I decided this year to attend Riot Fest. It was the 20th Anniversary. I felt the lineup was worth it, perhaps the first time I really felt that way enough to buy a ticket. Over the last several years, I had decided to go to Furnace Fest but just didn't feel I could justify the ticket and other costs associated with making the trip out. With Riot Fest, we live a few blocks away so I don't need to figure out overnight lodging or getting to/from the event. That part was nice...being able to go home at the end of the night and it not taking too long to do so, once escaping the park! I captured some subpar at best footage using my iPhone 14. No professional gear was permitted and often I wasn't able to get myself all that close to see much (and also didn't want to be "that guy" blocking the view of others with my phone if I could help it). I mostly captured clips though I did decide to get a full set from The Pogues. They were one of the main reasons that I wanted to go to Riot Fest.
I decided to not make an intro video but instead collected all the footage that wasn't live performance clips and made it all its own video. In that, I included some of the promotional graphics from the Riot Fest social media and there is a slight introduction piece to that as well as an ending utilizing the graphics again.
https://youtu.be/uuspC_0bPjU
09.18.2025
On Thursday September 18th, 2025, Elphie and I attended one of the shows dubbed a "Riot Fest Late Night" show. It was regular time and more or less a pre-show before the fest began. The show was at Reggies and it featured Mac Sabbath with Descartes a Kant, and Mikey Classic. Elphie had really wanted to see Mac Sabbath and so this turned out to be the night to make it happen. It also worked out that I got to see Mac Sabbath because I didn't think I'd probably make it to Riot Fest in time to see them on Friday. The show was good. Reggies was pretty packed for it.
https://youtu.be/QunH31iJ8Ak
https://youtu.be/x60vTKuae3w
https://youtu.be/ACxUZCdjZ3o
09.19.2025
I captured some road footage on the way in to Riot Fest after leaving work quite early in hopes to get on site in time to see Mac Sabbath again as well as the Tossers. That didn't quite work out as I had hoped. The road footage included the city skyline as I drove southbound on Lake Shore Drive and the remnant of the Damen Silos as I turned north on Damen Avenue to get where I would park. I heard the Tossers as I walked toward the entrance but they finished up before I got in. I walked around a bit and captured some footage of the grounds. I also filled my water pack so I would be good for the day. The first act I caught was Puddles Pity Party on "Weird Al" Yankovic's Weird World Stage and I captured footage of "Estoy Sentrado Aquí." As I approached, Puddles was playing "Crazy Train" with Ronald Osbourne of Mac Sabbath accompanying on a guitar of sorts.
I ran into the Smith's as I headed toward the Rebel Stage. They were heading to see Harm's Way on the Roots Stage. I decided to join them and captured footage from "Other World." We all hoped to see the running man but assume that was later in the set.
https://youtu.be/Yt1z7bSLndE
As I waited to see Agnostic Front, I captured some footage of the news chopper flying overhead. I captured "Victim In Pain" at the start of the album play through by Agnostic Front. They played quite a bit of other tunes as well since they said the album was only 15 minutes long and they were given an hour to play.
I didn't have any real plan to see anyone play after the Agnostic Front set until Stiff Little Fingers. I ended up at the Roots Stage and saw Steve from the Ollie Mob and decided to stick around for ths Senses Fail set, capturing "Buried A Lie." They had a bit of a Ferris Bueller theme going with their clothing and ended with a marching band playing "Twist and Shout."
I headed back to the Rebel Stage to see the Stiff Little Fingers set. I captured "Wasted Life." Stiff Little Fingers were referenced in "High Fidelity" for their influence on Green Day and it was very apparent.
I headed over to "Weird Al" Yankovic's Weird World Stage to see "Weird Al" Yankovic's set but it was so crowded it was nearly impossible to get anywhere to see anything much at all. I ended up at the back of the field and found a slight gap to see through a little bit. I ended up capturing "Word Crimes" during what seemed like a medley of parodies. I stuck around for a couple more songs before trying to move on through the crowd.
Getting back out of the "Weird Al" crowd wasn't nearly as difficult as getting in! I went to the Roots Stage to watch a bit of the Knocked Loose set before heading to the Rebel Stage for The Pogues. I captured "Suffocate."
