The final day of Riot Fest includes headliners Green Day, as well as local bands including Dehd, Pegboy and The Effigies.
There are few things more Chicago than Malört, the Bears, dragged-through-the-garden hot dogs and Riot Fest. And on the final day of the event’s 20th anniversary year, organizers are keen to put the focus fully on its roots, starting with the music.
Sunday offers a team huddle of Chicago bands, beginning early with two legendary punk acts, The Effigies and Pegboy, that are the very fabric upon which Riot was built. Followed by Footballhead and Smoking Popes, indie darlings Dehd, cult classics Screeching Weasel and The Academy Is … take to the stages before the night wraps up.
The pride runs deep at Riot. But it’s not just the soundtrack that’s homegrown — the entire atmosphere at Douglass Park oozes with local flavor. Every tented bar is named after one of Chicago’s institutions from EZ Inn to Delilah’s and Cobra Lounge. Video screens have been running promos of Madame Zuzu’s — Billy Corgan’s suburban tea shop — which also has a remote presence at the festival this year.
