Riot Fest and Shaky Knees landed on the same weekend—September 19-21, 2025—stirring a heated debate across festival communities.
Riot Fest Highlights
- Location: Douglass Park, Chicago
- Headliners: blink-182, Weezer, Green Day
- Other Acts: Jack White, Rilo Kiley, The Hold Steady, Sparks, and "Weird Al" Yankovic
Shaky Knees Standouts
- Location: Piedmont Park, Atlanta (first year here)
- Headliners: Deftones, My Chemical Romance, blink-182
- Notables: Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, Cage The Elephant, Vampire Weekend, Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys, Public Enemy, Pixies, TV On The Radio, Lucy Dacus, Devo, Wet Leg, Franz Ferdinand, Stereophonics, and "Weird Al" Yankovic
Community Pulse
Reddit r/shakyknees showed divided opinions: some mourn missing Riot Fest exclusives like Rilo Kiley and Jack White; others swear by Shaky Knees’ tighter curation and vibe. The shared presence of "Weird Al" Yankovic invites speculation about his sets and possible special appearances.
Festival Clash Effects
The overlap with Riot Fest and other concurrent events like Louder Than Life is forcing fans to choose carefully. Riot Fest’s sprawling lineup contrasts with Shaky Knees’ focused curation—both strong but distinctly different experiences.
For fans, the weekend demands tough decisions on which lineup and festival atmosphere to chase, making September 2025 a fiercely competitive festival weekend.
Source: r/ShakyKnees