Considering that major summer music festivals like Pitchfork and Lollapalooza have already canceled their 2020 editions, it should come as no surprise that Riot Fest is also pulling the plug on its event in Douglas Park, rescheduling the punk rock party for September 17–19, 2021. What we didn't expect is an initial Riot Fest lineup announcement more than a year before the festival is set to take place—remember, it wasn't so long ago that organizers waited until the week before the festival was set to take place to confirm its headlining acts.
Headliners for Riot Fest's 2021 edition include My Chemical Romance (the only act that was confirmed to play the canceled 2020 festival), nearly the entire original lineup of the Smashing Pumpkins, hip-hop duo Run the Jewels and stalwart alt-rockers the Pixies. Other notable acts in the first wave include Lupe Fiasco (performing The Cool), Coheed and Cambria, Sublime with Rome, Circle Jerks, Toots and the Maytals, Best Coast and Big Freedia.
Anyone with tickets to Riot Fest 2020 will be able to use them to access the 2021 edition of the festival. Plus, as an added perk for those willing to plan that far in advance, current ticket-holders and anyone who purchases a ticket before July 16 will have access to an extra night of concerts in Douglas Park on Thursday, September 16, 2021. There's no lineup for the bonus night yet, but organizers are promising "huge surprise sets"—an especially gruesome performance by GWAR, perhaps?
Tickets for Riot Fest 2021 are on sale now, with a three-day pass going for $150 and three-day VIP passes starting at $300. Of course, there are still two more waves of artists that will be announced in the more than 14 months before the festival—at least we have something to look forward to? Check out the initial Riot Fest 2021 lineup below.
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