After nearly moving to the suburbs, Riot Fest is back in Chicago’s Douglass Park this weekend. The festival gathers about 50,000 music fans from Sept. 20-22. More than 100 artists in genres from punk to industrial to hip hop will play five stages. Headliners include Fall Out Boy, Beck, Pavement, and Slayer’s only reunion performance in the Midwest. The homegrown festival always features plenty of local talent. Here are six Chicago artists that you shouldn’t miss at Riot Fest 2024.
Action/Adventure
“Would you listen if we looked any different?” asks Action/Adventure on their single “Barricades.” The BIPOC band wrote the song to address the discrimination they faced gigging around the country. The pop-punk quintet returns to Riot Fest for their second outing to kick off the action on Friday. Their pop punk melodies and metal breakdowns are on a mission to shatter stereotypes under the banner #PopPunkInColor.
Friday, September 20 on the AAA stage at 12:10 p.m.
Dat_Boy_Zach
“I’m in second grade, I’m about to do me.” You read that right—Dat_Boy_Zach is taking the Riot Fest stage at just nine years old. The North Lawndale hip-hop artist remixed GloRilla’s “FNF,” promoting positivity with “Let’s Go.”
Saturday, September 21 on the Radical stage at 11:15 a.m.
Verböten
“I call your bluff/Support outside the womb?/Or just the seeds/And in the name of who.” Verböten is reunited and finally making the punk music they wanted to as kids, including their latest single “Bodily Autonomy.” The quartet also got their start at an early age, forming in Evanston, IL in 1982 when they were 10 to 14 years old. While the political punk group was short lived, they’re planning to release their first album, called Verböten, this October. Riot Fest marks their first show since 1983.
Saturday, September 21 on the Cabaret Metro stage at 11:30 a.m.
Pixel Grip
“They know that I’m about to blow up ’bout to detonate,” Pixel Grip simmers in synths on “Demon Chaser.” While the Chicago trio will take the Riot Fest stage in the light of day, their moody electronic grooves will transport you to the dark clubs of the industrial scene.
Saturday, September 21 on the AAA stage at 12 p.m.
Beach Bunny
“I thought when I was older, I would be on top,” Lili Trifilio sings on “Vertigo,” her bubblegum delivery coating introspective indie rock lyrics. The four-piece band will keep summer going for another weekend at Riot Fest with their sunny, surf-inflected pop punk. Here’s hoping we get a preview of Beach Bunny‘s new single “Clueless” which officially drops on September 25.
Saturday, September 21 on the Rise stage at 5:30 p.m.
VII
“Ain’t no fair fights that ain’t how you earn stripes,” spits VII on his newest single “Dope.” The collaboration with CChop was just released on September 15. The North Lawndale native also known as Gabriel Townsell released his latest album heartbreak hotel in June. He’ll serve up wordplay over moody beats on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday, September 22 on the Rise stage at 12 p.m.
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
