Fire Party

Formed in 1986 by guitarist Natalie Avery, vocalist Amy Pickering, bassist Kate Samworth, and drummer Nicky Thomas, Fire Party further broadened the musical horizons of the D.C. scene with its flowing melodies, layered rhythms, and expansive use of harmony. Beyond their musical legacy, Fire Party was a major presence in the scene, touring widely and regularly playing local benefit shows. Pickering is also notable for her role in helping to inspire 1985’s Revolution Summer movement in D.C. punk, which pushed back against the violence, sexism, and creative stagnation becoming endemic in the scene.

Drawn from the Sharon Cheslow Punk Flyers collection, the D.C. punk collection, and the D.C. punk and indie fanzine collection at Special Collections in Performing Arts at the University of Maryland.

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