Let’s be real: Riot Fest is Warped Tour for those who can drink legally.
The punk rock, the mohawks, the Chuck Taylors – it’s all there! “Nostalgia, Repackaged” is not the official slogan of Riot Fest, but the philosophy definitely underpins the festival’s offerings – including the carnival, which is smaller this year without the midway.
That is not to speak ill of Riot Fest. Nostalgia can be fun, and in the case of Riot Fest, it typically is.
This year, the Warped Tour comparison feels extra apt, mostly because Riot Fest’s rollout has been fraught with issues. The festival fell victim to hacking at Ticketfly during the spring, then the second wave of performers hit a snag — the full lineup wasn’t announced until a week before the festival.
In the spirit of the throwback-friendly fest, we’re borrowing a bit of the past as well, using high-school superlatives to assess this year’s lineup. Click through the gallery above to see if your favorite band made the list.
