See you back in Douglass Park this September.
QUICK, GRAB YOUR TICKETSRiot Fest 20th Anniversary Early Bird Presale Tickets are on sale now! Prices increasing soon.
Who The Heck Are Gymshorts?
Today’s Who The Heck spotlight is hitting every good angle on Gymshorts, a four-piece punk powerhouse from Rhode Island that we’re unbelievably excited to host this Sunday at Cobra Lounge. Words like “brutal” and “unrefined” have been thrown around to describe Gymshorts, but the band’s self-description (from a friend) might be the best way to…
Swami John Reis Talks Rocket From the Crypt’s ‘Group Sounds’ (and Punk Hair Care)
For nearly four decades, John Reis has been a dedicated missionary for the rock & roll cause. Though Reis’s name is a stamp of quality on any of his pursuits, a few of his (many, many) bands have drawn a particularly large and tenacious following: Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, and of course Rocket From…
Write Your “Ode to the Green” and Win Cypress Hill Tickets
It’s 4:20 somewhere… so inhale, exhale, and start writing. You just might win tickets to see Cypress Hill. That’s right! Riot Fest alum Cypress Hill are taking the stage at Chicago’s Ruido Fest in Union Park next weekend on Sunday, August 21st. We’re giving away a pair of Sunday passes—and all you have to do is write…
The Riot Fest 2022 Late Night Shows Are Here
***Update 8/29: Hey! What are you doing here?! This is old. To see the Riot Fest 2023 Late Night Aftershows, go here. Since you guys keep us up all night, we’re going to keep you up all night… with the full schedule of our 2022 Late Night shows! Tickets are ON SALE NOW. This year,…
Who The Heck Are The Velveteers?
Today’s installment of Who The Heck Are… is all about the Velveteers, a tried-and-true rock trio from Boulder, Colorado—and it comes just in time for the band’s Cobra Lounge gig this Thursday! Known for their energetic sets and DIY presence, their debut record Nightmare Daydream came out last year and was produced by the Black…
It’s Riot Fest Night at a White Sox Game Near You This August
Join us on August 16 with discounted tickets—and a first pitch thrown by Tim McIlrathBatter up: the Chicago White Sox are playing the Houston Astros on August 16 at 7:10 p.m. CT—and more importantly, it’s Riot Fest Night at the Guaranteed Rate Field, and you’re invited! Starting today, you can grab discounted group tickets for a special White Sox game featuring Riot Fest music throughout the night. In addition,…
Join Us for a Free Soccer Clinic in Douglass Park Hosted by Chicago Fire FC
The Riot Fest Foundation is partnering with Chicago Fire FC to host a free soccer clinic at Douglass Park this summer! Chicago Fire FC trainers will be running the clinic on Saturday, August 6 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CDT. Kids under 14 years of age can sign up for free below, and should…
‘I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love’ Turns 20: How the Legacy of My Chemical Romance Began
Before the fame and fortune, My Chem was a DIY band from New Jersey, poised to change alternative music forever. Even then, the writing was on the wallThe camera shakes, the pictures blurs, the lighting leaves a lot to be desired, and the stage is nondescript in the manner of suburban VFW halls. Four-fifths of My Chemical Romance avert their anxious eyes away from the crowd. Only frontman Gerard Way makes himself available to their locked gaze. He’s in an ill fitting…
