Friday

Twenty One Pilots*

From Columbus, Ohio. Twenty One Pilots blend alternative rock, hip-hop, electronic music, and pop into a sound that’s uniquely their own. Their concerts are highly theatrical, emotionally charged, and fueled by one of the most dedicated fanbases in modern music. Tyler Joseph’s introspective lyrics and Josh Dun’s explosive drumming make them one of the festival’s biggest draws.

Iggy Pop*

From Ann Arbor, Michigan. Often called the Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop helped invent punk rock as the frontman of The Stooges. His influence stretches from the Ramones to Nirvana and beyond. Even at nearly 80 years old, his live performances remain ferocious, unpredictable, and unforgettable.

Rise Against*

From Chicago, Illinois. Rise Against combines melodic hardcore, punk energy, and socially conscious lyrics into arena-sized anthems. Frontman Tim McIlrath balances political activism with deeply personal songwriting. Their hometown Riot Fest appearances are usually among the festival’s most emotional sets.

Pixies*

From Boston, Massachusetts. Pixies are one of the most influential alternative rock bands ever, inspiring everyone from Kurt Cobain to Thom Yorke. Their signature sound alternates between quiet tension and explosive noise. Songs like “Where Is My Mind?” remain essential pieces of alternative music history.

Alkaline Trio

From Chicago, Illinois. Alkaline Trio built a devoted following with dark humor, catchy melodies, and lyrics about love, death, and regret. Their gothic-tinged punk sound helped define the early-2000s scene. They remain one of Chicago’s most beloved punk exports.

The All-American Rejects

From Stillwater, Oklahoma. The All-American Rejects became one of the defining pop-rock bands of the 2000s with huge radio hits and singalong choruses. Songs like “Move Along” and “Dirty Little Secret” still resonate with festival crowds. Their live sets are pure nostalgia in the best possible way.

Sex Pistols*

From London, England. The Sex Pistols helped launch the British punk movement and permanently changed rock music. Their anti-establishment attitude inspired generations of musicians. Despite a short original run, their legacy remains enormous.

Santigold

From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Santigold mixes new wave, reggae, electronic music, hip-hop, and pop into a vibrant and innovative sound. Her performances are colorful, creative, and impossible to categorize. She’s one of the most original artists on the Riot Fest lineup.

Motion City Soundtrack*

From Minneapolis, Minnesota. Motion City Soundtrack became emo-pop favorites through clever lyrics and infectious hooks. Their songs often tackle anxiety, relationships, and growing older with honesty and humor. Fans have remained fiercely loyal for more than two decades.

Joey Valence & Brae

From Pennsylvania. Joey Valence & Brae channel the energy of classic Beastie Boys-style rap with a modern twist. Their songs are playful, loud, and packed with infectious momentum. They’re one of the most fun acts on the entire bill.

Bayside

From Queens, New York. Bayside have spent over twenty years crafting melodic punk songs full of heartbreak and resilience. Their music combines emotional depth with driving guitar work. Few bands have earned such a dedicated fan community.

Tricky

From Bristol, England. Tricky helped create the dark, atmospheric trip-hop movement alongside Massive Attack. His music blends hip-hop, electronic sounds, and haunting vocals into something entirely his own. Seeing him live is like stepping into a moody late-night film soundtrack.

3OH!3

From Boulder, Colorado. 3OH!3 became famous for their outrageous party anthems and tongue-in-cheek humor. Their songs perfectly capture late-2000s pop culture excess. Expect a giant crowd singing every ridiculous lyric.

GWAR*

From Richmond, Virginia. GWAR combines heavy metal with outrageous science-fiction mythology and theatrical costumes. Their concerts are infamous for fake blood, monsters, and absurd humor. No other live show at Riot Fest will be remotely similar.

Slick Rick

Originally from London, England, later based in New York. Slick Rick is one of hip-hop’s greatest storytellers and most recognizable voices. His influence can be heard across generations of rappers. His classic material remains timeless.

