Riot Fest Chicago celebrates 10 years with a stellar lineup

Riot Fest marks the end of the summer music festival season. What started out as a multi-venue music concert in Chicago, circa 2005, has grown to a three-city multi-day festival and carnival. Known for booking both big names and indie acts, Riot Fest’s diverse lineup crosses all musical genres: punk, hip hop, reggae, indie pop, and metal, to name a few.

With seven stages and acts like Modest Mouse, Ice Cube, 88 Fingers Louie, and Damian Marley, organizers are pulling no punches to mark the significance of the festival’s ten-year anniversary.  Regardless of music preference, Riot Fest Chicago has something for everyone; aside from the headliners, here are a few of this year’s must-see performers:

Death: Death is considered by many to be one of the first punk bands in the world.  The Detroit-based band, formed in 1971, was making punk music long before punk became a music genre.  The trio has heavily influenced many of today’s punk bands and has played a significant role in the genre’s popularity. Death takes the stage on Friday, Sept 11^th at 1:15pm [Rock Stage]

Psalm One: Psalm One, also known as Hologram Kizzie, is a Chicago-based MC who has been compared to the likes of Lupe Fiasco.  There are very few promising female MCs in the industry, but Psalm One’s unique and catchy lyrical style is about as versatile as it gets. Because of this versatility, she has the ability to flow effortlessly over a variety of musical styles: jazz, rock, R&B, and of course, hip-hop. Psalm One will begin her set at 4:30pm on Friday, Sept. 11^th. [Cover image. Radicals Stage]

Skip Marley: While eighteen-year-old Skip Marley is a newcomer to the music scene, he is no stranger to it. He hails from the legendary Marley family and is the grandson of the late Bob Marley. Skip is one of three Marley men taking the stage at this year’s Riot Fest. His single “Cry To Me” has become increasingly popular since its release earlier this year. And while he is heavily influenced by his family’s musical legacy, Skip is looking to make a name for himself. Skip Marley’s performance time is still TBA.

Twin River: Listening to alternative-pop band Twin River is like going back in time. Evident in their music are influences from bands like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. While some alternative-pop bands miss the mark by being cliché, Twin River is atypical due to their musical and vocal style. Twin River takes elements of classic rock and punk rock to create their unconventional sound. Twin River plays on Sunday, Sept 13^th at 3:30pm. [Radicals Stage]