Photo by Laurie Fanelli
Riot Fest organizers have just unveiled the lineup for their 2019 event and let’s just say it’s strong. Topping the festival’s 15th anniversary bill are the recently-reunited Bikini Kill, Slayer (performing their final Chicago show), The Raconteurs (playing their first Chicago show in over 10 years), Rise Against and Blink-182… the lattermost making their triumphant return after being forced to cancel last year due to health issues.
With the names above, one could presume this year’s bill likely to be top heavy but that couldn’t be further from the truth as there are dozens of worthy artists and bands hanging out within the lineup’s finer print. Jawbreaker, Patti Smith & Her Band, Rancid, Violent Femmes, Descendents, The B-52s, Less Than Jake, Pennywise, Anthrax, Manchester Orchestra, The Struts, Pvris, Die Antwoord, Dashboard Confessional, Nick Lowe, Save Ferris, Senses Fail are but just a few of the groups helping round out this year’s bill.
As with previous years at Riot Fest, a number of groups (13 to be exact!) are slated to perform select albums in their entirety. The Flaming Lips (Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots), Bloc Party (Silent Alarm), Against Me! (Reinventing Axl Rose and Transgender Dysphoria Blues), Avail (Over the James) and Ween (The Molusk) are among those playing front-to-back LPs.
Other notable acts helping shape the 2019 lineup are the Village People (yes, as in the “YMCA” & “Macho Man” guys) along with Riot Fest staples GWAR and party king Andrew W.K.
Riot Fest 2019 will take place Sept. 13-15 at Chicago’s Douglas Park. For more information, and to pick up tickets, visit www.riotfest.org.
