Riot Fest 2025 Tour

Next year is the 20th Riot Fest. Start your headliner speculation now.

 

I would be slightly surprised if NIN is not playing next year.

Some of my early thoughts:

• Touche Amore
• Julien Baker
• American Football

 

I also think there’s a very good chance Paramore plays.

 

Would be awesome if they did a year of no repeat headliners. Some combo of Green Day / Op Ivy (long shot but who knows) / Paramore / Hole (if they ever actually reunite) / The Killers

Felt like there was a glut of old-school punk this year because of the NOFX stage (not to mention them taking up a closing spot on all three nights). I hope that swings a little more towards other genres and scenes.

Running down my usual list of requests.
- The Weakerthans / John K. Samson
- Weird Al (I guess we'll know later today if this likely at all)
- Gang of Youths
- Further Seems Forever
- Strike Anywhere (still baffled that they haven't played since it was indoors)
- Wouldn't complain if they bring Bright Eyes back to make up for them dropping this year
- Bob Dylan (unlikely but I want my parents to go one year and this would convince them)
- I would love to see them get a couple of the '90s alternative acts that haven't fallen completely into being memes or county fair acts (Wallflowers, Counting Crows, Hootie and the Blowfish)
- A bunch of random small/midsize bands I like: Spanish Love Songs, Future Teens, Macseal, Broadway Calls, Charly Bliss, Signals Midwest, Moneen, I Am the Avalanche, Restorations

 

I'm into all of this, even a portion would likely get me back next year. While I have an exhausting week of shows ahead of me, I'm feeling better having done two aftershows and not a weekend of walking.

 

THIS IS GONNA BE OUR YEAR, BABY. GREEN DAY OR BUST

 

After that Laura Jane Grace and Catbite set, I truly need the Operation Ivy reunion pronto. I planned to leave it pretty early to go watch SoCo, but then kept realizing how much I love every single song they played. So what better time for Riot Fest to pull it off than their 20th anniversary!

I could also see the Johnny Rotten-less Sex Pistols.

 

Forgot they were doing this with Frank Carter. Seems inevitable that Riot gets them, and I would assume their name still makes them a headliner even without Johnny.

 

Ended up not being able to go this year because I scheduled my move this weekend (back when it was still at SeatGeek and I didn’t want to deal with going there) but I’ll probably be in for next year.

Charly Bliss needs to play one of these years and if they are still touring their newest album I think they would definitely be a great add on to the lineup.

If Paramore starts up a new album era next year I’ll put my money on them being one of the headliners.

 

I guess Weird Al is already out. Playing Highland Park in June

Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour | "Weird Al" Yankovic

 

Wow, a 2025 ravinia date already!

 

Never done Ravinia before, but I'll probably do it for Weird Al.

But having a Ravinia date then two TBA dates on Riot weekend surrounding a Nashville date is just tailor made to make people debate the Riot radius clause for months on end.

 

Weird Al would be cool but in terms of gimmick/fun/parody acts I would love a Lonely Island set (they never hit Chicago on their last tour)

 

Following closely for next year, didn't know it was their 20th anniversary.

For headliners, I doubt any would move my need but would love to see System of a Down.

For medium sized bands, the NOFX stage of this year was my deal, so hoping many those sort of bands / some street punk (clearly not hoping for repeats from this year).

All the talks about Op Ivy reunion make it seem imminent (?). Heard that the No Values fest was offering them more money.

Would like to see: Tiger Army, The Adicts, Generación Suicida

 

Would love to see some acts like Paramore, Bilmuri, The Early November, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, Like Roses, Boys Night Out.

 

Crossing my fingers for No Doubt, Op Ivy, Sex Pistols w/ Frank Carter

As both Op Ivy and Sex Pistols have 1 album each and will have shorter sets than a regular headliner, maybe the can co-headline?

 

Is 2025 the year Avenged Sevenfold plays? 20 years of City of Evil, 15 for Nightmare.

 

Also, it's so stupid that this is a possibility for next year, how many bands will be blocked because they choose to play Warped Tour instead?

 

A quintessential "show up for the three songs I liked in junior high" set for me. Could see it happening though.

I think latest the rumor was east/west coast only for that, but I could be wrong.

 

Ghost can be in play too if they release a new album soon. Im surprised they havent played before tbh.

 

I feel like we've had this discussion every year. I have always thought they would be a great time but not everyone agrees.

 

I could imagine Ghost playing Riot Fest easily, but not Avenged Sevenfold

 

The closest Warped Tour show will be over 700 miles from Chicago. No conflicts there.

 

Thinking Livenation might get MCR for those Warped festivals if they aren't touring on anything new next year.

Then would make sense as a Riot headliner too even if it's a 3 year onward repeat

Maybe wishful thinking though.

LS dunes probably the house band again either way

 

I don’t want MCR back until there’s a new album.