Photos: Riot Fest Delights Fans & Is Honored by the City of Chicago During 20th Anniversary Edition
For the past 20 years, Riot Fest has treated fans to a weekend full of punk music and more with a community comprised of some of the most creative, fun-loving, and supportive people including attendees, artists, festival-organizers, and basically everyone who steps foot into the gates. In 2025, the event celebrated it’s 20th anniversary in a big way featuring performances by world-class musicians – like Green Day, Blink-182, and Jack White – the highly-anticipated appearance of John Stamos, and an official proclamation from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson declaring Sept. 21, 2025 as Riot Fest Day in the city.
Riot Fest co-founder Mike Petryshyn, AKA Riot Mike, was given the honor by Mayor Johnson during a special ceremony inside the Riot Fest Historical Society – which was located inside the Fireside Bowl replica in Riot Land – on Sunday afternoon. In part, the proclamation of Riot Fest Day, reads, “The City of Chicago honors Riot Fest not only as a celebration of music, but as a living testament to the power of creativity, independence, and community spirit to enrich civic life.”
Petryshyn thanked Johnson, Alderwoman Monique L. Scott of the 24th Ward, his family, colleagues, attendees, and everyone who has helped Riot Fest become what it is today. It was a special, tender moment that shined a light on how much heart and hard work goes into putting on the event each year.
Of course, Riot Fest wouldn’t exist without the music. This year’s lineup featured a lot of Rebellious Magazine favorites. The recently-reunited Rilo Kiley closed out the Radical Stage on Friday night, where, on Sunday, DEHD brought their surf-infused sounds to the masses. Another newly-reunited group, Girl in a Coma – Jenn Alva, Nina Diaz, and Phanie Diaz – brought big energy to their Saturday afternoon set and Rico Nasty gave fans an opportunity to rock out to some hip-hop sharing a setlist that included “Trust Issues” and “Tia Tamera” while dominating the Riot Stage on Friday afternoon. “Weird Al” Yankovic’s Weird World Stage offered something completely unique on Day One with artists like Shonen Knife, Mac Sabbath, and “Werid Al” himself performing to packed audiences.
The 2025 festivities also featured quite a few Chicago artists including Alkaline Trio. The band’s vocalist Matt Skiba also joined his former bandmates, Friday night’s headliners Blink-182, to perform “Bored to Death.” Illinois’s own Smoking Popes played their seminal 1994 album Born to Quit in its entirety and local punks Pegboy delivered an interactive set with vocalist Larry Damore venturing into the photo pit to get up close and personal with fans.
Elsewhere, Dropkick Murphys continued to fight against fascism with a setlist that included “Who’ll Stand With Us,” “Boys on the Docks,” “Bury the Bones,” and “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” IDLES delivered THE set of the weekend dropping a ferocious setlist that included “Mr. Motivator,” “ I’m Scum” – with a “Free Palestine” chant in the middle – the feminist, anti-capitalist rager “Mother”– and “Never Fight a Man With a Perm” which featured a surprise performance from Jack White and his face-melting guitar.
“This one is about all the centrist politicians. I implore you as someone who travels the world, to remind yourselves that we are all here for the same thing. We want love, and we want to be loved. Thank you very much. Don’t let the cunts divide you,” said vocalist Joe Talbot before Idles ripped into “Divide and Conquer” on the Riot Stage on Sunday night.
Lambrini Girls, Cliffdiver, James, Weakened Friends, Bad Religion, and Weezer were also among the weekend’s highlights.
Check out photos from all three days of Riot Fest below and click here for more information about the festival. Tickets for the 2026 edition – which will take place in Chicago Sept 18-20, 2026 – can be purchased at Riotfest.org.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
