September 18-20 2026: Riot Fest @ Douglass Park - Chicago, IL
Photos Courtesy of: Taylor Nettnin
For a weekend plagued with weather issues, Riot Fest persevered. While it was incredibly chaotic manoeuvring through the mud that had to have been at least 5 inches deep in some areas, the music came out on top and drove the dedicated fans back to the park for another year. I was able to catch some amazing sets regardless of the rain and soggy grounds.
The women absolutely kicked ass this year! With acts like Santigold, Alanis Morissette, and Patti Smith on the lineup, it’s easy to forget which bands closed the fest each night, while newer artists like Nobro, Panic Shack, and Violet Grohl held their own and proved exactly why women have always and will continue to rock.
I was excited to catch Angine de Poitrine, an anonymous microtonal math rock duo from Canada. With only a 30-minute time slot quite early in the day, they easily packed a punch with their quick set and solidified themselves as an act to keep an eye on. The debut of 95-year-old William Shatner’s metal group, The Fuckers, was also a highlight. Taking classic metal hits and turning them into a spoken-word performance over the classic instrumentals we know and love, Shatner was inspirational, proving you can do whatever you set your mind to regardless of how old you are.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
