Riot Fest 2021 (September 17-19, Chicago IL) Tour • Page 102

They should get Sufjan Stevens. They had one of his records prominently shown in a promo video a few years ago and I thought for sure they would have gotten him based on that. I would love it if they did.

 

Would leave early if Panic headlined. Fun live, but I straight up don’t care enough. Would have more fun at an aftershow or hotel bar.

I honestly feel like they’ve veered way too far into the pop direction for them to make sense as a headliner if I’m being totally honest, though. Same with TOP.

If either are a headliner, I’d be shocked.

 

Guess my group is transferring the tickets to next year then. Shame but with the flying issues, coming over from the UK this year just isn't viable.

I hope everyone has fun this year though and I'll be there in 2022!

 

We are keeping hold of ours for now, but will have to make a decision at some point. I am slightly hopeful but also very realistic about our chances of geeting out of England.

 

What's everyone thinking/feeling about Riot Fest setting a relatively specific timeframe for the next announcement? They're usually pretty non-specific about when more information will be coming, so citing "first half of May" feels like they must have things pretty locked down as far as artists go. But they're holding on announcing.

With some of the bigger arena tours getting cancelled, part of me is thinking they were able to secure a headliner pulling from a tour that wasn't yet announced or rescheduled. The daydreamer in me is thinking it's somebody from Hella Mega and that tour's going to get the plug pulled sometime within the next week or two so they can't announce until after that. And Riot will have one of those acts on the bill. Feels super iffy, but it feels like a possibility. Especially since Green Day will be at Life is Beautiful that weekend. Assuming they play that fest on Friday or Sunday they could easily do Riot too.

That's pie in the sky shit, and probably pretty unlikely (with FOB being way more likely). But it's a thought. And I would imagine a MCR reunion costs about as much as Green Day.

Or it's just waiting on a signature from a final headliner and/or they were told that setting up the system for ticket refunds and transfers would take about 2-3 weeks so they set mid-May to give a bit of buffer room.

This is what happens when I drink too much coffee on Sunday afternoon and don't have any plans.

 

New Mountain Goats album out in June. Their third album since 2020. I know they are playing the rescheduled Chicago shows at Old Town School of Folk but that's a small venue and the shows are sold out. They would be a great late afternoon set in Douglas Park...

 

I'm guessing we have the full lineup by May 15.

 

The 15th is a Saturday so I'm gonna guess we'll have it the Wednesday ahead of that, May 12th.

 

I think Green Day is already announced for Saturday for Life is Beautiful. I realize they could still play Friday at Riot Fest but for some reason I feel like that is less likely. But that may just be because am trying to avoid the yearly cycle of thinking that this will be the year Green Day will finally play and then being wrong.

 

Ah, you're right. They are on Saturday for that one. Dammit. Yeah, that makes it way less likely.

 

To me it feels like MCR told them they had to drop (whether it was days or weeks in advance of the post from this past week, who know), and were going to announce , but Riot needed a few weeks to get the online infrastructure up and ready for the 3 ticketing options - they have to set up, test, and secure the refund portion, the discount for 22 portion, and the rollover to 22 portion, so they gave themselves a cushion to have all that ready since every single ticket sold has to do one of those 3 things. Im sure finding replacements and the contracts and stuff is happening along side this part of it to, so i guess its a "hey here's what happened, everything is good but we need a month to get our shit in order and make sure we can function properly on our end before we start doling out refunds and discounts"

 

You know, I always tell myself that Green Day would never play Riot because they’re too big. But considering how poorly their last album did, and considering that they ARE playing LIB in LV, then maybe it would make them a possibility...

When LIB dropped their lineup this year, I thought it was so weird that Green Day was on, since they were out of place, and I thought they were also too big to headline that festival. But they they can do LIB, they could do Riot, maybe.

Also, if Hella Mega gets moved to 2022, Riot would be a good warm-up set for Riot, or sort of an appetizer for anyone going to Hella Mega.

