Riot Fest or Fallow Year?

I’m kinding feeling it’s time for a Glastonbury-like fallow year for festivals.  They do it every seven years, right?  I’ve got seven years of festivals running now; Coachella 2013 through Riot Fest 2019.  Haven’t even missed one day.  Never left a day early, got in a day late, left mid-stream to drive to Wisconsin and back for dad of the year honors.  As I feel it may be time for a break I am well aware the excitement that a lineup reveal can generate.  Kinda like the anticipation of Christmas for a kid.  And with the right reveal, any fallow year desire evaporates.  Replaced by a rally cry for others to join and commit. And with the watering down of festival lineups recently, it feels like it’s Riotfest or bust.

So what artists might generate that rally cry?  Riotfest has always tried to champion the reunion act; from Replacements to Jawbreaker to Bikini Kill last year.  And there are a bunch of reunion acts I’d jump for.  However, they probably already hit the reunion homerun with My Chemical Romance.  They’re a great get, but not for me.  What it tells me is that other reunion acts I had hoped for probably wouldn’t happen.  And the top two for me, Rage and Bauhaus have already announced Chicago dates too close to RF to be included. They are out as is likely any other big reunion act.

Alright already.  Here’s a few acts that I could rally around.  Fingers crossed.  Maybe.  All are acts I’ve never seen, and a few bucket lists.  First two crossed out as they were hopefuls but now out.

Edit…that was quick. No sooner than I published this I got an email from the Metro in Chicago announcing a June Propaghandi show, making them out for Riotfest. The list dwindles….

And here are a few steady always-see-when-near acts.  Some of these could easily end up.

• Buzzcocks
• Bad Religion
• The Specials
• Dropkick Murphys
• UK Subs