Riot Fest 2021 (September 17-19, Chicago IL) Tour • Page 237

I havent confirmed it but im like 90% sure yep

 

Do you know if I was right about Ratboys also playing?

 

Any chance we think there’s an announcement this week? They seem to have quite a few things left to announce (Thursday, more after shows, schedule, map, etc.). I know a few won’t be for a few more weeks but the window is closing to keep things fresh and make them into multiple announcements.

 

wish they would post the schedule already damn

 

I for sure thought they would’ve announced some stuff last week after Lolla… Maybe we’ll get some stuff this week and next?

Or, I hate to plant this seed, but maybe with all the Delta stuff going on, maybe Riot’s holding off until they know they can go forward. I’m remaining optimistic though

 

every day that passes without them posting schedule does make it seem like that imo

 

I, too, am afraid of this.

 

they didn’t post the schedule in 2019 until August 29, so I don’t feel like that’s the post that worries me. It’s pretty much any of them in general.

 

I will say probably next week or in 2 weeks. After we have good data of Lolla's Covid rates. I think they dont want to hype us and then have to cancel

 

I mean, we’re not waiting on much. The Thursday Preview Party, a few more aftershows, and the schedule. Maybe food vendors too?

We don't know if/when the Thursday announcement is coming, and there's no real rush on Riot Fest's part for that as there's no tickets to sell, etc. There's also no precedent. So it's not really late. It just hasn't happened yet. The schedule doesn't usually roll out until 1-2 weeks before the festival, anyway. So that's not late either.

The only one that feels a little odd is the aftershows. They announced a bunch, said there were more coming, and we haven't heard squat since. And most of the others don't seem to be selling so hot, or at the very least they haven't sold out. But I honestly think that's just because they don't feel particularly "special" compared to most years... Rather than anything COVID-related. Though I doubt that's helping.

Riot usually takes the week of Lolla off from any proper announcements, so it's not shocking that we didn't get anything last week or the week before. And I doubt they would want to announce more aftershows if there's a major jump that's linked to Lolla and/or its aftershows. So they may have a few ready to go that we're waiting to see how the Lolla stuff shakes out.

But I still think the festival itself is going to happen, regardless. We might see mask mandates go into effect and temperature checks at the entrance. But, even though cases are increasing? Hospitalizations are still relatively low compared to when cases were this high last year. As cases go up, those will rise too. But we have a long way to go before we hit that critical mass, thanks mostly to the vaccinations, I think.

And data in other countries that have seen Delta-fueled spikes are showing that, after a certain point, the case numbers will start to naturally drop. We're a few weeks behind the UK where that has started to happen... So the next few weeks will be critical.

(Sorry, been doing a lot of reading on this stuff tonight. It looks bleak now, but there really are quite a few countries now who are seeing the numbers start to drop with very similar patterns, so long as they keep up with the vaccinations.)

 

Some more reading that I came across this morning that breaks down the statistics a bit more - Lollapalooza: Chicago's Super Spreader Event That Wasn't

 

You'll forgive me if I don't take the National Review's stance to heart.

 

While the point of that National Review article may end up being true, it should be pointed out that the National Review is a conservative leaning publication. Not MAGA far right like Breitbart or OAN, but it will usually have a bend to it.

And even though we aren't quite through the 14 day stretch, the numbers don't appear to be as bad as you would have thought. I think this mostly goes back to the vaccines working, so requiring them for large group events makes sense. And then the fact that Lola is mostly young or youngish people that generally have stronger immune systems, that when combined with a vaccine (and a mask) are more likely to fight off the virus or spread it if masked up.

 

I really don't think we're going to get any announcement on Thursday. I think that's going to be a "show up and find out" kind of event. Ever since it was announced, that seemed to me to be the tone of their messaging.

 

While on the subject of vaccines, I worked a fill in shift at a Chicago bar doing the door over the weekend. The bar currently only allows people to enter that have proof of a vaccine. Granted this is a bar, not a large music festival, but generally if people know that they need to have proof with them they are good with it. The people that don't (usually older people that get mad you are even carding them in the first place bc they have been able to drink before we were a seed) are the ones that will get mad or make a comment about it.

But it was pretty clear. People coming from the Cubs/Sox game were the ones that likely didn't have proof of vax bc the MLB isn't requiring it. The event at Metro did and those people or the neighborhood folk were good with it. Really wish the major sports would lead on the vaccine proof, but I get it. Most people are not carrying their vax card so handing an ID and then pulling up the electronic copy does take much longer to get people through a line. I would say for folks going to Riot or after shows that require vaccine proof to expect a longer line and to be patient. You'd be surprised the amount of people that have to fumble on their phone to pull it up or even just reach in a different bag or pocket for their physical card. Most people aren't going to have both documents ready to go.

I tried to be patient with people and just tell them thank you for being patient with us since it's new for us too. But it is nice to know the only people hanging out are good to go. Def made me feel more at ease since I was checking the documents so I could match name and birthdates at least.

 

if they're gonna cancel i wish they would already so i can get my money back on my hotel and rental car.

 

Honestly, same… Although my group and I haven’t really discussed what we’re gonna do if it gets cancelled

 

Holy shit

There is now a mini golf course in Douglass Park. I hope it’s open during the festival!

This West Side Mini-Golf Course Was Abandoned For Years — Until Local Teens Restored It

 

OH HELL YEAH

 

Thanks for flagging that up! I had no idea. Though, in hindsight, the name should have really been a fucking tip off... What's interesting is that if that's the case, I would have expected the article to slant a little differently than it did (i.e., vaccines and masks work).

Definitely glad Riot made the call to require vaccinations and I'm hoping they add an additional restriction a la masking when not eating/drinking). That would be difficult to enforce, but would encourage a certain proportion of folks to mask up, regardless.

Now that's some fun news! TBH, I'm surprised Riot hasn't tried doing a mini-golf course as part of the festival's ammenities at any point... with each hole having a different band theme or something.

 

They actually did one year at Humboldt Park.

 

Off-topic, but does anybody knows which gate does people line up to enter Wrigley Field for concerts? Specificially for the GA field.

I'm going to the Hella Mega tour on Sunday and want to be at the very front row, but not sure which gate is the one used for this.

 

When I saw foo there they did both sides by the outfield idr what gate numbers those are. I never go to Wrigley unless it’s for concerts

 

This is helpful! So not the main gate with the marquee, but the ones on the side?