If they do play, I bet whatever day they play
on (Friday or Sunday), single-day tickets will sell out

I mentioned the same thing earlier on this thread. Mountain Goats playing Riot, I think, would be splendid

 

This all feels right. But I would say the bulk of the "delay" in announcing is because of the infrastructure. It's far more complicated than a simple rollover.

The one thing about LIB is that Green Day plays Saturday (like Pokinatcha said). Which would make a Green Day set at Riot pretty unlikely. I'd feel better about it if they were on Friday or Saturday (especially given that MCR was slated for Saturday at Riot). And Green Day is the kind of band who would be willing to play a headlining slot without all the pomp and circumstance they would usually have as far as a stage show is concerned.

The last album didn't do so well, but I'm pretty sure they're still a massive band that can sell out shows regardless. They're in that territory now, I think (see also: U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers). But this is also not the first time they've done a random ass pop festival. There was one they did like, 5-7 years ago where it was their only US show that year. So I dunno.

It still feels hugely unlikely. But it would feel like a logical thing for them to play if Hella Mega gets cancelled. Riot Fest doesn't usually follow logic, though. Hah.

 

My top 5 guesses for the 2 headliners in no particular order: devo, System of a Down, the Strokes, No Doubt, Operation Ivy... I read the interview Gwen said No Doubt was done, but money talks esp for a one off show

(I swear I did not go to reddit until after I posted this and noticed two threads about the Strokes & System Of A Down)

also Green Day playing the Saturday of LIB would make it pretty hard for them to play Riot on the Friday or Sunday.. people forget Las Vegas is more westerly than parts of California.. bands have played West Coasts fests on Friday & Riot on Sunday and vice versa, but one day is tough logistically.. doesn't rule them out playing under a fake name Thursday though

Mt. Westmore (Ice Cube, Snoop, Too $hort & E-40) is also a wild card for a headliner

 

The Killers would be fun. Might be too poppy.

 

if i had to put out my top 5 guesses for the final 2 headliners: green day, FOB, Dolly, muse, & system. no rhyme or reason for the last 3 other than i would be very very excited, so more wishful thinking than legit speculation, haha.

Killers and Strokes dont move the needle for me much, would prefer Panic (who would be my #6 guess) over either of them

 

For potential acts playing Riot...

 

System is the only one I remotely agree on,


Green Day - logistically, they could only play as surprise act Thursday
Fall Out Boy - forget my hatred of this band going way too pop, but as the replacement for MCR .. I think that's a let down
Dolly - would be amazing, not a headliner tho
Muse - I guess, but can UK bands even get to the states by September?

 

Going to try to will this into existence: Weird Al please

 

we havent lost any of the other Euro bands from the line up.... yet. the sounds, chubby & the gang, boston manor etc. who knows.

 

Fair, but to me they also don't fit.. every year has at least had one punk band headline (ok the Cure aren't punk, but every punk band covered the Cure)

 

I don't know that Devo would be top three. Though they would undeniably be just above or just below RTJ, I really don't think they pack the punch one might expect from a headliner. Especially with the band now saying that it won't be their final tour.

For me, I think the Strokes seem most likely followed by System of a Down who has made a habit of doing one-offs. Although Riot tends to not do repeat headliners if they can help it.

Operation Ivy is one that I am feeling weirdly might be a surprise possibility this year. Simply because, as you put it: "Money talks." And I'm pretty sure Riot has been trying for a long while now... Rancid has a relationship with the fest, and if they were gonna do it? This year would make sense.

RE: Green Day, I don't see them being a surprise act for Thursday unless they offered Riot a huge discount and are doing it just to fuck around. But I really, really doubt that's a thing.

Pretty sure they said they had somebody booked in that "wild card" spot last year. They said "he books way out in advance" or something like that. Which, y'know... That sounds like him if it sounds like anybody.

That would make my year.

 

They've done club shows under fake names, or maybe do a Foxboro Hot Tubs or the Network set.. if I had to put money on it no incarnation of the band is showing up.

 

This better happen

Honestly, Weird Al headlining the Thursday pre-party would be phenomenal

 

**new favorite theory alert**