The Riot Fest 2025 schedule has dropped, and with headliners like Jack White, Weezer, and the Sex Pistols lined up, attendees are facing some serious set-time headaches. The festival’s packed lineup for weekend two, September 19-21 at Chicago’s Douglass Park, is fueling lively discussions across r/riotfest and fan forums as fans scramble to map out their Riot Fest experience.
Saturday’s Impossible Choices
- Jack White vs. All Time Low: Two powerhouse performances collide, forcing fans to pick between rock’s electric guitar legend and pop-punk favorites.
- Weezer vs. Sex Pistols: Weezer performs “The Blue Album” while the Sex Pistols, featuring Frank Carter, celebrate “Never Mind the Bollocks,” both at the same time.
- The Beach Boys vs. Dropkick Murphys: Summer classic vibes vs. Celtic punk fury — another clash that’s got attendees debating priorities.
- Superchunk vs. GWAR vs. Helmet: A three-way battle of alternative giants challenges fans to split up or face missing out.
- Militarie Gun vs. Agent Orange vs. H2O: Hardcore and punk acts fight for attention in simultaneous slots.
Saturday’s schedule has attendees sharing strategies to catch parts of multiple sets — some resigned to marathon stage-hopping, others vowing to “pull a fast one” with quick set change timing.
Sunday’s Jam-Packed Lineup
- IDLES vs. Texas Is the Reason: Fans must choose between the raw power of IDLES or the emo-legend status of Texas Is the Reason.
- The Linda Lindas vs. Lambrini Girls: Rising youthful punk bands go head-to-head, dividing the early crowd.
Sunday continues the trend of close calls, with festival-goers mixing excitement with “FOMO” mode as they plan routes and backup sets to optimize their Riot Fest weekend.
Community Buzz and Festival Spirit
Despite the numerous conflicts, the Riot Fest community remains energized and playful, sharing memes about frantic sprints between stages, and debates over must-see moments. Forums are filled with passionate calls to prioritize full album performances, nostalgia acts, or rare festival appearances.
With fan favorites stacked so tightly, Riot Fest 2025 is shaping up as one of the most challenging yet thrilling festival lineups in years.
For the full Riot Fest lineup details and official schedule announcements, visit:
- Brooklyn Vegan’s Riot Fest 2025 Set Times
- Block Club Chicago Coverage
- Pitchfork’s Riot Fest 2025 Lineup Announcement