Stage Buzz: Riot Fest Preview
Alkaline Trio
Riot Fest weekend is approaching. To kick off the highly anticipated festival, Barbarians of California will perform a chaotic set at Cobra Lounge. The brainchild of AWOLNATION’s Aaron Bruno and producer/engineer Eric Stenman, the band makes hardcore that’s chaotic, loud, intense, and most importantly, fun. Expect to hear cuts from their latest album, MEGATONS, during their sold-out show with Squint and Armed for Apocalypse on Thursday, September 17th. Join the waitlist here.
The three-day punk rock/alternative festival returns to Douglass Park and as always, the line up is stacked. This year’s headliners include Twenty One Pilots, Tool, Pierce the Veil, Alanis Morrissette, and Iggy Pop. Other performers include PUP, Gogol Bordello, Motion City Soundtrack, Pixies, Slothrust, Destroy Boys, Afroman, Taking Back Sunday, Melt-Banana, Chat Pile, Bayside, Less Than Jake, Nas, Social Distortion, Thrice, AngineDe Poitrine, Pennywise, and more. It all kicks off this Friday, September 18th and runs through Sunday, September 20th. You can still get tickets here.
Our favorite Toronto punks PUP will treat fans to a special Riot Fest after show prior to their Saturday appearance at the festival. Five albums in, the band remains as apathetic and cynical as over. Despite their own success, they still play as if it could all end any minute. Just in case it actually does, you should get tickets for their Metro show with Destroy Boys on Friday, September 18th. Find them here.
In case you’ve missed it, the OG Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner is making his Riot Fest debut. The legend will be performing metal versions of songs from his catalog with his new band, The *uckers. But you can get a preview of Shatner’s metal act during his Riot Fest after show at Park West. It all goes down Saturday, September 19th. You don’t want to miss this, so make sure you get tickets here.
Chicago favorites Alkaline Trio have been spreading their doom and gloom (with catchy hooks) for the past 25 years. Though they will always be known for stellar albums From Here to Infirmary and Crimson, the band continues to release bangers, like 2024’s Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs. After tearing up the Riot Fest stage, the band will perform a special Late Night after show at Metro on Saturday, September 19th. Hope you got tickets because this one is sold out.
– Ashley Perez-Hollingsworth
Category: Featured, Stage Buzz