At the Rebel Stage, I was able to secure a spot along the fence near the sound tent for The Pogues. They were meant to be playing an album play through of "Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash" and had Spider Stacy leading the band for the most part. I was able to capture the entire set! Toward the end, the fireworks went off, assumedly at the end of the Blink 182 set and I captured that as well.
https://youtu.be/670nLnTbEoY
When The Pogues finished up, I followed the crowd to try to leave and it turned out everyone was going the wrong way. Security opened up some Emergency Exits to let us out. I was following a guy who checked on his buddy to see if he was "ok" while leaning heavily and stumbling along. Perhaps he was the one who needed checked on!
09.20.2025
As I made my way from parking to Riot Fest on Saturday September 20th, 2025, I captured some footage of flyers in the neighborhood protesting against Riot Fest. I also captured some footage of the line of folks waiting for an opportunity to purchase souvenirs from the artists. First band of the day for me was H2O on the Radical Stage. I captured "Nothing To Prove" during the set.
https://youtu.be/oYIBGiZOUq0
As I made my way over to watch Militarie Gun on the Riot Stage, I captured a clip of a statue set up on the grounds. I captured a clip of "Will Logic" by Militarie Gun.
https://youtu.be/iBF_Eo_QVKE
While trying to find a spot I could stand and see Agent Orange playing on the Rebel Stage, I came across HackySack Matt doing his thing. I captured a clip of "Too Young To Die" by Agent Orange.
https://youtu.be/Zc4h1HYP_A8
I captured some footage of folks in their GWAR shirts before GWAR played. I got a pulled pork sandwich while I waited and a Riot Slop called Purple Nurple. It seemed to be advertised as a soda but it was more like lightly flavored seltzer water. I do not recommend. I also went over to the Butter Stamos to capture some footage of the John Stamos look-a-like contest. I ran into Nik Simmons while there. I happened to miss the contest but captured some footage of the winner who really did look like John Stamos. Returning to the Rebel Stage for GWAR, the set had apparently just started and they had beheaded something. It turned out to be an Elon Musk likeness, apparently which offended some folks. I had lost a decent spot to watch from and had to navigate through the large crowd to the other side. I ended up finding Chris and Becky Smith while there. Throughout the set they mutiliated a Trump, a Putin, and a Taylor Swift likeness which also apparently had been impregnated by one of GWAR. I captured "Gor Gor" with a dinosaur battle on the stage.
https://youtu.be/lllQPkGAPXs
After the GWAR set, I captured a quick clip of folks who had been in the splash/spray zone as I made my way to the Rise Stage for Citizen. I had assumed it was Citizens, which it was not. I captured the last song that they played which was "I Want To Kill You."
I returned to the Rebel Stage and waited for the Marky Ramone set to begin. I ended up seeing Shawn Browning while there and had a brief chat with him. I captured a clip of "Commando."
I made my way to the Riot Stage to try to see some of the The Beach Boys set. It was pretty packed but I ended up finding a spot to see a little bit and captured "Don't Worry Baby." I left before John Stamos had his moment to take a frontman role.
I went over to the Radical Stage to try to see Dropkick Murphys and it also was very packed. I ended up in the back of the crowd trying to find somewhere to be able to see something. I captured the final song of the set which is a new one called "Big Man" about a guy in Pennywise I guess.
https://youtu.be/yiIrRpkngP8
I decided to capture some footage walking over toward the Rebel Stage after the Dropkick Murphy set. At the Rebel Stage, I watched the Buzzcocks and captured "Manchester Rain" which had some lyrics changed to "Chicago Rain" and seemed appropriate with the weather.
Over on the Roots Stage, I was able to see the last few songs by Jack White and captured "Seven Nation Army" to close the set.
I returned to the Rebel Stage and thankfully was able to get a good spot to watch The Damned. I captured the last song of their set as well which was "Smash It Up."
I decided since they were still playing, that I would go over to the Riot Stage to watch some of the Weezer set. I maneuvered through the back and found a spot to see somewhat. I captured the final song of the set figuring it would have some cool ending with the fireworks. It did not. The fireworks went off as they were winding down after playing "Only In Dreams." I made my way out of the park at this point.
09.21.2025
As I made my way in for the final day of Riot Fest on Sunday September 21st, 2025, I captured some footage of artists making a graffiti mural featuring The Flintstones and Captain Caveman. There were also some protests and preaching going on outside the gates of Riot Fest and I found another flyer that protested Riot Fest along California Avenue. I had hoped to get on site to see The Effigies but it didn't work out that way. While waiting for the Zero Boys set, The Paradox was playing on the Roots Stage so I captured the last song of the set called "Do Me Like That" from the Riot Stage side as I waited.
