Tag: Riot Fest lineup

Riot Fest announces 2024 lineup.

Chicago’s Riot Fest has announced it’s full lineup for 2024. The festival is being held at SeatGeek Stadium this time around, much to the annoyance of the Chicago Red Stars NWSL team, and I’m curious how many stages they’ll have in and around the stadium.

The lineup is better than Lollapalooza or Pitchfork Music Festival this year, but that’s not a new thing. The Slayer reunion was rumored to be defunct, but is now apparently back on the schedule. Beck will be a must-see, as he hasn’t toured in a few years. Public Enemy will also be a good set, and seeing all of the Marley Brothers on the same stage would be wild.

It’s nice to see a big punk rock lineup at this year’s festival, including a final NOFX tour, Circle Jerks, Descendents, and Buzzcocks. Don’t miss The Hives, as they’re one of the best live bands of the last twenty years. Clutch are always good, and Cypress Hill is enjoying a big resurgence right now as people are discovering their classic records.

Go see Dead Milkmen and The Dickies if you want some fun. Go see Pixel Grip if you want sexy synthwave, and The Mysterines if you want good garage rock.

Find the shady spots while you’re there. There aren’t many around SeatGeek Stadium, so grab one whenever you can.

Keep your mind open.

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Riot Fest releases lineup for their 2022 festival.

Chicago’s Riot Fest has released the full lineup for their 2022 festival, and there are some heavy-hitters this year.

My Chemical Romance and Portugal. The Man will bring in a big crowd on Friday, but the powerhouse headliner this year is Nine Inch Nails (and The Misfits are not slouches by any means). Other must-see acts include Bauhaus, Bad Religion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sleater-Kinney, The Joy Formidable, and Lunachicks.

Tickets are already on sale, so don’t wait. Take sunscreen if you go. It was hot and sweaty there in 2021.

Keep your mind open.

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Riot Fest postpones until next year, but announces first wave of lineup to whet your appetite.

Chicago’s Riot Fest was the last 2020 festival standing in Chicago that hadn’t been postponed or cancelled, so it wasn’t a shock to learn it had been postponed until September 16 – 19, 2021.

What was a surprise was how they announced the first wave of the 2021 lineup. I don’t know how many of these bands were already scheduled for the 2020 festival, but they landed some heavy hitters either way – My Chemical Romance, Smashing Pumpkins, Run the Jewels, and Pixies are all sure to draw big crowds. Gogol Bordello are known for their wild shows, and punk legends Circle Jerks are a nice snag, as are Toots and the Maytals, Jawbox, Best Coast, and L7. My favorite part of the current lineup, however, might be Living Colour. I had no idea they were touring. Furthermore, Riot Fest teases two more waves of lineup announcements – possibly of thirty-six more bands. There’s also this…

They’ve announced that there will be surprise sets on September 16th, some by bands they describe as “bucket list” bands. In my limited music festival experience, preview nights are not to be missed. Some of the best sets I’ve seen at Levitation Music Festival have been on Thursday nights.

Get your tickets early if you can. Everyone is going to be so hungry for live music in 2021 that there will be few shows and festivals that won’t be sell-outs.

Keep your mind open.

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Riot Fest releases 2019 lineup.

Chicago’s Riot Fest has released the lineup for its 15th anniversary festival, and early price tickets ($129.00) are nearly sold out. Don’t wait too long to get yours.

There are some heavy-hitters on the lineup this year. The Flaming Lips playing Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots in its entirety is almost worth the price of admission by itself. The Raconteurs are sure to put on a solid set, and I’d be keen to see Bloc Party (who are playing Silent Alarm in its entirety, and that’s a good record to be sure), Die Antwoord (as I’m sure their live shows are nuts), the B-52’s, Bob Mould for a second time this year, RIDE, Caroline Rose, Ganser, and how could you not at least check out the set by Village People?

Keep your mind open.

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Riot Fest announces first wave of 2018 lineup.

As usual, Chicago’s annual Riot Fest is the festival Lollapalooza used to be and now dreams of being.  Also as usual, the Riot Fest lineup is impressive.  This first wave announcement packs some wallops.  Beck, Interpol, Cypress Hill, Bad Religion, Clutch, Digable Planets, Gary Numan, Killing Joke, Wolfmother, and Bully are all worth your time.  Tickets are on sale, and layaway options are available, so don’t wait until the second wave announcement if you want to get in on this.

Keep your mind open.

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