The fourth, expanded iteration of hardcore and punk festival Pokey’s Fest commanded three venues over three stormy nights in Iowa City, and saw the debut of a slick new band.
There were last-minute revisions to the lineup and day-of venue changes thanks to uncooperative weather, but would it really be Pokey’s Fest if there weren’t at least a little bit of chaos? A mix of local and Midwestern bands played at Willow Creek Theatre, the Deadwood and the James Theater June 12-14. Little Village hit up the Saturday festivities and secured photo evidence.
Pokey’s Fest 4 organizer Dolly Sperry talks to the crowd at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Lube debuts at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Lube debuts at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Chunks performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village
Fresh on the scene, Iowa City’s Lube kicked off the first show at Willow Creek Theatre (moved inside from North Market Square Park) followed by two other hometown bands. Midway through Chunks’ set, Lube’s drummer grabbed the mic from the bare-headed vocalist to offer some sage advice to the crowd: “If you’re bald, start a band. If you’re not bald, get bald.”
Slack rockers Dead Level Set closed off the afternoon.
Boot Camp performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at the Deadwood on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Boot Camp performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at the Deadwood on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Boot Camp performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at the Deadwood on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
The crowd during Boot Camp’s performance at Pokey’s Fest 4 at the Deadwood on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Savage Little Suckers performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at the Deadwood on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Total Sham performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at the Deadwood on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Total Sham performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at the Deadwood on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village
Later that day, the next trio of bands descended upon the Deadwood. Savage Little Suckers brought a multi-generational lineup and lots of IC music history, with a lineage stretching back to the ’80s. Bootcamp, Iowa City’s own DIY divas, played a punchy, shake-your-ass set before Kansas City’s Total Sham closed it out.
Oral Fixx performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Oral Fixx performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Submission performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Submission performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Flesh Commodity performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Flesh Commodity performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village
Artists and audience alike brought the speed and energy back to Willow Creek Theatre, with a half-dozen more bands ratcheting things up as the night progressed. Oral Fixx flashed their D-beat stylings after debuting at last year’s Pokey’s Fest. Submission, the hardcore outfit fronted by festival organizer Dolly Sperry, took to the stage before Chicago’s Flesh Commodity kept it moving with some fast riffs.
Toxic Hell performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Toxic Hell performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Toxic Hell performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Toxic Hell performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Traffic Death performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Traffic Death performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Traffic Death performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Traffic Death performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village 
Traffic Death performs at Pokey’s Fest 4 at Willow Creek Theatre on June 13, 2026. — Nicole Yeager/Little Village
The end of the night got heavy in the best way. Cedar Rapids’ Toxic Hell brought that old-school death metal vibe while Des Moines’ Traffic Death, who Sperry says is “largely responsible for putting Iowa on the map with metal,” put a fitting exclamation point on the second night of Pokey’s Fest 4.
If you missed things this year don’t fret. Word is Pokey’s 5 is officially in the works.
