Riot Fest Postponed to 2021 and Announces New Lineup Featuring My Chemical Romance, Run The Jewels and Pixies

Chicago based punk rock music festival Riot Fest has officially been postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and has announced its updated lineup, which will feature headliners My Chemical Romance, Run The Jewels, Pixies, and The Smashing Pumpkins. The festival will take place from September 17 to 19. Other artists and bands that will be performing at Riot Fest 2021 include Coheed And Cambria, Lupe Fiasco, Vic Mensa, Sublime, The All-American Rejects, Best Coast, Jawbox and many more.

Newark based alt rock band My Chemical Romance is the only band that is headlining Riot Fest 2021 that was included in the original 2020 lineup. The band was set to hit the road for a reunion tour throughout the spring of 2020, but the tour was ultimately cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hip hop duo Run The Jewels is coming off of the release of their most recent album, Run The Jewels IV, which received high acclaim among both fans and critics. The album was politically charged and criticized the treatment of the black community in America, as songs from the album like  “A Few Words For The Firing Squad,” spoke loudly and sharply against police brutality and systemic racism.

Boston based alt rock band the Pixies have kept their fans busy throughout the quarantine through their release of three singles from their upcoming album Beneath the Eyrie LP 2: “The Good Works of Cyrus,” “Please Don’t Go,” and “Chapel Hill.” Each song demonstrates a different strength of the band, and shows their overall ability to stretch themselves musically.

Chicago based alt rock band The Smashing Pumpkins have had their 2020 plans rocked by the global pandemic, as the band had to first postpone and then cancel their 2020 Rock Invasion 2 tour. They also had to cancel their appearances at the Beale Street Festival in Memphis, as well as their stadium tour opening for Guns ‘N Roses.

Check out the official festival flyer below:

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

Drew Feinerman: I have just completed my senior at the University of Michigan majoring in international studies with an emphasis in political economics and development, with a minor in Chinese language and culture, and I have recently been accepted into the Berklee School of Music's masters of music business program. Although my academic interests include economics, political science, and history, I consider music to be my one true passion. Music is, and has always been, a driving force for the way I think and act every day of my life. I have been playing the tenor saxophone since the age of ten, and playing an instrument at a high level has allowed me to only further my understanding and appreciation for music. While I grew up listening to predominantly classic rock, I soon found myself gravitating toward jazz, hip-hop, funk, and other genres, as my learned to both play and analyze music as a listener. As a writer, I am able to apply my skills both as a musician and a listener, and look forward to the opportunity to being able to express my thoughts on various stories in the music industry.
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