Given the way things are going, I'm feeling like we will be in a position where the festival can technically be safely held. By that I mean, from a legal perspective, the festival will be able to go-ahead sans social distancing (but with certain measures in place such as people needing to have their temp checked or provide proof of vaccination to enter or something). But I'm not convinced that we'll be in a spot where it can feasibly be held in terms of the number of people able to/willing to purchase a ticket, travel, etc. for the festival. I can see the festival being announced and then cancelled in like, July or August if pre-sales aren't what they are hoping for. Then again, it could also go gang-busters because people who might not have done so otherwise are so eager to get out and do something.
I mean reading and leads sold out all of their tickets in a week. Which was like 170-200k per event. Idk what their restrictions are but that’s insane. People want to go back to shows. Once bands find out they can tour and announce dates I have a feeling a lot of the fall tours will be complete sell outs just off of how people haven’t gone to anything in over a year plus and want to go to a show and get out and do something fun
Riot fest will do fine for whatever they can sell if the city give them permits and allows the festival to actually take place
I think the Wonder Years doing at least one of those albums is very likely. And I'd be totally down for that! I could see a second stage with New Found Glory headlining, the Wonder Years as direct support, AAR, Simple Plan, a few similar acts TBA, with MM@TA opening up the whole thing. Personally, I'd like to see more punk and hardcore represented in the next wave because that is entirely under-represented compared to most years in the current line-up. For more "classic" bands, I'd like to see NOFX, Alkaline Trio, Naked Raygun, the Lawrence Arms, Lagwagon, the Suicide Machines, MxPx, Millencolin, Strike Anywhere, Street Dogs, Unwritten Law, and/or Pulley. For "newer" bands? A Wilhelm Scream, the Bombpops, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, the Decline, Pears, Direct Hit!, and/or No Trigger. I'm also imagining there will be at least 1-2 more ska bands added (one to replace Toots and another to open that stage). I would love to see one of the "new-tone" ska bands open that stage. Catbite, Kill Lincoln, Call Me Malcolm, We Are The Union, or Bad Operation would all be great in that opening slot. It'd be cool to see the Bosstones later in the day too. My brain is kinda racked right now, so I'm not being very imaginative but... That's really what I want. It feels like we have plenty in the "indie" realm at the moment (using that term very loosely). So I could do without any more of that being on the line-up.
Depending on rise against fall tour plans they could be back since they are slow burning their new album announcement with daily teases. If they don’t play this year I think they will be on the lineup next year
Oh, and a stage with "heavier" music would be pretty rad. My dream would be Deftones headlining with A.F.I., Every Time I Die, Snapcase, Higher Power, Converge (or Cave-In), and some smaller buzz band. I know A.F.I. isn't heavy, but they would be a decent fit all things considered... I think having the "year off" puts some bands in play (like Rise Against) who might not have been in the mix previously. I think FOB will probably depend on whether or not Hella Mega actually goes ahead. I could see that tour getting cut and FOB hitting up Riot Fest to join in this year.
If you look at their cancelled dates poster from last year they were playing so I think it's pretty likely
If ETID is on the bell then I hope that somehow they get AEW as one of the sponsors for the event, that would be amazing.
Hella mega would cost too much to bring over fully if it does get somehow cancelled but I doubt that will happen and it will go on as scheduled this year or get postponed to next year
I had the thought recently that if hella mega doesnt get rescheduled until post-riot then The Interrupters could be an awesome snag for a one off. maybe as the toots replacement? though theyd be way higher on the poster than toots was. That ETID->AFI -> Deftones idea made me squeal out loud. add Fever 333 in front of all them and id probably be parked at that stage all damn day.
Oh, I wasn't implying that they would bring the full package with them. Haha. Just Fall Out Boy. Although, like Mike said below - the Interrupters would be a good (and reasonable) snag from there too! I don't know that they'd be higher than Toots, purely for the "legacy" factor. On the current poster, I think the Interrupters would be somewhere on the same line Toots was... Maybe just before Jawbox? Right? I'd lose my mind for that. Not so much for Fever 333 at this point, but... The general idea of a "heavy but melodic" stage has me stoked haha.
Man, that line-up reaks of early to mid 2000's emo/hardcore crossover in the best way. That line-up will speak to a very specific fan who came up during that time haha. I could definitely see some of those bands being on Riot Fest. Personally, I'd love to see Cave In, Touche Amore, Turnstile, Stretch Arm Strong, Boysetsfire, and Bad Cop/Bad Cop. Realistically, the crossover will probably be Underoath, Anberlin, From Autumn to Ashes and Face to Face. Haha.
Adding to the ones you mentioned, I would love to see Every Time I Die, Converge and Further Seems Forever
Welcome back to the early 2000s! Haha. I remember having tickets to HellFest and the line-up was a bunch of hardcore and metalcore bands, shit that was in that same realm but way more melodic (e.g., Anti-Flag, Bouncing Souls, Against Me!, Strike Anywhere, Rise Against, Smoke Or Fire) and then like... Gym Class Hereos, Over It, Houston Calls, and the A.K.A.'s. Krazy Fest had pretty similar line-ups too, in that regard. Not quite as extreme as those bands being on Furnace Fest, but same vibe. And I think that's the sort of "vibe" the promoters are going for with this festival line-up.