival feel welcoming and functional. Brian also talks about the importance of building on solid footing, knowing when to scale back, trusting other people to take ownership, and creating something that feels bigger than just another show.
Along the way, Scott and Brian talk RPM Fest, THCC / The Heavy Culture Cooperative, DIY promotion, volunteer culture, festival problem-solving, metal drummers, and why community infrastructure matters just as much as the bands on stage.
For anyone who has ever wondered how a DIY festival actually happens, this one is a deep look at the people, planning, and heart that keep underground music alive.
Subscribe for more conversations with the people behind the scenes who keep DIY, punk, hardcore, ska, metal, and underground music moving.
Executive producer: Trev Allen - Struggling Artist Record Club
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