Riot Fest 2021 (September 17-19, Chicago IL) Tour • Page 91

Well, this is good news! Any chance you can shed more info on the "logistics" that are a "nightmare"?

That's great news! Here, cases are ticking upward on the daily but deaths and hospitalizations are staying low... While vaccination counts keep going up and up.

Unfortunately, I think we're going to see an upswing in overall cases for another month or two before younger folks get caught up. (Because people are acting a fool, being a little more risky, etc. because of the vaccine being available.)

But things are looking more optimistic than they have in a long time!

 

Probably the varying covid protocols between different counties/cities

 

Living in Colorado but traveling a lot for work lately and it’s outrageous how different it is. I’m in Texas right now and...yeah... different vibes out here about COVID

 

This is the biggest nightmare, but they will be pulling it off.

 

https://www.bloodinthebrine.com/pos...s-of-pavement-he-talks-favourite-records-pt-1

“Also, Pavement finally gonna do some more stuff next year, a real tour in September.”

So, I’m not sure is he’s referring to September 2021, or 2022, but...

 

I think he refers to 2022, but if its this year I see Pavement playing Pitchfork instead of Riot

 

He’s definitely referring to 2022.

 

UGH

Pitchfork really crushing all my dreams

 

story of my life

 

Pitchfork is a fun festival though!

 

I'd love to go to Pitchfork one of these years, for sure.

 

Also, unrelated, but have we considered Run the Jewels could be headlining a hip-hop themed side stage this year as opposed to being the Day 3 headliner? I feel like it's been brought up but I just kind of made the connection that Jawbreaker headlined their comeback in 2017, but headlined a side stage against Blink in 2019.

 

One of these years they need to get Sufjan Stevens

 

That's my current, running theory. I think they close out the side stage against whoever it is that closes out the main stage that evening. That makes the most sense to me.

I'm also not convinced that Lupe Fiasco or Vic Mensa are "buzzy" enough names at this point to warrant a main stage slot early in the evening. And I say this as a fan of both. I just can't envision 8k+ people or whatever being stoked on Lupe at like, 7:30 at night or whenever he'd be going on. I could definitely see that on the "side" stage. But I also might be out of the loop.

I say this not knowing how the conversations work, but I would imagine that with an act of Run the Jewels size it's more... "You will close out a stage and be on the top 1-2 lines of the poster." Yes, they stepped up in 2017 and took a headlining slot. But my understanding is that festivals generally have a few artists "on deck" that they can call in should certain acts have to cancel. To me, this feels like there's a reason they were booked as back-up instead of a main act, TBH...

While RTJ is popular as ever, I'm not sure that they hold top 3 headliner weight and from my perspective, they probably ever won't unless they take a few years off from playing festivals.

 

RTJ was set to headline Pitchfork Festival in 2020 though.

 

Doesn't Pitchfork only have the three stages, though? That makes sense to me if there's only one bigger stage. And Riot Fest is a much bigger festival in terms of attendance too (more than double, if the attendance figures I'm looking at are accurate).

Riot Fest pretty much has two headliners each night. But there's one who, undeniably, is the night's "closer." RTJ is big enough to be that name at certain festivals. And I don't think it would be a terrible look for Riot Fest to have RTJ in that slot but... I really do think they have somebody with a name that packs a bigger punch and brings more weight. Might not bring as big a draw, but a "holy shit" kinda name. And from the band's perspective? They'll probably still be closing a stage and on the top line of the poster.

It's just very different to book an act as a replacement 1-2 weeks out from a headliner pulling out versus booking them well in advance and billing them as part of your top three. It was super circumstantial back in 2017.

 

I expect RTJ to headline their respective stage, but NOT the main stage. I also believe that Riot mentioned more headliners were to be announced, so I believe someone else will take the main headline slot on Sunday

 

Let's say one of the new bands is NOFX or 311. They would close out their respective stages and still technically be called a headliner, and neither would be on the main stage as a headliner. I just think Riot Fest uses an incredibly loose definition of that word ("headliner"). Especially since they clearly have a top 2 and used the plural variation of the word in the announcement.


Man, it just dawned on me that the hype around the forthcoming wave 1 announcement would usually be hitting full stride right about now! I really can't wait for the addition of more bands, leaning a bit more about what the festival will look like this year, etc.

I kinda hope more news comes sooner than usual, although I somehow doubt that.

 

At this point I don’t think we get any information until they know they can put it on or get their permits approved. June/July is when I bet we hear something. But I think that all depends on cases and vaccine numbers in the city and the state and prolly the rest of the country. I want it to go on cuz I miss concerts like crazy but I know I’m not alone in that. I will totally understand if it doesn’t and gets moved to next year.

 

A lot of fall festival are being announced now, so it seems there’s now a consensus that these will actually all be happening.

My prediction is, we’ll get the Wave 2 announcement around the time Riot would typically announce their lineup (this month or next) and then we’ll get wave 3 in the summer (if Riot gets the clear to go on)

 

We won’t hear anything more until 1C (16+) are eligible (and it’s not impossible to get an appointment) for the vaccine, which isn’t happening this month.

Chicago mayor defies governor, refuses to open COVID-19 vaccine to all due to uptick in cases

 

Totally. If it can't happen, it can't happen. I want it to take place, but only if it's safe.

...But I don't necessarily see them waiting until we know with 100% certainty. Maybe the next announcement won't be quite so big, but I see them adding a handful of more acts (which will not include any headliners) and laying out what the current plan is (emphasizing that it is subject to change). With a potentially larger third wave in June/July when things are feeling more set in stone and a better picture of where things are going to be will be in hand.

Back in January, people were talking like the vaccine roll-outs were going to continue to be dismal. And quite a few places have really upped their game. So it's entirely possible that it looks bad today and within two weeks things are looking significantly better and more optimistic, y'know?

Well, they're being announced mostly with the caveat that things might change. So I'm feeling more confident, but far from 100%. But I do think people are operating as if they will... Because they have to. Unless they want to say "Nah, it's not happening this year" I fully understand--and agree with--all of these festivals operating as if it's going to happen until further notice.

I just hope they all maintain a decent level of transparency around that.

But yeah, I'm not thinking early. I'm thinking mid to late May. A smaller announcement with more info, with headliners, etc. coming mid-summer.

 

This makes no sense. If cases are rising, they should push the vaccine further, not hold it back.

 

I was strictly referring to their website... the Rosenstock set at Pitchfork fest looked fun as shit


also, Riot is over 5 months away from taking place.. can we just be optimistic for once?

 

Social Distortion confirmed for Pitchfork 2021!

Sure. We can be optimistic... I think Operation Ivy is gonna play!