Riot Fest 2025 has officially unleashed its Late Night Aftershows lineup, igniting a wave of excitement and speculation among fans across Reddit and music forums. Set to take place from Wednesday, September 17 through Sunday, September 21, these 19 shows will transform Chicago venues into hotspots for punk, indie, and alternative music lovers.
Aftershows Lineup Highlights
- The Damned bringing punk legends to The Vic
- Knuckle Puck delivering punchy pop-punk vibes
- Mac Sabbath with their anarchic Black Sabbath parody
- Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, a nod to punk royalty
- The Front Bottoms showcasing their indie-folk rock charm
- Alkaline Trio fueling dark, emotive punk sets
- Texas Is The Reason reuniting emo fans
- The Bouncing Souls closing with their classic punk energy
The aftershows will activate beloved Chicago venues including The Vic, Bottom Lounge, Reggie’s Chicago, Concord Music Hall, the Metro, the Empty Bottle, Sleeping Village, and Cobra Lounge, offering intimate settings for fans to catch favorites beyond the main Riot Fest grind.
The Riot Fest 20th Anniversary Show: Mystery Headliner Builds Hype
The crown jewel of these late-night events is the Riot Fest 20th Anniversary Show slated for Friday, September 19 at the Metro. Despite the lineup announcement, the headliner remains a secret, driving heavy speculation online. Reddit chatter is buzzing with hopeful guesses including Jack White, Green Day, and other genre icons.
Fans are also rallying behind acts like Sincere Engineer and dreaming about a possible Rilo Kiley appearance without conflicting schedules. This layer of mystery supercharges anticipation for one of Riot Fest’s biggest milestones yet.
Tickets & How to Secure Your Spot
Ticket presales kick off August 6 with general on-sale the following day, August 7. Fans eager to lock in access should head to riotfest.org pronto—these aftershows offer a prime chance to catch Riot Fest’s finest in rare, electric close-quarters performances.
Riot Fest 2025’s aftershows round out a landmark celebration, promising punchy sets, historic moments, and a few secret treats for the passionate festival community.
Stay tuned to Extra Chill Festival Wire for all updates as more details emerge and the countdown to September kicks into high gear.
Source: r/riotfest