The final day of 2025’s Riot Fest was another Midwest scorcher now that the rain had passed Chicago by. With such a stacked lineup awaiting them, fans turned up early on Sunday to camp out on the barricade for the likes of Green Day, Idles, Inhaler and so much more. Atlas jumped into the pit for one more day of music and fun- check out the best moments from day three!
Punk Rock Powerhouses Dominate Day Three
The heat of the afternoon seemed to have no effect on The Linda Lindas as they bounded onstage to jam for the early crowd. The kids are absolutely alright if the next generation has half the fervor of this young group (most of whom are under the age of 21) and it’s clear why they’ve caught the attention of so many bands in the scene. Their bashing and thrashing away during their brief set could be heard across Douglass Park, stopping passing attendees in their tracks to bob along to the quartet’s earnest intensity.
Across the way found another growing crowd at the Rise Stage for British trio Lambrini Girls. The unapologetically outspoken activist group sported guitars with the blaring Free Palestine slogan, while vocalist Phoebe Lunny jumped into the pit to get the crowd fired up. The band fully embodied the punk spirit of Riot Fest and will no doubt be seen on larger stages when they return to the festival in the future.
Bad Religion emerged at golden hour on the Roots Stage, effectively bringing the festival itself back to its punk roots. The California icons performed Suffer in full, one of the most anticipated album plays of the entire weekend- and they had the crowd to match. The audience had fans spanning generations singing along to these now classic songs, taking the festival into the final hours of the weekend.
Fueled by Ramen Reunion Extravaganza (with Hanson)
Severe technical difficulties at the Rebel Stage nearly derailed an afternoon of nostalgia but once sound was restored, Hanson was on deck and ready to rock. The 90s boyband of brothers is all grown up and still playing the hits, with plenty of newer music they’ve continued to release in the decades since “Mmmbop” took the world by storm. Of course, “Where’s the Love” was in the setlist but now the brothers are putting a twist on the bubblegum pop of their youth, injecting each song with a deeper emotional tinge and just a hint of Southern flair. The delay only ramped up the enthusiasm for Hanson’s set- another generation-spanning crowd excited for the music of many of their childhoods and beyond.
Although the stage continued to experience issues, Gym Class Heroes powered right through them for their comeback set. The band has been intermittently active throughout the years but with the official announcement of a new album, singer Travie McCoy took the stage with even more confidence. The was the first in the Fueled By Ramen reunion trio to perform at Riot Fest for the last day and the barricade warriors were fully committed to staying for every moment of “Peace Sign/Index Down”, “Cupid’s Chokehold” and even McCoy’s solo hit “Billionaire”. The band was on fire, playing without a single misstep and giving McCoy space to let loose to a huge crowd of nostalgic fans.
We never thought Cobra Starship would ever share a stage again but last year’s When We Were Young Fest reunion was just the beginning. Taking the middle slot as night fell, Gabe Saporta swaggered onstage like we never left the year 2006. Time constraints forced the band to cut a song but that didn’t stop the dance party to “Guilty Pleasure” and “The City is at War”. But the real highlight was Travie McCoy and William Beckett appearing for the first (nearly) full rendition of “Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)” in years. The set closed with Vicky T on vocals for “Good Girls Go Bad” and one of Cobra’s last shows for the year.
Fans of The Academy Is… got a taste of the band’s set at the previous night’s aftershow and came back for one more round at Riot. Bathing the stage in deep blue and green lights, this is another band that hasn’t lost a step since their disbandment in 2011. William Beckett is just as flamboyant onstage as he ever was while Mike Carden, Adam Siska and Andy Mrotek (joined by guitarist and longtime friend Ian Crawford) held down every track on Almost Here. Instead of a straight album playthrough, TAI sprinkled in their new songs- with a surprise album on the way- and “About a Girl”. Their set was also cut short due to the issues of the day but fans were thrilled with every second they got to spend with TAI- and now that the band is back, this won’t be the last night we see them pull out these songs that hold up remarkably well after 20 years.
The main field was packed tight for Green Day’s closing headliner and those final notes sent off a very special anniversary edition of Riot Fest. This year’s lineup brought classic bands back in front of young audiences, reunited old favorites and gave every single person in the audience something to rock with throughout the weekend. Cheers to the next 20 years!