Guttermouth*

From Huntington Beach, California. Guttermouth are known for fast punk songs, juvenile humor, and a complete disregard for political correctness. They’ve spent decades provoking audiences and making fans laugh. Their sets are equal parts punk rock and comedy show.

Fleshwater*

From Massachusetts. Fleshwater merges shoegaze textures with alternative metal heaviness. Their music feels dreamy one moment and crushing the next. They’re one of the fastest-rising heavy bands in underground rock.

Bratmobile

From Olympia, Washington. Bratmobile were pioneers of the Riot Grrrl movement and feminist punk culture. Their DIY spirit influenced countless artists and activists. They’re a vital piece of punk history.

Mariachi El Bronx*

From Los Angeles, California. Mariachi El Bronx is the mariachi side project of punk band The Bronx. They blend traditional Mexican music with punk attitude and enormous charisma. Their performances are joyous, unique, and festival favorites.

Foxy Shazam

From Cincinnati, Ohio. Foxy Shazam delivers theatrical rock performances filled with larger-than-life vocals and outrageous stage antics. Their sound combines glam rock, soul, and classic arena-rock influences. They’re one of the most entertaining live bands you’ll ever see.

DeathbyRomy

From Los Angeles, California. DeathbyRomy blends dark pop, alternative rock, and gothic imagery into a dramatic modern sound. Her songs feel cinematic and emotionally intense. She’s developed a devoted following among younger alternative fans.

División Minúscula

From Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. División Minúscula are one of the most influential Spanish-language alternative rock bands of the last two decades. Their melodic songs helped shape modern Latin rock. They bring a different perspective and sound to the Riot Fest lineup.

Glixen

From Phoenix, Arizona. Glixen is part of the new wave of shoegaze revival bands gaining attention across the indie scene. Their music is filled with dreamy vocals, shimmering guitars, and walls of sound. Fans of Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine should make them a priority.

JMSN

Originally from Michigan, now based in Los Angeles. JMSN creates soulful music that blends R&B, funk, indie rock, and electronic influences. He writes, produces, and performs nearly everything himself. His smooth live performances offer a welcome change of pace amid the punk chaos.

The Callous Daoboys

From Atlanta, Georgia. The Callous Daoboys combine technical chaos, heavy riffs, and bizarre humor. Their songs constantly shift directions in unexpected ways. They’re one of the most adventurous heavy bands playing today.

Worry Club

From Chicago, Illinois. Worry Club writes catchy indie-rock songs about anxiety, relationships, and modern life. Their music feels vulnerable without losing its sense of humor. They’ve become hometown favorites among younger Chicago fans.

Teen Mortgage

From Washington, D.C. Teen Mortgage is a two-person band that somehow sounds like five people on stage. Their garage-punk songs are loud, fast, and incredibly catchy. They consistently win over new fans at festivals.

Slothrust

From Boston, Massachusetts. Slothrust mixes alternative rock, indie influences, and sharp songwriting. Their music can be funny, vulnerable, and heavy all at once. Frontwoman Leah Wellbaum is one of rock’s most distinctive songwriters.

Soul Glo

From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Soul Glo has become one of the most acclaimed hardcore bands of the past decade. They fuse punk, hip-hop, noise, and experimental music into something entirely fresh. Their live shows are explosive and unforgettable.

Cardinals*

From Cork, Ireland. Cardinals are part of a rising generation of Irish guitar bands earning international attention. Their music blends indie rock with emotional intensity and atmospheric songwriting. They are a promising discovery act for adventurous listeners.

Greet Death

From Flint, Michigan. Greet Death creates expansive songs that combine slowcore, shoegaze, and alternative rock. Their music feels melancholic yet strangely comforting. They’re a cult favorite among fans of atmospheric guitar music.

Panic Shack*

From Cardiff, Wales. Panic Shack delivers witty, high-energy punk songs with infectious personality. Their live shows are built around fun, friendship, and crowd participation. They’re one of the most entertaining younger punk bands on the bill.

