After attending my first Riot Fest ever, I can confidently say that… Riot Fest Sucks.
Sunday of Riot Fest 2021 wrapped up an amazing weekend full of energy, community, and art. The final day offered a bittersweet finale that featured a bunch of heavy-hitters to enjoy.
We’ve been fortunate to watch hometown talent Kenny Hoopla transition from rocking shows downstairs at SubT to drawing massive crowds; few festival acts can accomplish this feat so early in the afternoon, especially on the last day of a four-day fest. I later stumbled across a set from FEVER 333; Jason Aalon Butler and the talented musicians working with him put on an impressive set that I’m sure many Riot Fest attendees would consider one of the best of the weekend… if they were fortunate enough to catch it. It was remarkable to watch die-hard crowds show up to the sets of K. Flay, Anthrax, and DEVO to sing song-after-song all afternoon long.
The sunset that fell through the mixture of carnival rides offered a beautiful backdrop to a very special environment as Riot Fest ’21 reached its final batch of headliners. This was my first Riot Fest and the energy throughout the weekend was so enjoyable and positive, I had no idea how good of a time I was in for, prior to attending.
To sum up The Flaming Lips set simply… wow. One of the most impressive sets of live music I’ve ever seen in my life. Do yourself a favor and check them out if you ever have the chance. Surprisingly to me, I would also recommend seeing Slipknot as the band evolves with new members and tours. Their energy is simply addictive.
Machine Gun Kelly commanded the Radical Stage as he ran through his discography in front of a packed crowd. MGK, as well as aforementioned FEVER 333, took advantage of the Radical Stage’s climb-able stage structure. MGK and Slipknot were Sunday’s two headlining acts and each provided a solid opportunity to enjoy some dope music. Until next year, Riot Fest!
Check out our photo library from the final day of Riot Fest ’21 below!
Photo Credit: Jack Dombro / Pursuit of Dopeness
