The semifinals of the MoCAT (Museum of the Contemporary American Teenager) Battle of the Bands features some of the most promising youth bands in the DMV, all competing for the chance to play at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival to a crowd of thousands. The final round on July 6th will be judged by important figures in the industry, including NPR’s Bob Boilen. This round features Petrichor, Erthwork, and the Inbred Coked Up Hippos. Petrichor is a DC indie / punk band that takes inspiration from grunge, metal, surf guitar, and more. They’ll be on tour in the southeast this summer to accompany the release of their debut EP. Erthwork is a four-piece DMV metal band inspired by acts such as Soundgarden, Chat Pile, and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. These influences come together to form a sound that’s heavy, thicker than mud, and darker than the night. They also do weddings. Formed in 2021, the Inbred Coked-Up Hippos are a 5-piece hardcore band based in Bethesda, Maryland. The members take influence from a variety of metal and punk bands including Melvins, System of a Down, Pantera, and Minor Threat. They started performing around the DMV in 2023, and are currently working on an album which will be available to stream in summer of 2025. Presented by Songbyrd. This is an all ages event