Almost There But Not Really

From Chicago, Illinois. Almost There But Not Really combines emo, indie rock, and modern alternative influences. Their songs balance introspection with upbeat melodies. They’re an emerging local act worth catching early in the day.

Saturday

Tool*

From Los Angeles, California. Tool is one of the most respected progressive metal bands of all time, known for complex musicianship, philosophical lyrics, and massive visual productions. Their live shows feel more like immersive art experiences than traditional concerts. If you’ve never seen them, they’re near the top of the must-see list.

Morrissey*

From Manchester, England. Morrissey first became famous as the frontman of The Smiths before launching a hugely successful solo career. His witty, melancholic lyrics and unmistakable voice helped define British alternative music. Few artists inspire such passionate devotion from their fans.

Social Distortion*

From Fullerton, California. Social Distortion blends punk rock with country, blues, and classic American rock and roll. Mike Ness’s gravelly voice and storytelling style have made the band legendary. Their songs feel equally at home in a biker bar or a punk club.

Nas

From Queens, New York. Nas is widely considered one of the greatest lyricists in hip-hop history. His debut album Illmatic is regularly cited as one of the finest rap records ever made. Seeing him perform is a chance to witness a true hip-hop icon.

Bad Religion*

From Los Angeles, California. Bad Religion helped shape modern melodic punk through intelligent lyrics and soaring harmonies. Their songs tackle politics, religion, science, and society without sacrificing speed or energy. They’re among the tightest live bands Riot Fest regularly books.

Sugar*

From Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sugar was Bob Mould’s influential post-Hüsker Dü project that combined punk aggression with power-pop melodies. Though their original run was brief, their impact on alternative rock remains significant. Their reunion appearances are relatively rare and highly anticipated.

Bright Eyes

From Omaha, Nebraska. Bright Eyes is the long-running project of Conor Oberst, one of indie rock’s most celebrated songwriters. Their music ranges from intimate acoustic confessionals to ambitious full-band arrangements. Expect emotional lyrics and a deeply engaged audience.

Angine de Poitrine*

From Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Angine de Poitrine mixes noisy punk, art-rock experimentation, and raw intensity. Their performances are unpredictable and fiercely energetic. They’re the kind of underground discovery Riot Fest fans often end up talking about afterward.

Descendents*

From Manhattan Beach, California. Descendents helped invent pop-punk decades before the term became mainstream. Their songs about coffee, relationships, and awkwardness influenced countless bands. They remain one of the most beloved acts in punk history.

Gogol Bordello*

Originally formed in New York City by immigrant musicians. Gogol Bordello combines punk rock with Eastern European folk music and gypsy influences. Their live shows are absolute chaos in the best possible way. Expect dancing, crowd surfing, and nonstop energy.

Public Image Ltd*

From London, England. Public Image Ltd was formed by John Lydon after the Sex Pistols and became one of the most influential post-punk bands ever. Their experimental approach helped redefine what punk could become. They’re essential listening for fans of alternative music history.

PUP*

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada. PUP specializes in loud, self-deprecating punk songs about anxiety, failure, and adulthood. Their music is catchy enough for pop fans but chaotic enough for punk purists. They consistently deliver one of the most fun live sets at festivals.

Thrice*

From Irvine, California. Thrice evolved from a post-hardcore band into one of alternative rock’s most adventurous acts. Their catalog spans heavy riffs, atmospheric experimentation, and thoughtful songwriting. They’re respected by fans across multiple rock genres.

Less Than Jake*

From Gainesville, Florida. Less Than Jake helped bring ska-punk to mainstream audiences during the 1990s. Their songs combine upbeat horn sections with punk energy and humor. Their concerts are giant, joyous singalongs.

Brian Fallon & The Painkillers

From New Jersey. Brian Fallon is best known as the frontman of The Gaslight Anthem. His solo work leans more toward heartland rock, Americana, and singer-songwriter storytelling. Fans of Bruce Springsteen-style songwriting tend to love his material.

