It’s that time of year again – the First Wave lineup announcement for my favorite music festival, Chicago’s RIOT FEST! This morning, the crew behind the fest (taking place September 15-17 at Douglas Park) unveiled over 70 artists including Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, and the exclusive reunion of Jawbreaker. Additional highlights include New Order, Paramore, Prophets of Rage, M.I.A., Wu-Tang Clan, a DJ set from Beastie Boys’ Mike D, Bad Brains, Ministry and Vic Mensa. Check out the full First Wave lineup below, along with my personal “Rock Father Picks” for who I’m most looking forward to seeing, highlighted in bold.
RIOT FEST 2017’S FIRST WAVE OF ARTISTS:
Nine Inch Nails (Friday), Queens of the Stone Age (Saturday), Jawbreaker (Sunday), New Order, Paramore, Prophets of Rage, M.I.A., Wu-Tang Clan, Mike D (DJ Set), A Day To Remember, Gogol Bordello, Taking Back Sunday, Vic Mensa, Dirty Heads, TV on the Radio, Ministry, Dinosaur Jr., New Found Glory, Death From Above 1979, Bad Brains, FIDLAR, Action Bronson, Pennywise, Built to Spill, X, Peaches, The Lawrence Arms, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Orwells, Bayside, Say Anything, Mayday Parade, Streetlight Manifesto, Dead Cross (featuring ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and Faith No More’s Mike Patton!), Minus the Bear, The Menzingers, LIARS, GWAR, Buzzcocks, GBH, Real Friends, Hot Water Music, Shabazz Palaces, Andrew W.K., Fishbone, The Story So Far, State Champs, Four Year Strong, Beach Slang, The Cribs, that dog., Knuckle Puck, Chon, Slaves, The Hotelier, The Flatliners, Dessa, Saul Williams, Nothing More, Alice Bag, Tobacco, Sleep On It, Downtown Boys, Engine 88, The Smith Street Band, The Regrettes, HDBeenDope, Gazebos, Kitten Forever and featuring Hellzapoppin’ Circus Sideshow Revue, plus 25+ more artists to be announced!
In addition to the remaining 25+ bands that will be announced in May, on Thursday, April 20th, organizers will be revealing select artists who will be performing their seminal album for the festival. Riot Fest will also once again feature a full-scale carnival with rides, games of chance, and of course, the Hellzapoppin’ Sideshow Revue freak show, which will see a much extended footprint from prior years. And to satisfy the refined palates of Riot patrons, there will be over 40 unique and diverse food vendors from which to choose.
Riot Fest Three-Day Passes will go on sale Today (April 19) at Noon CDT with General Admission and VIP options via Ticketfly.
