Riot Fest has announced a run of side shows and after-parties around Chicago ahead of its main festival, Metal Injection reported on August 13. William Shatner and his heavy metal band The *uckers will make their live debut at Park West on September 19, a night before playing the festival itself, while Chat Pile closes out the festival's official opening night with Soul Glo at the Empty Bottle.
Shatner announced the show himself in a video message posted to Riot Fest's website: "I decided you're such big fans of mine that I'm gonna debut my heavy metal record at Riot Fest." Metal Injection reported that his rider requests for the set included dozens of fire breathers, a DeLorean to shuttle him to the stage, and four feet of Polish sausage. His band draws on serious pedigree: bassist Phil Soussan, who has played with Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol; guitarist Britt Lightning of Vixen; drummer Fred Aching of Powerflo; and flamenco guitarist Marcus Nand, who also serves as the band's musical director.
The side shows lead into Riot Fest's return to Douglass Park from September 18 to 20, running 11am to 10pm each day. Twenty One Pilots, Pierce The Veil, Alanis Morissette, Nas and Pixies top the bill, and stage times released the same week put Morrissey's Saturday set on the Roots Stage ending just minutes before Tool takes the Riot Stage, NME reported on August 8.
That overlap comes the same week Nas revealed he's featured on Detroit rapper Skilla Baby's new album, and shortly after Chat Pile shared a new single, Same Rules, ahead of a new album. It also follows Morrissey's cancellation of his upcoming Las Vegas residency, announced just a week before it was due to start.
More side shows round out the run: Black Flag and The Crosses play Reggies on September 17, Thrice and Hot Rod Circuit hit Bottom Lounge on September 18, and Show Me The Body and Whispers close out Reggies on September 19. Two-day and three-day passes for the main festival remain on sale through Riot Fest's website, and the run is the latest addition to the festival tracker and our rock coverage.
The facts
- Riot Fest runs September 18-20 at Douglass Park in Chicago
- William Shatner's band The *uckers plays its live debut on September 19
- Chat Pile and Soul Glo close opening night at the Empty Bottle
- Morrissey's Saturday set ends minutes before Tool takes the Riot Stage
- Twenty One Pilots, Nas and Pixies headline the main festival
- Morrissey cancelled his Las Vegas residency the same week
How this checks out
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