The Suicide Machines*

From Detroit, Michigan. The Suicide Machines blend ska, hardcore, and punk into a fast, energetic sound. Their politically charged songs remain just as relevant today. They always bring intensity to the stage.

Afroman

From Palmdale, California. Afroman became a household name thanks to the comedy-rap hit “Because I Got High.” Beyond the novelty reputation, he’s built a long independent career with a loyal fanbase. His sets are equal parts music and comedy.

Destroy Boys*

From Sacramento, California. Destroy Boys combine punk aggression with sharp songwriting and youthful energy. Their music explores identity, relationships, and social issues. They’ve become one of the standout bands of the modern punk revival.

The Chats*

From Queensland, Australia. The Chats specialize in hilarious, working-class punk anthems delivered with deadpan humor. Their breakout song “Smoko” became an international punk favorite. Live, they’re loud, funny, and incredibly entertaining.

Yard Act

From Leeds, England. Yard Act blends post-punk grooves with spoken-word storytelling and social satire. Their songs dissect modern life with equal parts wit and cynicism. They’re one of the most acclaimed British bands of the last few years.

Chat Pile*

From Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Chat Pile creates unsettling noise-rock and sludge metal inspired by anxiety, alienation, and modern despair. Their music is heavy, abrasive, and strangely compelling. They’re one of the most critically acclaimed heavy bands on the lineup.

VANA

From Phoenix, Arizona. VANA blends alternative rock, dark pop, and electronic influences into a dramatic modern sound. Her music explores themes of empowerment and self-expression. She’s quickly building momentum in the alternative scene.

Strike Anywhere

From Richmond, Virginia. Strike Anywhere combines melodic hardcore with politically engaged lyrics. Their songs are fast, passionate, and ideal for festival circle pits. They remain highly respected in the punk community.

Show Me The Body

From New York City, New York. Show Me The Body blends hardcore punk, noise, hip-hop influences, and experimental sounds. Their use of banjo alongside crushing riffs makes them uniquely recognizable. Their live performances are intense and confrontational.

Hot Rod Circuit

From Auburn, Alabama. Hot Rod Circuit helped define the early-2000s emo and alternative scene. Their songs combine emotional lyrics with melodic guitar-driven rock. They remain a favorite among longtime emo fans.

Melt-Banana

From Tokyo, Japan. Melt-Banana is one of the most inventive and chaotic bands in underground music. Their songs race between noise rock, punk, grindcore, and pure sonic experimentation. Watching them live is like experiencing a controlled explosion.

Frankie and the Witch Fingers

From Los Angeles, California. Frankie and the Witch Fingers deliver psychedelic garage rock packed with grooves and fuzzed-out guitars. Their music feels like a wild blend of punk, krautrock, and classic psychedelia. They’re one of the festival’s best danceable rock acts.

Burning Airlines

From Washington, D.C. Burning Airlines was formed by J. Robbins after the breakup of Jawbox. Their music combines post-hardcore intelligence with memorable melodies. Reunion appearances are relatively rare and meaningful to longtime fans.

Gurriers

From Dublin, Ireland. Gurriers are one of the most exciting young post-punk bands currently emerging from Ireland. Their songs are urgent, noisy, and politically charged. They have serious breakout-band potential.

Kiwi Jr.

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Kiwi Jr. writes witty indie-rock songs filled with clever observations and catchy hooks. Their music often draws comparisons to Pavement and other 1990s indie favorites. They’re perfect for fans who enjoy smart guitar pop.

NOBRO

From Montreal, Quebec, Canada. NOBRO combines garage rock, punk attitude, and infectious hooks. Their songs are loud, fun, and designed for live crowds. They consistently deliver high-energy performances.

Whispers

From Los Angeles, California. Whispers plays brutally heavy hardcore with metallic influences and relentless aggression. Their live shows are intense even by hardcore standards. If you like breakdowns and chaos, they’re worth arriving early for.

ASAVA

From Chicago, Illinois. ASAVA blends alternative rock, post-hardcore, and modern metal influences. They’re part of the growing local scene Riot Fest often showcases. Catching them early could be a chance to discover your next favorite band.

