Riot Fest Announces First Wave of Artists for 2018

The once punk rock-centric festival that spurred reunions of the original Misfits, Jawbreaker, The Replacements, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and others, has announced the first lineup for 2018. Riot Fest has been growing in popularity on the national stage of music festivals since it began in 2005. The artist announcements always seem to include some surprise reunion or improbable situation. This year’s announcement skips the reunion drama, but include some huge names in alternative, rock, and punk.

For an event that started by focusing on punk bands like Bad Religion and Social Distortion, this year’s lineup features a large number of indie and alternative bands. Blink-182 take the top bill for headliners at this year’s event. Beck joins the event fresh off 2017’s Colorsalbum, his most straightforward pop album to date. Nostalgia acts like Elvis Costello, Jerry Lee Lewis, Blondie, and Incubus also make their way into the list of headliners.

While fans of the festival’s punk roots may not be as excited by the headliner slots as a Danzig/Only reunion, the middle of the flyer is a haven of bands fans of Riot Radio would enjoy. UK82 legends The Exploited join old school punk icons Adolescents and The Avengers in a trifecta of groups most fans of old school punk would never expect to see in the same place. Other punk acts like Bad Religion, Face to Face, The Bouncing Souls, Dillinger Four, Conflict, Piebald, Cobra Skulls, Lower Class Brats, Total Chaos, and others could make the fest worthwhile for punkers.

Indie and alternative music is taking a bigger place at the Riot Fest table this year, with Young the Giant, Interpol, Alkaline Trio, and Father John Misty rounding out the headliners. Bleachers, Matt and Kim, Twin Peaks, and Cat Power add to the lineup of non-punk musicians pushing their way to the top of the fest. A significant number of hip hop artists also make their way on the festival bill. Atmosphere, Cypress Hill, and Digable Planets add a new dimension to this year’s fest.

Riot Fest takes place September 14-16 in Chicago. Tickets are now on sale here.