With less than a month to go until Riot Fest returns to Douglass Park on September 16-18th, it’s no secret that a huge appeal of the 17-year-running festival is all the reunion sets they’ve booked over the years. Some of the iconic reunions the fest has played a large or perhaps even key role in include Naked Raygun in 2006, The Replacements in 2013, the Misfits in 2016, and Jawbreaker in 2017, to name just a few. For a long time these reunion sets have been the topic of excitement, discussion, and speculation from fans across many forums in the scene. Not only are these sets a great opportunity for older fans to see familiar favorites again, but also a chance for younger generations to get to see bands that in some cases may have split up before they were even born.
With that said, this year’s lineup is no different and brings many reunion sets you don’t want to miss. Here’s the official list of reunion sets at Riot Fest this year.
Photo by Chelsea Gresh
1. My Chemical Romance (Friday)
We’d be remiss to not begin with the obvious: Friday’s headliner and the long-awaited return of emo titans MCR. Originally slated to headline in 2020 before the pandemic hit, and then postponed again in 2021 along with the rest of the Return tour dates, MCR finally returns this year to Chicago, for the first time since 2011. And given this is the only stop on their reunion tour in the Chicago area, it is a given that it’s a set you don’t want to miss.
2. Yellowcard (Saturday)
Up next is none other than pop punk classic Yellowcard. Ten albums and nineteen years later, the group announced they were breaking up in 2016, with their final shows taking place in spring of 2017…until now. In May they announced they would be reuniting for a one-off performance at Riot Fest on Saturday. It has since been announced that they will be playing their fourth and arguably most iconic album Ocean Avenue in its entirety. Currently, this is the only Yellowcard show scheduled to occur in 2022, with no plans announced (yet) for an official reformation, so if you were waiting for an opportunity to catch their reunion set, now’s your chance.
3. Sunny Day Real Estate (Saturday)
Announcing their first tour in 12 years along with their Riot Fest appearance comes Sunny Day Real Estate, the emo band from Seattle often credited with helping establish the Midwest emo genre, despite not actually being from the Midwest. The band released their debut album Diary to critical claim, something Riot Fest has said “defined emo forever.” They are slated to play Saturday.
4. The Academy Is… (Sunday)
Another reunion pop punk enthusiasts are stoked for is Chicago’s-own The Academy Is…After releasing three albums in the early 2000s, the group disbanded in 2011, reuniting for a farewell tour in 2015. They announced their upcoming performance at Riot Fest on Sunday as the first show back in seven years. The Academy Is… currently has no other tour dates announced for 2022 so catch them while you can.
5. Bauhaus (Saturday)
Bauhaus, English rock band often hailed as one of the pioneers of gothic rock, the English rock band is slated to make their Riot Fest debut on Saturday. With the arrival of 2022 came their first release in 14 years, “Drink the New Wine.” Though their hiatus technically ended in 2019, if you haven’t had a chance to catch them live, Saturday’s lineup has you covered.
6. Midtown (Sunday)
Reuniting for their first shows back since 2014 after initially disbanding in ‘05, is American pop punk band Midtown. With three studio albums and four EPs of classic 2000s pop punk behind them, you can catch the New Jersey group as a part of this year’s Sunday lineup.
7. Treaty of Paris (Sunday)
Next, another one of Chicago’s own, is rock band Treaty of Paris, who will play Riot Fest on Sunday. Having teamed up with Andrew McMahon of the bands Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin, the group released their debut album, Sweet Dreams, Sucker in 2007, followed by EP Currents before becoming largely inactive in the 2010s.
8. Lunachicks (Sunday)
Last but certainly not least, is punk rock band Lunachicks. 2021 saw their first two performances in 17 years–now a part of Sunday’s lineup this year. Largely active in the late 80s-2001, the NYC-based group has released a robust discography of six albums, amongst other singles and EPs. Vying their way through the often male-dominated spaces of the scene, they joined the Warped Tour in 1999 as one of only three female acts.
Honorable Mentions
Though they may not technically count as official reunion sets, other honorable mentions we’re excited to see this year nonetheless include Lucky Boys Confusion, Foxy Shazam, The Original Misfits (last at Riot Fest in 2016), Rocket From The Crypt, and The Juliana Theory.
Find tickets to Riot Fest here
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