Who To See At Riot Fest 2024
Riot Fest returns to Douglass Park this weekend for its seventeenth year! With such a stacked lineup, it's difficult to decide which sets to catch. We had our writers narrow down a list of acts they believe are worth seeing! Check out their thoughts below...
Cover photo courtesy of Riot Fest, writers credited below.
Fall Out Boy
Chicago’s very own Fall Out Boy will be taking the main stage at this year’s Riot Fest! For the last 23 years, Fall Out Boy has been known for their unique rock sound, impactful lyrics, and the iconic vocals of their frontman, Patrick Stump. With each album, the band – the aforementioned Patrick Stump, lyricist/bassist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley – has pushed the limits of their genre as they explore new sounds and styles, and their latest work, the theatrical rock album So Much (for) Stardust, is no different. The newest album’s combination of orchestral instruments and heavy guitar creates an intensity that is sure to draw you in. Despite branching out into new sounds, Fall Out Boy continues to honor their roots and have been playing long-awaited and never-before-played fan favorites from their old albums (“XO”, “27”, and “Bang the Doldrums” just to name a few) on their most recent tour. However, even if you’re just a casual fan of songs like “Sugar, Were Goin Down,” “Thnks fr th Mmrs,” and “Centuries,” Fall Out Boy is still guaranteed to put on a killer show that you’re sure to love. Catch them at the Cabaret Metro Stage on Friday at 8:15 pm!
Written by Madison Luongo
Slaughter Beach, Dog
Slaughter Beach, Dog will be taking on the Radical Stage this Sunday at Riot Fest! Consisting of Jake Ewald, Ian Farmer (both previously from the band Modern Baseball,) Zack Robbins, and Adam Meisterhans, the indie rock band is known for their folky approach to rock, especially in their most popular song “Acolyte.” The Philadelphia-rooted band’s most recent album, Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling, continues with that iconic sound along with Ewald’s low and calm vocals. Slaughter Beach, Dog, will be playing the Radical Stage on Sunday at 4:15 pm. Check them out if, they’re sure to be worth your while!
Written by Madison Luongo
Sublime
Jakob Nowell joins his godfathers, original bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh as Sublime, who are set to explode on stage for the third night of Riot Fest on Sunday, September 22. Jakob Nowell, who took over for his father Bradley Nowell, Sublime’s original lead singer and guitarist who sadly passed away in 1996, has now joined the band to honor his late father in this legendary rock band. This trio has only been together for a short amount of time, with Jakob joining in early 2023 but they have already magnified Sublime’s legacy across the world. Their debut performance was only a few months ago at Coachella, where Jakob, Eric and Bud honored the late Bradley Nowell with all their classics such as “Santeria” and “Wrong Way” which were sung back to them by a packed audience filled energy, who could not believe they were seeing Sublime finally play once again. This will be Sublime’s first time performing at the iconic Riot Fest and we cannot wait to see what they do with their newfound spirit.
Written by Erin Pilcher
The Warning
Hailing from Monterey, Mexico, rock-trio The Warning is set to bring their authoritative sound
to Riot Fest Friday, Sept. 20. Composed of Daniela, Paulina and Alejandra Villarreal Vélez, the
sisters’ heavy metal-influence and fierce stage presence was cultivated through a lifetime love of
music and passion for performance. Their latest album, “Keep Me Fed,” is armored with
ferocious guitar and intense rhythms. The record showcases a clear musical growth from their
2023 album “Evolve,” fostered through experience garnered whilst touring alongside the likes of
Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, Muse and more. Their performance at the 2023 MTV VMA’s
ignited their already prominent buzz into a media frenzy, ensuring the world this group is a force
to be reckoned with.
Written by Victoria Palmeri
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie will bring his signature sci-fi horror to the Riot Fest stage with his headlining
performance on Sunday Sept. 22. Born Robert Bartleh Cummings, the musician first rose to
fame as a founding member of heavy-metal band “White Zombie.” His 1998 debut solo effort
“Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside the Spookshow International,”
brought forth some of his most notable works, including “Dragula,” “Superbeast” and “Living
Dead Girl.” Having ventured into the world of film, directing horror projects from 2005’s “The
Devil’s Rejects” to 2016’s “31,” Rob Zombie’s live show is certain to be a theatrical kick-off to
a spooky season that incites as much terror as it does entertainment.
Written by Victoria Palmeri
Sum 41
Canadian rock band Sum 41 is making a stop on their final headlining world tour to perform at
Riot Fest on Friday, Sept. 20. Their 2001 album “All Killer, No Filler” first launched them into
mainstream success with popular tracks such as “In Too Deep” and “Fat Lip,” with the latter
landing them a number one spot on the Billboard Alternative Airplay. Following the release of
their latest record “Heaven :x: Hell” earlier this year, the band announced that their “Tour of the
Setting Sum” will be their final. Sum 41’s headlining set this weekend will be a nostalgic
embodiment of the pop-punk sound their music helped define the late 90s and early 2000s.
