Riot Fest & Carnival Chicago 2016 in its 5th year as a major Chicago festival, second year located in Chicago's near west side Douglas Park, was a smashing success san Morrissey's performance. This festival has garnered a growing reputation and attendance for bringing the best of punk, hard rock, alternative, roots, rap and metal to this multi-stage, three day event.
Douglas Park Chicago, IL
Sept 16 - 18, 2016 Riotfest Chicago presented 127 bands on six stages plus punk-centric merchandise, a circus sideshow, a ferris wheel, local foods, VIP areas and lots of craft beer. Not to mention pre-event shows, and after shows throughout the city by the participating live music clubs; Concord Music Hall, Cobra Lounge, Bottom Lounge, Double Door and Reggies.
The music schedule was so packed, everyone was bound to have conflicting set times to see their favorite bands, but so what, the music was all great with rare exception. Not surprisingly Morrissey was that rare exception. He left fans disappointed and angry by playing 30 minutes of video before finally coming out on stage to sing, only to cut the set short due to the city curfew. Other than that, the schedules and stages ran like clockwork. No small feat to pull off. So kudos to the Riotfest production crews and attending bands.
Highlights included The Specials, Julian Marley, Bad Religion, GWAR, Flaming Lips, The Original Misfits, Sleater-Kinney, Rob Zombie, Juliette Lewis & the Licks, The Toasters, Social Distortion and Fitz & the Tantrums. And special mention to some up-and-coming artists that blew everyone away including Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas and Donna Missal and The Far East.