I got a far up as I was able during the entirety of Riot Fest for the Zero Boys set which was at a barrier near the sound stage. I ended up capturing a clip of "Livin' In The 80's" and HackySack Matt got a shout out on the next song for being Drug Free Youth.
I went over to the Rise Stage to catch a little bit of the Smoking Popes set and captured "Just Broke Up."
I then went to the Roots Stage to see the rest of the Pegboy set and captured "Field Of Darkness."
I tried to get over to Riotland to captured some footage of the NWA Wrestling but when I got there, they had already begun tearing down the wrestling ring. I went to the Riot Stage to see The Linda Lindas andI captured a clip of "Nino" about their cat.
I moved back over to the Roots Stage for Dance Hall Crashers and captured "Enough."
I decided I'd give it a shot to see some of the Hanson set over at the Rebel Stage but there was nothing going on 10 minutes after Hanson was meant to start. It was way too packed to get through the crowd so I went into the trees to make my way. Screeching Weasel began their set and I decided to try to make my way back over to the Riot Stage to watch that instead. Ben Weasel made some remarks that upset people I guess and got into it with someone in the crowd he didn't appreciate for giving him the finger. I ended up capturing a clip of "What We Hate." I forgot that they'd likely play "Cool Kids" at the end of their set.
https://youtu.be/y5bBS9oXEvI
I went back through the Hanson crowd to go to the Reggies food booth. At the time, I wasn't sure if they had even played yet or not. I stopped by the port-o-potties and heard a couple songs played from the Rebel Stage that I guess were Hanson songs...perhaps even MmmBop which had a guest appearance from John Stamos. After utilizing the port-o-potties, they had finished up so I continued on my way to the Reggie's food booth to get a large Mac and Pulled Pork combo bowl. It was good. I did not get any more seltzer water. Some folks were handing out Garrett's Popcorn bags flavored like Home Run Inn Chicago Pizza. I was given two bags so I figured I'd bring them home to share with Elphie. After getting back through the Rebel Stage crowd, I went to the Roots Stage where Bad Religion was playing a Suffer album play through. I captured "When?"
I decided to walk toward the Roots Stage while IDLES was playing and captured some footage from the area where the sound tent barrier stuck out into the crowd. I captured "Mother" from there before retreating back to the auxiliary speaker stacks barrier where I had set up a couple times throughout the day. I listened to the rest of IDLES from there as I waited for the Jawbreaker set to begin.
Jawbreaker started off their set on the Roots Stage. I ended up capturing a clip of "Sluttering (May 4th)" which was a decent song. I couldn't recall what I knew that they played until they were about halfway through "Boxcar." Oh well.
When it was time for Green Day on the Riot Stage, I waited around where I had been at the Roots Stage waiting to see if there might be space near the front like I did during IDLES. There was not space. I eventually managed to get to the very back and captured clips of "Jesus Of Suburbia" and "Good Riddance" which closed the night. I put them together. I mainly captured "Good Riddance" for the fireworks.
https://youtu.be/3XHS9wmCbqE
I decided to capture some footage while leaving Riot Fest of the crowd and such. I included some footage of the pedicabs lined up hoping to score riders.
Riot Fest is cool...there are a lot of people. For a lot of the sets, it was hard to get in a good spot to see well without being jam packed in a crowd. I think I could easily listen to music from outside the fences without paying the price and get as much out of it, musically at least, as I did paying to be inside. With this being the only time I have gone to Riot Fest, I don't necessarily have the community that I found at Cornerstone and through that in some ways at Audiofeed...and also at the new editions of Furnace Fest the last few years. That could change, of course, with attending it regularly I suppose, but my initial feeling in the aftermath is I do really enjoy the community of Audiofeed as well as Furnace Fest. I guess we will see what things look like in the future...perhaps I will go back again. I am glad to have had the experience at least. There was another event the weekend before in the Portland, Oregon area called Thunder Fest which would have required more air travel right after getting back from our vacation trip to complete our 50 State goal. I do wish I had made a plan to go to that one...pretty good lineup. I think I found out a bit late though and had already committed to Riot Fest. Again, I am glad to have had a Riot Fest experience and being the 20th year probably made for one of the best lineups I could ask for!
Additional soundtrack includes "Chi-Town Beatdown" by Flatfoot 56.
Footage captured using an iPhone 14 and Crosstour CR-900 by Joel A. Swanson. Titles and other animations created and project edited using Final Cut Pro X on a Mac Mini by Joel A. Swanson.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh9ZwEF2QQpPD4u0N2gwYKQEa_NOXplnG
