Riot Fest Chicago 2016 Review
Over the weekend, punk rockers from all over the world gathered to attend Riot Fest in Chicago’s Douglas Park. This festival, held Sept. 16-18, was attended by over 50,000 people each day. The lineup consisted of 120 bands centered around, but not limited to, punk and rock music.
The days started out with up and coming bands. From punk to rock to rap there was never a moment without something to see. Bands such as Diarrhea Planet, Plague Vendor, Bleached and Swingin’ Utters drew in the early crowds. Later in the days smaller acts could be seen on a set of stages tucked away in the corner of the park. On Saturday, Chicago natives The Walters drew hundreds to the Storyheart stage with their passionate tunes and energetic frontman Luke Olson.
During the day, the hours were filled with classic bands ranging from cult classics to mainstream favorites. The Specials, Motion City Soundtrack, The Descendents and Community High’s very own Andrew W. K. were just a few among many bands playing classic after classic. The Descendents’ set got everyone moving. Not a single person within 100 feet of the stage didn’t “mosh”. The energy was incredible and felt by everyone in the park.
Some of the biggest draws at the festival included Morrissey (the former Smiths frontman), The Flaming Lips and The Misfits. The original Misfits lineup reunited for this festival and the week prior at Riot Fest Denver. This lineups final show was Oct. 29, 1983 at GreyStone Hall in Detroit. For many in the audience, this was the first time they had ever seen the famed punk band, and the set was well attended with over 40,000 spectators crowding the stage and field. Morrissey was also extremely well attended by thousands of adoring fans. His set consisted of almost every Morrissey song you could wish to hear along with The Smiths’s Classic, “Stop Me If Think You’ve Heard This One Before.”
As the festival came to a close, there was a general feeling of sadness in the air. The weekend was done and it was time to return to real life the next day. Attendees will now await the release of next year’s line up in May 2017.
