Beyond the one I cited below, I'm feeling just as clueless with no real "indicators" as to who we might wind up with. I'm guessing we'll see some bigger name acts announce summer runs in the next two months that will give us an indicator... There's usually some bigger name acts that come out of hibernation between now and like, April. I'm still riding this train hard. I'm more than willing to be wrong on this because it's just intuition based on an Instagram post that has had zero follow-up... But I'll continue speculating on this one until better options present themselves or its ruled out by the band themse;ves. I'd be down for that. But would they qualify as a headliner? I would peg them more as second or third to last.
I think so, but who knows. They'd be a big reunion, especially if it's their first show in however many years.
Nah I'm sticking for Lolla with Pearl Jam / Foo Fighters / Billie Eillish OR Post Malone / Lizzo / The 1975 / Bassnectar / LDR / Bad Bunny Riot Fest I'm sticking with MCR (Yay!) / The Strokes / Bauhaus although I'm starting to think maybe The Strokes do Pitchfork? With a reunion as large as MCR, I think the possibilities are endless because they are a HUGE get. Coachella and Lolla struck out, after all. Heck, MCR headlining with (JUST HYPOTHETICALLY) Vampire Weekend and Rob Zombie or Alice Cooper: would anyone blink an eye?
Is the Billie spring tour coming to Chicago? Or the Post Malone tour? Doesn't really mean she can't play, since Ariana played Chicago then did Lolla, but I'm curious if that would deter?
If Riot wants to make it a “reunion” year Bright Eyes could headline unless they go the Pitchfork route.
Also, perhaps Tool? I’m not a fan of them and I’m not sure how much they fit Riot’s demographic, but maybe them?
I think A7X could definitely play Aftershock and some of the Monster Rock on the Range style fall fests, but I don't know if they'd go over super well at Riot?
What about Slipknot or Korn? Both released albums last year and both only made one stop here for those albums. Too metal? They have booked System of a Down before...
They won’t be a headliner at after shock mcr and Metallica are headlining that. I mean it riot can get slayer they can get a7x. I think the crowd would be just fine with it. They fit the demograph of riot
I mean, that would be feasible... I wouldn't want it. But it's a possibility. I would peg them right about the same level as Garbage (playing 1.5-3k rooms pretty comfortably and doing larger venues as direct support or co-headlining with somebody else). Maybe stepping away for a bit would up their value/draw. But I'm not convinced. Vampire Weekend feels a little light for Riot Fest, but maybe? I would peg them as more of a Pitchfork grab but I'm out of touch. I don't think Rob Zombie would headline. But Alice Cooper could, with Rob supporting? I have a personal vendetta against Alice given the bullshit his crew pulled at Montebello Rockfest back in like, 2012. The entire stage schedule for that day was fucked/delayed because of his pyrotechnics and robots or whatever. I'm sure Riot Fest would run significantly smoother than that but y'know... I wouldn't be to into that happening, just because it would shift the entire vibe of the crowd for that one day. But I'd be down to watch. A little higher than I would have guessed, but not shocking. Same with No Doubt. Especially given how inactive both acts were the year they were booked. Aping what others have said, I'd peg Bright Eyes as a Pitchfork act. But who knows. It looks like they're doing pretty minimal touring, so whoever winds up with them as a headliner they'll be more of a draw than if it were a full US tour... As for Tool, I think somebody figured out last year they probably wouldn't ever play Riot Fest because it's wine grape season or something. We go over the Korn/A7X thing ever year, and I think those acts are a little too "active rock" for Riot Fest. System of a Down, Deftones, Incubus, etc. have a different air about them that lets it fit. Rob Zombie snuck in on an album play. I just really don't think we're ever going to see any of those Wimmer/Chicago Open Air-type headliners at Riot Fest.
To be honest I don’t think any band is too metal or too heavy for riot fest... I mean I think the name of the fest speaks to that imo. Just cuz it’s mostly punk rock with a splash of metal and hip hop dose not mean they can’t go out and grab someone huge from metal like a7x or Slipknot or system
I think it's more likely The Strokes play a smaller arena show than a festival, especially Pitchfork. A7X is the one band I see Riot Fest always wanting to get. They would be interesting to see, that's for sure. Yep, September is grape harvest so Tool will never play.
What about A7X screams "Riot Fest" to you? I might not be thinking about it right. I just don't see them as a band the festival would want to book above and beyond thinking they might sell tickets to different people who wouldn't normally go on that particular day (I think they did something similar with Rob Zombie that one year, so it's not out of the realm of possibility). I know they have roots in Warped Tour, a release on Hopeless Records and all that. But that was like, 15 years ago and they don't really ever acknowledge that stage of their career. They seem to stick pretty closely to those bigger "active rock" festivals with little to no desire to branch out... I guess I just put them into that same category as like, Korn and Limp Bizkit, in that they would stick out so poorly on the line-up it would raise eyebrows and would turn off the festival's core demo.
They could actually get Limp Bizkit this year, they're playing a fest here in FL the week after Riot Fest.