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Arts & Entertainment New Roof, Old Legacy
all the time. That was really awesome because I got to go and see that there were other people my age."
More than just a music scene, the DIY house shows provided a sense of community to young people who may struggle to find it anywhere else.
"I think all ages [shows] are really important because it helps people who may be alternative but don't have the language of like a DIY ethos. So they come and meet people who supply them with that language and vocabulary. Then they say, 'Well, I actually do belong. I have a community.'"
Outside of providing the music scene another space to find community over live music, the Bugghouse provides valuable community services like sponsoring the nearby park's monthly trash cleanups, keeping a nearby food and book pantry well stocked, and frequently volunteering to raise funds for other local organizations and causes.
"We've done Lady Fest in the past," said Ballard. "We've done shows for STRIVE; we've done shows for the Pensacola Abortion Rights Task Force. So we try to pretty much take what we've laid out and what we've been able to do and think about how we can put that to use in other aspects besides just bringing in people for a fun time."
Since launching the re-roofing fundraiser in February on GoFundMe, Ballard says the community has raised almost half of the necessary funds.
"Fundraising is going really well," said Ballard. "We're trying to reach up to $10,000. That's like our max goal. For every quote I've gotten, it's looking like a new roof is gonna be about $13-14 thousand just to get what we need."
Beyond the online fundraiser, Ballard has hosted a yard sale and a live show at The Handlebar. Later this month, supporters and music fans will have another opportunity to support the efforts—at a Monday night Bugghouse show headlined by Virginia band Keep plus locals Box Cutter
"Anything will help. If you give $1 or $5, if you share the post, whatever you do, it'll show that Pensacola DIY is alive and it's a really healthy and supportive community that takes care of its mem- paying pretty much what it costs to rent in Pensacola now, which is, you know, pretty high." a continuation."
It's a tradition that began from the start, explained Ballard.
"People were up on the roof the very first time for a show we had here, and it just kind of became a staple. At that time, the house was still kind of under construction and we were getting things fixed. So the contractors left a ladder, and people saw that opportunity and took it and that ladder is still there. The contractors left it, maybe out of an act of faith for us."
Despite its popularity as a prime viewing location for show attendees, Ballard says that's got nothing to do with the dire straits the roof is currently facing.
While popular venues like The Handlebar and Vinyl Music Hall frequently host mid-scale live music and touring bands, the heart of the Pensacola DIY punk scene lives on at house shows like those hosted at the Bugghouse.
"As a kid, I had house shows because that's what most shows in Pensacola were, and you just get a deeper sense of community and belonging whenever you're either in someone's personal space or also just like with a community and you feel like, 'I can exist here and not be persecuted or looked at,'" said Ballard.
Ballard, who began attending shows when he was in his early teens and performing and organizing other house shows not much later, also believes in the value of a DIY scene for those typically too young to attend shows at official venues.
"I got into the punk scene when I was like 13 or 14, and I was amazed at how open things were back then," said Ballard.
Ballard says venues like Sluggo's and The Handlebar were important resources for young punks like him.
"There was no underage drinking allowed at Sluggo's, but they would let underage kids come in
BUGGHOUSE RE-ROOF FUNDRAISER SHOW
WHAT: A Monday night house show featuring Keep, Box Cutter and Wild Charge
WHEN: 7 p.m., Monday, March 13
WHERE: Bugghouse
PRICE: $10-$15 recommended donation
DETAILS: @diypensacola
*You can also donate to the Bugghouse fundraiser online at gofundme.com/f/reroofthe-bugghouse.
By Savannah Evanoff
