Take just one look at Riot Fest’s 2023 lineup and you will immediately see that the Chicago festival – taking place in Douglass Park Sept. 15-17 – is delivering an unbelievable list of headliners including Foo Fighters, Turnstile, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, Queens of the Stone Age, The Cure and The Mars Volta. Beyond the headliners, you’ll find Tegan and Sara, The Interrupters, Parliament Funkadelic ft. George Clinton, Pup, The Dresden Dolls, Flogging Molly and many more all building upon this killer lineup.
As you make your way down the poster, you will find that this year’s undercard, the bands listed in smaller print, are among some of the best sets that you won’t want to miss at Riot Fest. With less than one month to go until Riot Fest 2023, here’s a look at five must-see undercard acts.
Smoking Popes
Local legends the Smoking Popes are Riot Fest veterans having last played back in 2016. The group’s punk sensibility paired with their infectious and poppy melodies provide the perfect combination of musical ingredients for a fantastic set. Josh, Eli and Matt Caterer, along with drummer Mike Felumlee, “Need You Around” for their Sunday Riot Fest set.
Olivia Jean
Earlier this year, Olivia Jean dropped her third album, Raving Ghost, via Third Man Records. Building on her bubblegum garage sounds with polished production and style for days, Jean’s Friday set will be among the coolest of the entire weekend. Expect mesmerizing vocals and cutting guitars to pull fans to her can’t-miss set.
Just Mustard
If you’re looking for a momentary break from all the moshing, crowd-surfing, and circle pit action at Riot Fest, the shoegazey brilliance of a set from Just Mustard promises to be the perfect palette cleanser. This Irish band released their stellar sophomore album, Heart Under, via Partisan Records back in 2022 and headlined the Empty Bottle later that year. They also dazzled while opening for their label-mates Fontaines D.C. when they performed at The Vic last year. Don’t miss them on Sept. 17.
Just Mustard performs at The Vic Theatre in Chicago on May 6, 2022.
Corey Feldman
Best known for his roles in iconic films like The Goonies, Stand by Me and The Lost Boys, Corey Feldman has also been releasing and recording rock music since the 1990s. Only Riot Fest could give fans the chance to see Feldman perform live on a day that also boasts sets from Insane Clown Posse, Enter Shikari, and Jenny Beth. Talk about eclectic!
The Aquadolls
Get a healthy dose of self-love and positivity by adding The Aquadolls set to your Friday schedule. This trio – led by Melissa Brooks – defines femme-punk fun. They rocked Subterranean earlier this year and their Riot Fest set will surely bring a club-feel to the open air of Douglass Park.
Riot Fest takes place in Chicago’s Douglass Park on Sept. 15-17. Click here to pick-up tickets and head over to Riotfest.org for more information.