Written by Victoria Palmeri
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an influential force in Hip-hop and Rap culture and is going to reckon the stage at Riot Fest with their genius lyricism and scale-driven melodies. The South Gate, California rap group shifts the boundaries of rap immersing Latin influences with thunderous drums and swell base. Cypress Hill takes you on a journey through their albums, albums such as “Elephants on Acid” and “Skull and Bones” takes you on a musical rollercoaster. The band experiments with different sonics and cultural influences such as Latin and Indian instrumentals. Cypress Hill’s versatility in music reveals their creative flexibility within Rap and Hip-hop. Cypress Hill is not only an iconic rap group for their music influences but also their influences on Hip hop and Rap culture. It would be a disservice to fans of Rap and Hip-hop to not see this fire force live at Riot Fest.
Written by Betty Kifle
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog is an American rock band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group consists of Toby Leaman (bass), Scott McMicken (lead guitar), Frank McElroy (rhythm guitar), Zach Miller (keyboard), Eric Slick (drums), and Michael Libramento (percussion, lap steel, acoustic guitar, bass). Lead vocals are shared by Leaman and McMicken. The band self-released their own album The Psychedelic Swamp in 2001. From there they experimented with different sounds. Between 2006 and 2009, they began appearing on Late night shows such as David Letterman among others, marking a turn for them. Their music has led the band to reach critical acclaim, being in multiple top 50’s and receiving praise from the NY Times to Rolling Stone, as well multiple sold-out shows. Their next show will be at Riot Fest in Chicago.
Written by Yareni Murillo
Pavement
Originating in Stockton, California in the late 80s, frontman Stephen Malkmus linked arms with Scott Kannberg, Mark Ibold, Steve West, and Bob Nastanovich to create the charismatic, slacker-rock band known as Pavement. America quickly fell in love with the charmingly clever lyrics of the band's first U.S. hit "Cut Your Hair" in 1994. The song spent 12 weeks on the Alternative Billboard chart, making Pavement a name that the indie rock fans of the 90s would never get the chance to forget. The success of their later hits such as "Shady Lane" and "Spit on a Stranger" would earn them a spot in music history forever. If you were to "Harness Your Hopes" on any headlining band at this year's Riot Fest, I'd say: let it be Pavement!
Written by Waverly Cayo
Spoon
Spoon, an American rock band from Austin, Texas, will be performing at Riot Fest on Saturday.
The band’s sound is a mix of New Wave, power pop, and soul. Britt Daniel, lead singer and
guitarist, and Jim Eno, drummer, formed the band in late 1993. Three years later, they released
their first album Telephono, and 10 studio albums later they released Lucifer on the Sofa in 2022. The band is most popular for songs “The Underdog”, “Don’t You Evah”, and “Inside Out” which are sure to get the crowd dancing on Saturday. Spoon is one band you do not want to miss at Riot Fest!
Written by Grace Kalb
Manchester Orchestra
Though named after the musically diverse British city Manchester, this American indie-rock
band formed in 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. Performing at music festivals like Lollapalooza,
Reading and Leeds, and Austin City Limits, the band is set to play at Riot Fest on Saturday. The
band has a six studio album discography dating back to 2006 with I’m Like a Virgin Losing a
Child to their most recent, The Million Masks of God, in 2021. You will not want to miss the
crowd singing and dancing along to songs “I’ve Got Friends”, “The Gold” and “Bed Head” this
Saturday!
Written by Grace Kalb
The Aces
The Aces, originally from Provo, Utah, are an alternative pop “girl band” that cohesively blend elements of pop, rock, and indie/alternative music. This four-piece group consists of sisters Cristal Ramirez and Alisa Ramirez, Katie Henderson and McKenna Petty. They released their debut album When My Heart Felt Volcanic in 2018 following the success of their first EP, I Don’t Like Being Honest in 2017. These releases inserted the band into the alternative music scene. In 2020, The Aces entered the queer music space with their record ‘Kelly’, the lead single from their album Under My Influence. The Aces have since become symbols of queer representation and built up a strong lesbian and WLW (women-loving-women) fanbase. In 2023, they released ‘I’ve Loved You For So Long’, which they are currently touring this fall. The 11-track album enhances their queer identity and strong, feminist ideals with tracks such as ‘Girls Make Me Wanna Die’ and the titular track ‘I’ve Loved You For So Long’. The Aces will be playing the Cabaret Metro Stage on Friday at 3:05, you do not want to miss them!
Written by Libby Phillips
St. Vincent
The genre-bending alt-pop powerhouse St. Vincent is taking the Riot Fest stage on Saturday, and we, for one, will be front-row! From her debut with the subversive Marry Me, recorded mostly in her bedroom in Texas, to the explosive Masseduction and darkly glamorous Daddy’s Home, the artist coined the “female Bowie” has delighted audiences since 2007. With her starkly insightful lyrics, striking visuals, and fearless perpetual reinvention, her three Grammys and title as Rolling Stone’s 26th best guitarist of all time come as no surprise. We can’t wait to scream along to tracks such as “Los Ageless,” “My Baby Wants A Baby,” and “Broken Man” while watching the avante-guard stage performance of a modern rock star with the rest of Chicago this weekend!
Written by Taylor Holzman