Soggy weather didn't dissuade attendees from showing up to the first day of Riot Fest, September 11, 2015.
Unlike last year, we didn’t get drenched on the first day of Riot Fest, but the grounds in Douglas Park were pretty soggy thanks to the morning rain. Gates to the festival opened nearly 30 minutes late as organizers scrambled to spread mulch and put down planks, but the countermeasures were no match for thousands of boots treading through the fields. Wear your beater shoes—it’s gonna be another muddy year at the season's last summer music festival.
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Wet conditions aside, Riot Fest’s transition to Douglas Park appeared to be an improvement—entry lines moved quickly, concessions were plentiful and the overall layout was far more spacious than last year’s constricted configuration. Even the distribution of bands seemed more tightly curated this year, with outliers like Lee “Scratch” Perry and Slightly Stoopid taking over the Roots Stage, while hard rock and punk acts dominated the main stages.
Throughout the day, we witnessed a fervent performance from Against Me!, Coheed and Cambria’s twisting prog riffs and the theatrical vocal stylings of Faith No More. As the sky darkened and the porta potty lines lengthened, No Doubt powered through its catalog of peppy pop songs, Ice Cube screened clips from Straight Outta Compton and Motörhead delivered the evening’s loudest headlining set. Relive the first day of Riot Fest with photos of the bands and fans in attendance.
