I think it's definitely still up in the air as to whether this can happen or not (but it's seeming unlikely). I saw someone suggest they postpone to the spring on Reddit and that *could* be possible, depending on how 2022 is looking. It would be the earliest an outdoor festival has ever been held in Chicago, but it could work? The only issue is that when you switch dates (and I mean months, not a week later as they did from 2020->2021), you lose people who always can make the September dates work but can't make earlier dates in the year work.
I mean Sept in Chicago isn't always great, have definitely lucked out the past few years but there has been some cold rainy miserable days. May I feel like would be similar
Despite recent history September is by far the best weather month in Chicago imo, May still isn't good. More humid, greater chance of severe thunderstorms, and just more rain on the whole.
There's 0% chance this thing happens (in a fun way). Seated shows might be back this summer but GA full energy punk shows? 2022.
If memory serves, it theoretically could have happened last year when it was called off. So hard to tell. I would guess for a lot of them it depends not only on viability (meaning, are we okay to do this from a health perspective?) but on ticket sales once the "okay" to do it is granted. This is where my hesitation is starting to creep in. If things start looking like they'll be significantly better by May? I think both Riot and the Fest will be okay. But if anything slows down with the vaccine, shit is still unable to fully open, etc. I bet they get called off. Looking out to September and beyond, I think we'll be okay in terms of having full-scale events if things go as planned with the vaccine. The real challenge is getting the green light with enough lead time to make a proper announcement, sell tickets, let people book (and be able to afford--that's a big one) travel, etc. I'm sure Riot can sort out the bands. I'm not convinced that they would be able to pull in the number of people they would normally get.
I'd be shocked if this happens. Chicago isn't even planning on opening Phase 2 vaccines until 5/31. It'd be surprising if that happens a) on time and b) they can vaccinate enough people over three months. Even if vaccines are rolling smoothly, having a large festival, in an underserved area of the city, blocking nearby hospitals is such a bad look at the tail end of a pandemic. I wouldn't want my alderman to be on board with that.
I didn't even think about the hospital being right there (been a few years since I've been). Excellent point. I was previously at 25% in terms of this happening. I'm now down to 10%.
Where though? No way they move to Grant Park. Union Park is too small. Humboldt Park was too small. Any other park is going to be too small or in too residential of an area. The only other option is the suburbs and if you move it to the suburbs the attendance will easily be drastically reduced. Edit: Jackson Park exists but it's on the South Side and I know plenty of people will be hesitant to go if it is held there.
Well personally I have hope that more vaccines will be approved in the next month or 2, and people will start getting vaccinated quicker than expected and Riot Fest happens as is.. call me the king of wishful thinking
I wonder if Hoobastank was set to play Riot 2020/2021, as they are also doing a "Go on a date with Hoobastank", which I didnt even know they were still a band
I was kinda thinking the same thing?... Although Hoobastank doesn’t strike me as being much of a Riot band Although, Hoobastank have been having sort of a revival in popularity recently (thanks TikTok), so it could be possible
Y’know, I was going to ask if the Twitter thing makes Eve 6 likely for the next version of Riot. I would say yes. Not sure how I feel about Hoobastank, even with a social media pull, in terms of likelihood. They def haven’t hit the same level of “meta ironic love” or whatever (coupled with people who legit like them) and I doubt they will. Hard to explain it.
I was really into Hoobastank as a kid and I'd watch a few songs now if they're not up against anyone I really wanted to see. Eve 6 might be legitimately fun.
The two bands fall into that category of band where that abstract "Riot Fest equation" comes into play. The same reason I think Eve 6 might be feasible, but don't necessarily buy Hoobastank... Is the same reason System of a Down and Deftones can play but Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach aren't ever on the bill, why one could argue Third Eye Blind might eventually play but Matchbox 20 won't, why Cypress Hill has played twice but Kottonmouth Kings won't ever be there, etc. I can't put my finger on it. But it's something like... [(# of hits + songwriting + history) * (credibility + influence) * crowd draw] / (cost - stage slot they would want) I actually don't mind that first Hoobastank record for what it is, and I'd definitely stop to hear a song or two if nothing better was going on. I just think it would be too oddball a booking given the money they would want versus the draw/appeal. Eve 6 still kills it live. They were super tight and incredibly self-aware the last time I saw them (the "Fly" album tour; they closed out with 4-5 songs from Horrorscopes including "Amphetamines" so y'know, it was sick).
I would never pay more than 15 dollars to see limp bizkit headline their own show, but would 100% go out of my way to at least see some of their set at riot fest