“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Douglass Park in Chicago is once again bustling with the sounds of punk, rock, and metal as Riot Fest has returned with its stellar 2025 edition. After enjoying a day full of sets by Senses Fail, Rilo Kiley, Rico Nasty, and many more artists, fans were treated to performances by Alkaline Trio, “Weird Al” Yankovic,” and the evening’s headliner, Blink-182.
Riot Fest isn’t the only festival where one can hear artists play music inspired by Nirvana, but it is one of the only places to witness “Weird Al” dressed-up like Kurt Cobain and share his 1992 parody song, “Smells Like Nirvana.” Yankovic also treated fans to a medley of some of his biggest hits including “My Bologna,” “Eat It,” “Like a Surgeon,” and “Canadian Idiot,” a take on Sunday night headliner Green Day’s “American Idiot.”
Mac Sabbath performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Before Yankovic closed out his Weird World Stage, a slew of great artist – like Puddles Pity Party, Sparks, and, the stage’s emcee Emo Philips – performed. One of most delicious acts of the day had to be the Black Sabbath meets fast food metal band, Mac Sabbath.
“We’re from Birminghamburger, England where we’ve been anointed the forefathers of drive-through metal! But, it’s nice to be back in The States, man,” said Ronald Osbourne early in Mac Sabbath’s set. “It’s so wonderful to come to your country and get to play with real American rock and roll bands like ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic. I mean, I’d say we would not be here today, without Al, but we would really not be here today without Al, you know what I mean?”
Alkaline Trio performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Illinois’s-own Matt Skiba led Alkaline Trio through a blistering set before his former Blink-182 bandmates closed things out playing classics like “The Rock Show,” “First Date,” and “Josie.” Stiff Little Fingers, Sparks, and Puddles Pity Party were also highlights of the first day of Riot Fest.
Check out photos from all of the Friday fun at Riot Fest below. More information can be found at RiotFest.org.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
“Weird Al” Yankovic performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Alkaline Trio performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Alkaline Trio performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Alkaline Trio performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
The Didjits perform at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
The Didjits perform at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
The Didjits perform at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Senses Fail performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Senses Fail performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Senses Fail performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Rico Nasty performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Rico Nasty performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
The Hold Steady performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
The Hold Steady performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Camper Van Beethoven performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Shudder to Think performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Camper Van Beethoven performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Shudder to Think performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Puddles Pity Party performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Puddles Pity Party performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Puddles Pity Party performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Emo Philips performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Julia Wolf performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Mac Sabbath performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Mac Sabbath performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Mac Sabbath performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Fans enjoy Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Shonen Knife performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Sparks performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
Loviet performs at Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 19, 2025.
