Reunions and full-album sets are Riot Fest’s specialty—so what does it have to offer this year, besides Bikini Kill?
Tag: Riot Fest
Posted inMusic
Riot Fest’s elephant in the room
Does Riot Fest have any business taking over a public park in a largely Black and Brown neighborhood?
Posted inMusic
Nearly 40 years into their career, Bad Religion are the best west-coast punk band in existence
The first time I saw Bad Religion, I was a young teen and they were on their 2000 tour in support of their Todd Rundgren-produced 11th album, The New America. I remember marveling at how dudes so old were still ripping so hard, but I recently had a weird crisis when I did the math […]
Posted inMusic
Riot Fest announces its 2019 lineup
This year’s big news is that the fest has booked the reunited Bikini Kill—but Slayer, Jawbreaker, Bloc Party, and the Village People are nothing to sneeze at.
Posted inMusic
See the stars of Riot Fest as they shine offstage
Ryan Segedi’s portraits of the festival’s artists, taken with portable lights in front of a simple white backdrop in the corner of the press tent, provide a more intimate look at people we’re used to seeing under colored spotlights.
Posted inBlogs
Screw nostalgia—the Avengers and Blondie made punk as relevant as ever at Riot Fest
On the final day of Riot Fest 2018, the Avengers and Blondie bridged the four decades since their first releases with vital, inspiring sets.
Posted inBlogs
Riot Fest 2018 Sunday [PHOTOS]
Run the Jewels closed out Riot Fest 2018. We have the live photos and a review by Jamie Ludwig of Sunday sets from Blondie and The Avengers. Photos by Danny O’Donnell Riot Fest 2018 Sunday
Posted inBlogs
Riot Fest 2018 Saturday [PHOTOS]
Day two of Riot Fest saw a range of acts from hometown, garage pop wonders Twin Peaks to iconic Elvis Costello. Check out the highlights of the Saturday performances from photographer Danny O’Donnell. Slideshow Riot Fest 2018 Saturday 15 slides Riot Fest 2018 Saturday By Danny O’Donnell Click to View 15 slides
Posted inBlogs
Riot Fest 2018 Friday [PHOTOS]
The first day of Riot Fest 2018 included calls for justice from Pussy Riot. Here’s a look back in photos by Danny O’Donnell. Saturday here. Sunday here. Riot Fest 2018 Friday
Posted inBlogs
Twin Peaks take a victory lap at Riot Fest
Twin Peaks have grown in the five years since they first played Riot Fest, and with Saturday’s set they showed off their lived-in material and the comfortable community they’ve helped build in the local rock scene.
Posted inBlogs
Pussy Riot use their Riot Fest set to demand justice for a fallen comrade—and for all the oppressed
The likely poisoning of Pussy Riot member Peter Verzilov this week didn’t keep the group from Riot Fest, where they delivered loud criticisms of Russia and the United States.
Posted inBlogs
Riot Fest and more of the best things to do in Chicago this weekend
The Music Box 70mm Film Festival and more goings-on 9/14-9/16
Posted inMusic
Not even 2018 can stop Riot Fest
It’s been a bad year for punks—and for everyone else who hates authoritarianism. But Riot Fest has persevered to bring us Run the Jewels, Blondie, Gary Numan, and 85 more acts.
Posted inMusic
Incubus hated nu-metal before hating nu-metal was cool
Nu-metal is enjoying a rosy reappraisal in the media, but Incubus cut their ties to the much-maligned subgenre even before its early-2000s fall from grace.
Posted inMusic
How Atmosphere accidentally predicted Juice Wrld
Minneapolis duo Atmosphere invented emo rap—now also called “Soundcloud rap”—15 years before the likes of Lil Xan and Trippie Redd picked up the thread.