Concert Review: Highlights and Memories from Riot Fest 2025

Dan DiMartino
1 day ago
6 min read

Riot Fest 2025 was everything I hoped for and then some. Held again in Chicago's Douglas Park, the festival delivered three amazing days filled with punk, metal, emo, and everything in between. With a lineup that was a perfect balance of nostalgia for both the older generation and my generation, while also showcasing the new emerging acts. This year’s lineup was a perfect blend to honor the bands that defined a genre of music and highlighted newer acts.

From the moment I arrived on Friday, the energy was electric. Every press person I was talking to while waiting in line to get my credentials was just as happy as I was to be there. There were high fives, handshakes, smiles, and jokes happening with no ego stroking or anyone looking down on each other. We all had a job to do and were there to help each other out.

After receiving my credentials, the only thought I had was that if the crowd was going to be anything like the press line, then this was going to be an amazing weekend, and it was. The crowd was full of punks, metalheads, emos, bananas, wizards, and for most of the three days, I was shoulder to shoulder in a dust cloud of denim and tattoos. Simply put, Riot Fest did not disappoint!

Riot Fest featured headliners Blink-182, Weezer, Jack White, and Green Day, with supporting performances by Bad Religion, Jawbreaker, and Idles. Each headliner and supporting act held significance for attendees at Riot Fest. These bands are the ones both the previous generation and mine grew up with. They are the ones that sparked our love for the music we enjoy today. These bands are more than just great live performers; they are integral to our identities.

The headliners offered a well-rounded mix of pop punk with Blink-182, alternative with Weezer, punk rock/mainstream rock with Green Day, and the uniquely genre-blending Jack White, who blends blues, rock, alternative, punk, and folk. Jawbreaker and Bad Religion were the supporting acts on Sunday and are the foundational bands that created this genre of music that we love. Simply put, without them, we don’t get Green Day or Blink-182.

The magic moments of Riot Fest don’t always come from the headliners. Don't get me wrong, there were magical moments with the headliners, like when Blink-182 covered the Descendents' song “Hope” and brought out Stephen Egerton to play with them, or when Idles brought out Jack White during the song “Never Fight a Man With a Perm.” But the true magical moments of Riot Fest mostly come when you are discovering new bands or witnessing legendary acts that are a surprising fit for the festival. This year's standout band from the left field was none other than The Beach Boys.

When the Riot Fest lineup was announced and I noticed The Beach Boys, I couldn't help but laugh at the idea of moshing and crowd surfing during their performance. As Riot Fest approached, I became increasingly excited about the chance to witness something likely unprecedented at their show. On the day of the event, they were the direct support for Weezer on the Riot Stage, and the audience was massive. The crowd went wild as they took the stage, and then, the long-standing joke of 12 years finally materialized. John Stamos joined The Beach Boys on stage. He played the drums, guitar, sang, and the crowd loved every moment.

When the band played “Forever,” John Stamos thanked “Riot Fest” for a decade of “goofing on me” and dedicated the song to Bob and his wife Kelly. This was a beautiful moment. As a long-time Riot Fest goer (this being my 7th or 8th time), the joke came full circle, and it made me wonder what the next decade-long gag will be.

Another captivating aspect of Riot Fest is discovering new artists I hadn't encountered before. The bands that pleasantly surprised me were Harrison Gorden, Cliffdiver, Speed of Light, The Paradox, and Soft Play.

Harrison Gordon is an artist I was unfamiliar with until I stumbled upon their music while walking around. Drawn by their sound, I followed it and watched as their audience grew throughout the set, eventually doubling in size. I was impressed by their stage presence, the energy they exuded, and the band's tight performance. Later, while waiting for Weird Al to perform, I met one of the band members' parents and shared my thoughts with them. Harrison Gordon has the potential to become the next Free Throw or Hot Mulligan and is certainly a band to watch.

Cliffdiver is an incredibly enjoyable band, and it’s evident in their performances. They'll give their all on stage, even if there's just a single person in the audience. They mix punk, ska, and alternative elements to craft a unique sound. Their raw, vulnerable, and deeply relatable lyrics resonate powerfully with listeners, while their music remains loud, catchy, and energetic, prompting the crowd to sing along with genuine emotion. It's truly remarkable. Cliffdiver deserves to be twice as popular as they are now, and I believe they will gain significant recognition soon.

I decided to check out Speed of Light because a friend insisted I shouldn't miss their performance, and he was absolutely correct. Their visceral rock sound, infused with strong punk and grunge influences, heavy riffs, powerful vocals, and an energetic stage presence, was truly impressive. This trio sounds like a five-member band, and Riley’s vocals were phenomenal. Their songs aren't polished; they're vibrant with youthful passion, and witnessing it was amazing.

Like many others, I discovered The Paradox from Facebook or Instagram after one of their first songs went viral. Since then, I have watched them blow up in popularity and collaborate with Travis Barker on the song “Bender.” Naturally, I was curious about how the live performance would be, and I will say that they didn’t disappoint. Being one of the first bands to perform Sunday in the direct sun, they made the crowd go wild. It was amazing to see circle pits, crowd surfers, the crowd jumping in harmony, and fans singing the lyrics back, especially for a band that has been together for less than two years. They are a must-see for anyone who loves pop punk and who wants to have fun at a show.

Soft Play was one of my most anticipated bands on the bill. I had heard of them and had seen clips of their shows, and it looked absolutely bonkers, which is what I wanted from them. I went into their set with high hopes, and by the end of the show, they exceeded my expectations. From the start, with the raw guitar riffs and simplistic drums, the sound punched through the crowd.

Mosh pits broke out, and there were constant crowd surfers. The best part of their set wasn’t the all-female mosh pit, the number of crowd surfers, or the energy they gave off, but the fact that Soft Play played “Everything and Nothing.” The crowd was screaming the words back, and you felt the emotion and pain from people who have lost loved ones cry while singing this song. I put down the camera for this moment and let the emotions take over. A beautiful moment that felt right to be there, present with the crowd, and not capture it. Soft Play was my favorite set all weekend.

I also have to give a shout-out to the older ladies by the “POOPLE” sign and water refill station. I don’t know who was playing 80’s pop, but they were having the time of their lives. They were dancing and constantly put a smile on my face even on Sunday when the heat definitely took over. Riot Fest, if you read this and know who they were, you need to have them back!

For me personally, the most memorable moment of the weekend was Sunday when I walked in and the emotions started to get to me. This could be because I was sleep-deprived or that everything was finally starting to hit me: that I am living out my dream. I felt alive all three days when I hadn’t felt like that in a long time. And that is what makes Riot Fest amazing. It brings us back to a much simpler time and lets us be kids again for three days. It’s really like a camp punks event, except without the camping because we need to shower.

When I say Riot Fest is one of the best festivals, I truly do mean it. They put a lot of thought into the festival every year with the lineup, side attractions, and vendors. The best part about Riot Fest is that they don’t take themselves so seriously. When your slogan is “Riot Fest Sucks,” your running joke is getting John Stamos to perform, and the Facebook responses are extremely sarcastic, how can people take you seriously? But when you do get inside the festival grounds, you can see the effort and love that they put into this festival, which makes it one of the best festivals around. I can’t wait for next year's Riot Fest!

Day 1 Bands

Harrison Gordon

Big Ass Truck

Mac Sabbath

Touche Amore

Puddles Pitty Party

Samiam

Camper Van Beethoven

Hams Way

The Hold Steady

Senses Fail

Alkaline Trio