Riot Fest 2026 Highlights: 5 Standout Acts
1. Radio Free Alice
Photos by Meriah Fearon
Radio Free Alice was the first act I saw at Riot Fest, making this my third time seeing them perform live in Chicago. It has been really cool to see the band develop from stage to stage, playing at Schubas, then Do Division Fest and now Riot Fest. They were one of the first acts of the day on Friday, which can be an intimidating slot. Larger crowds are not always guaranteed for earlier performances, and it can be difficult playing to so many new people. However, I was happy to see they had a nice turnout and overall positive crowd engagement. I continue to be impressed by their cohesion as a band from a locked in rhythm section to clear on key vocal harmonies. This set solidified RFA as one of my favorite alt rock acts of the moment, and I hope they return again soon.
2. Joey Valence & Brae
Photos By Meriah Fearon
Going into this set I was aware that JVB has a reputation of putting on a highly energetic and engaging show. Even with this prior knowledge, they still exceeded my expectations. Through engagement with the audience, they made it clear that this was a time to move and let loose. Midway through their set they encouraged everyone to turn to the person next to them and make a friend. As someone who was in the crowd alone, this made it easier to meet new people and kind of felt like the concert equivalent of a fourth wall break. Shows that place an emphasis on human connection feel particularly important in times like these when the world can feel so heavy and bleak. The entire experience felt like a cathartic outlet to be present and let off some steam in a safe and welcoming space.
3. Santigold
Photos By Meriah Fearon
Prior to Riot Fest I was only familiar with one song by Santigold, so I was going into her set with little to no expectations. However, this set ended up being one of my favorites of the entire festival. The live band consisted of drums, lead vocals, two backup vocals/dancers, and a backing track. While this setup may seem simple in comparison to other acts with a full live band, I found myself really entranced by the entire production. The parallels of the backup dancers standing still on stage with emotionless faces to dancing around with pom poms kept me on my toes. Towards the end of the set, members of the audience were invited to come up on the stage for a dance contest following the moves of the dancers. After the set I was eager to return home to look up all the songs they performed to add to my playlists.
4. Yard Act
Photos By Meriah Fearon
Similarly to Santigold, I was not very familiar with Yard Act so I did not know what kind of set I was in for. Once the band took the stage I felt an immediate hit of intensity from their presence that woke me up nicely for the first set of the day. One of the standout elements of this performance was how much James Smith sang with intent in his vocals. His lyrics felt authentic and purposeful which kept me locked in on the performance as a whole. Their sound felt very remnant of early era Arctic Monkeys with hard hitting riffs and densely worded verses. Transitions between songs were extremely swift and thoughtful, only leaving me wanting more by the end.
5. Destroy Boys
Photos By Meriah Fearon
Destroy Boys entered the stage in the midst of uncertainty about the weather for the remaining sets of the day. I didn’t know if any sets would be cancelled or just pushed back but this felt like the time to really take it all in before things started to become crazier. Their set felt remnant of the early Riot Grrrl era with a modern twist. The energy was high and infectious throughout the crowd from start to finish. Early in their set they emphasized how rock music is for women which felt especially relevant at a festival whose lineup is primarily dominated by men. They also took time between one of their songs to get everyone to collectively scream, emphasizing the power of our voices when brought together. This was a common theme I saw throughout sets at the fest as artists reminded their crowds of the importance of community.