Aim High

From Chicago, Illinois. Aim High combines pop-punk energy with emo sincerity and modern alternative influences. Their songs are catchy, emotional, and built for singalongs. They’re an emerging hometown act with growing momentum.

Sunday

Pierce the Veil

From San Diego, California. Pierce the Veil became one of the defining bands of the post-hardcore and emo revival scenes. Their music combines technical guitar work, soaring vocals, and emotionally charged lyrics. Expect one of the largest and most passionate crowds of the entire weekend.

Alanis Morissette

From Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Alanis changed the landscape of 1990s rock with Jagged Little Pill, one of the best-selling albums ever. Her songs balance vulnerability, anger, humor, and wisdom in a way few artists can match. Hearing thousands of people sing along to “You Oughta Know” is a festival bucket-list experience.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters*

From Liverpool, England. Elvis Costello is one of the greatest songwriters of the last fifty years, blending rock, punk, new wave, soul, and pop. His catalog is astonishingly deep and filled with classics. The Imposters provide the perfect backing band for his sharp lyrics and timeless melodies.

The Format

From Phoenix, Arizona. The Format was the acclaimed indie-pop band that launched Nate Ruess before he formed Fun. Their songs combine clever songwriting, orchestral flourishes, and emotional storytelling. Reunion appearances remain rare and highly anticipated.

Patti Smith and Her Band*

From New York City, New York. Patti Smith is a poet, author, and rock icon whose influence stretches across punk, alternative rock, and literature. Her music combines artistic ambition with raw emotional power. Seeing her perform is like witnessing a living piece of cultural history.

Twin Peaks

From Chicago, Illinois. Twin Peaks built a devoted following with loose, energetic garage rock and a classic rock spirit. Their music feels equally influenced by The Rolling Stones and modern indie bands. Hometown Riot Fest appearances are often especially spirited.

Taking Back Sunday

From Long Island, New York. Taking Back Sunday helped define the 2000s emo explosion with dramatic vocals and unforgettable choruses. Songs like “Cute Without the E” remain scene anthems decades later. Their sets are giant emotional singalongs.

Insane Clown Posse

From Detroit, Michigan. ICP built one of the most devoted fan communities in music through horror-themed rap and over-the-top performances. Their concerts feature Faygo showers, wild theatrics, and complete unpredictability. Even non-fans often leave impressed by the spectacle.

Pennywise*

From Hermosa Beach, California. Pennywise has been a cornerstone of Southern California punk since the late 1980s. Their songs combine speed, positivity, and punk-rock camaraderie. Expect circle pits, crowd surfing, and plenty of singalongs.

The Beths*

From Auckland, New Zealand. The Beths have become one of indie rock’s most beloved modern bands thanks to brilliant songwriting and irresistible melodies. Their music balances catchy hooks with surprisingly thoughtful lyrics. They are one of the safest bets to win over new fans at the festival.

Mom Jeans

From Berkeley, California. Mom Jeans helped revive emo for a new generation through self-aware humor and heartfelt songwriting. Their music feels messy, sincere, and instantly relatable. Their fans tend to know every word.

Cartel

From Conyers, Georgia. Cartel became one of the standout pop-punk bands of the mid-2000s. Their album Chromaremains a favorite among scene veterans. Their songs are packed with huge hooks and nostalgic energy.

Bowling for Soup

From Wichita Falls, Texas. Bowling for Soup combines pop-punk with comedy and self-deprecating humor. Their songs are funny, catchy, and impossible not to sing along with. Their live shows feel more like a party than a concert.

This Is Lorelei

From New York City, New York. This Is Lorelei is the project of Nate Amos, one of indie music’s most inventive songwriters. The music blends folk, experimental pop, and internet-age weirdness into something uniquely modern. They’re one of the most critically praised underground acts on the bill.

