What a weekend it was in the world of live music, with Riot Fest, Louder than Life, and Shaky Knees experiencing multiple disruptions and cancellations thanks to some horrid weather. As someone who attended Riot Fest, I can attest that it was indeed a hectic time. It was also, somehow, still a pretty good time, I must say.s
Yes, the rain and resulting mudpit sucked. So did the shortened sets and missing out on the artists who were left off of the updated schedule (Afroman and Remember Sports, I’m still mourning for you). There was, of course, also the stray disappointing set here and there, as you would expect. (Slick Rick, you’re a legend, but using poorly rendered AI videos for your backdrop really ruins the vibe.) And yet, thanks to some killer performances and the perseverance of dedicated, excited attendees, Riot Fest 2026 still had more than enough on offer to make it seem totally worth it to trudge through mud like wet concrete.
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As proof, here are the 10 best things we saw at Riot Fest 2026, presented chronologically.
Soul Glo
For anyone who has yet to hop on the Soul Glo bandwagon, just go see them live. Their recorded material is obviously excellent, and we’re quite excited for their upcoming LP NA I’M GON GRAB ALLAT, but it’s in person where their ferocious, genre-mixing hardcore really hits with maximum impact. Beyond the sheer intensity, they simply put on a blast of a stage show, complete with air-horn sound cues, ass-shaking, and plenty of moshing. They were the perfect way to kick off a Riot Fest weekend.
Iggy Pop
I said it in our preview coverage, but Iggy Pop still fucking has it. The rock icon is 79 years old, and, with respect, he looks it. That is, he looks it until he starts gyrating around and leading the crowd through rippers like “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” “Lust for Life,” or “Raw Power.” All of a sudden, he’s ageless. Opening with “TV Eye” just about a year after Jack White did the same at Riot Fest 2025 was a cool full-circle moment too. It’s a genuine treat that Mr. Pop is still out there doing his thing at all, let alone at such a high level. Long live the godfather of punk!
The Chats
By Saturday morning, we were blissfully unaware of just how muddy things were going to get. The forecast was ominous, and the ground was already plenty moist, but thanks to killer sets from acts like The Chats, it was easy to stay optimistic — or, at the very least, it allowed us to enjoy the relatively comfortable environment while it lasted. The Australian three-piece commanded one of the liveliest crowds of the weekend with their no-frills, charming punk rock. The pit was moving, and there was even a bit of playful mud fighting, adding to the show’s chaotic fun. If only we knew how good we had it…
Angine de Poitrine
Angine de Poitrine, photo by Alec Syrvalin
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In a weird kind of way, Angine de Poitrine were the Chappell Roan of Riot Fest 2026 — and not just because of the fabulous outfits. Famously, Roan pulled an enormous crowd at Lollapalooza 2024, one that was noticeably disproportionate to her early time slot. Angine de Poitrine, who played at 2:45 on Saturday, pulled off a similar feat, performing their polka-dotted, microtonal math rock to a massive, extremely dedicated audience. To their credit, they rose to the occasion, making good on the hype and delivering an extremely fun, seriously impressive set. Those who came donned in their own black-and-white costumes were visibly pleased, and I heard more than a few doubters say something to the effect of, “Man, I wasn’t really sure about those guys, but they just totally won me over.”
