A look into Riot Fest favorites
With Chicago's Riot Fest coming in the next few weeks, I thought there'd be no better time to talk about some of my personal favorites and must-sees for the week.
Friday starts us out strong. Headlined by Twenty One Pilots, Iggy Pop, and Rise Against, to name a few. My first pick for Friday, however, would have to be Radio Free Alice. Radio Free Alice is an alternative band formed in Sydney, Australia, in 2020. The band released their first EP, self-titled, in 2023. The EP includes 4 songs and really defines the band's sound. Radio Free Alice is set to release their first studio album, "What's In Between," in October later this year. My second must-see for Friday had to be Violet Grohl. Daughter of legend Dave Grohl, Violet released her debut album "Be Sweet To Me" in May of this year. "Be Sweet To Me" is my current album of the year, and for good reason. Headlined by songs like "Bug In The Cake" and "595," Violet Grohl offers a mix of punk and alternative. Heavy guitar and a distinctive voice, something I can't get enough of. Violet Grohl is definitely going to be one to watch for the foreseeable future, and I can't wait to watch her grow as an artist.
Saturday is headlined by Tool and Morrissey. Saturday would be my most chill day. Although there are plenty of solid bands with diehard fans, none of these make me scream. My number pick for Saturday, however, would be Sugar. Sugar, formed in Brooklyn in 1992, has all those songs you love but can't remember the name of. Sugar's 1992 "Copper Blue" is the band's best album by far, featuring the songs "If I Can't Change Your Mind," "A Good Idea," and "Changes." Sugar is the perfect summer band for me; I especially love the guitar sound in "If I Can't Change Your Mind."
Sunday is by far my favorite day of Riot Fest. Headlined by Pierce The Veil, Alanis Morissette, and William Shatner? My first band of the day is Sincere Engineer. Sincere Engineer is a punk rock band from Chicago, led by Deanna Belos on lead vocals and guitar. The band came on the scene in 2017 with their debut album "Rhombithian." However, the band really exploded with their 2023 album "Cheap Grills." Standout songs like "Fireplace" and "California King." I love Deanna Belos' screamy-like lyrics, and they really help define the band's sound. My second must-see band is "This Is Loreli." Nate Amos' This Is Loreli" is emerging to be one of the most iconic indie rock projects. The 2024 album "Box for Buddy, Box for Star" finally gave the project the recognition it deserved, amassing hundreds of thousands of listens. The super deluxe version of "Box for Buddy, Box for Star" brings together so many incredible artists; too many to count on one hand. This Is Loreli is set to release their next album, "The Singer In My Band," on September 11th. I can't wait to listen to Nate Amos's full-length album.
My third and final must-see on Sunday is The Beths. The Beths have been a favorite band of mine for years now, and I can't wait to see the type of performance they put on. The band released their first album, "Future Me Hates Me," in 2018. I absolutely love everything about The Beths and have yet to be disappointed by them. Some of my favorite songs include "When You Know You Know" and "Expert In A Dying Field" from the 2022 album, "Expert In A Dying Field." Their most recent album, "Straight Line Was A Lie," was released last year and has more personal favorites like "Straight Line Was A Lie," "No Joy," and "Metal." I'd definitely recommend The Beths to anyone who is a fan of Soccer Mommy or Momma.
I'll be attending Riot Fest on Sunday September 20th and can't wait! Riot Fest has so much to offer and will definitely be different from any festival I've experienced previously. See you in the corndog pit!
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