Sincere Engineer*

From Chicago, Illinois. Sincere Engineer specializes in honest, blue-collar punk songs about adulthood and everyday struggles. Frontwoman Deanna Belos delivers lyrics with humor and vulnerability. Their Riot Fest appearances always feel right at home.

Jejune

From Berkeley, California. Jejune was an influential band in the late-1990s emo scene. Their music combines melodic guitar work with emotionally direct songwriting. Reunion appearances are a treat for longtime emo fans.

Arm’s Length

From Ontario, Canada. Arm’s Length has quickly become one of the most acclaimed bands in modern emo. Their songs are deeply emotional without feeling melodramatic. Many fans consider them one of the genre’s brightest young acts.

Saturdays at Your Place

From Kalamazoo, Michigan. Saturdays at Your Place creates heartfelt Midwest emo filled with nostalgia and personal storytelling. Their songs capture the feeling of growing up and drifting apart from old friends. They’re rapidly becoming festival favorites.

Good Riddance

From Santa Cruz, California. Good Riddance blends melodic hardcore with thoughtful political and social commentary. Their music is fast, passionate, and deeply rooted in punk ethics. They’re respected veterans of the punk scene.

Haywire

From Boston, Massachusetts. Haywire plays aggressive modern hardcore designed for maximum pit activity. Their music is direct, heavy, and uncompromising. If you like breakdowns and chaos, they’re worth seeing early.

Dead to Me

From San Francisco, California. Dead to Me combines punk rock energy with emotionally rich songwriting. Their songs often explore loss, personal growth, and resilience. They’ve quietly become one of punk’s most respected cult favorites.

The Flatliners

From Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The Flatliners evolved from ska-punk roots into a powerful melodic punk band. Their songs are passionate, gritty, and deeply heartfelt. They consistently deliver excellent live performances.

Murphy’s Law*

From New York City, New York. Murphy’s Law has been bringing humor, hardcore, and party vibes to punk since the early 1980s. Their music never takes itself too seriously. Their sets are legendary for their fun atmosphere.

Pretty Girls Make Graves*

From Seattle, Washington. Pretty Girls Make Graves was one of the standout post-punk bands of the early 2000s. Their music combines angular guitars, intensity, and infectious melodies. Reunion performances are highly anticipated by indie-rock fans.

Daisy Grenade

From New York City, New York. Daisy Grenade blends pop-punk, alternative rock, and dark humor into catchy modern songs. Their music appeals to fans of both classic scene bands and newer alternative acts. They’re quickly building a dedicated following.

Holding Absence

From Cardiff, Wales. Holding Absence combines post-hardcore emotion with soaring, arena-sized melodies. Their music is dramatic, heartfelt, and highly polished. Frontman Lucas Woodland is one of the strongest vocalists on the lineup.

Algernon Cadwallader

From Yardley, Pennsylvania. Algernon Cadwallader helped define the Midwest emo revival of the late 2000s. Their intricate guitar work and joyful energy made them hugely influential. Many younger emo bands owe them a debt.

Ben Quad

From Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ben Quad is one of the fastest-rising bands in the modern emo scene. Their music combines technical musicianship with emotional sincerity and big hooks. They’re a strong contender to be one of Sunday’s breakout acts.

Remember Sports

From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Remember Sports writes smart, melodic indie rock with sharp lyrics and plenty of charm. Their songs balance humor, vulnerability, and catchy melodies. They’re beloved within the indie-rock community.

Macseal

From Long Island, New York. Macseal blends emo, indie rock, and math-rock influences into upbeat, intricate songs. Their music is energetic without losing emotional depth. They have become a favorite among younger emo fans.

Stomach Book

From New York. Stomach Book creates intensely personal music that combines emo, electronic experimentation, and internet-age DIY aesthetics. The project has developed a cult following online. Live performances are emotional, raw, and unlike almost anything else at Riot Fest.

The Iron Roses

From New York State. The Iron Roses blend punk rock with themes of community, inclusion, and social justice. Their songs are energetic, uplifting, and rooted in activism. They embody many of the values that have long defined Riot Fest’s punk spirit.