because it was a blast. i mean descendents, social distortion, suicide machines at a small hole in the wall bar, teenage bottlerocket.. yeah.

im curious how many people that were in chicago last weekend are also going to the Fest. been to riot Fest in chicago every year but 2005 and this is my first "Fest"... not sure what took me so long, being i live in florida now.

I was there for the Danzig Legacy and Descendents shows. It was a blast.

I live in Chicago (have attended all 6 Riot Fests), and this will be my 5th Fest. It's amazing. The lines are long, but so worth it. If there is a band that you HAVE to see, check out the lines at least an hour before their set, you may have to get in line well before they play. Drinks are cheap and the people are awesome!

That was the 7th Riot Fest that just happened. I missed the first year but went to the following 5. Had a pass for this year too but money restrictions meant it was either Riot Fest or Gainesville and not both. All things considered I chose Gainesville but have to say I'm pretty gutted to have missed that Misfits set!

Yeah, I have been going to Riot Fest since 2007. I have to say one of the highlights of this year was going to see Rad Payoff / Deathwarrant / Tension Generation, instead of watching Danzig pay tribute to himself. This will only be my second Fest. Last year was too much fun not to return.

well, anytime there is an active forum dedicated to a festival months before its even happening - that's my first clue the people/atmosphere will be awesome. it actually sounds a ton more fun than Riot Fest given everyone's enthusiasm. cheap drinks are a welcome change - there is absolutely nothing punk about $6 beers/shots.

it is interesting though and i know only a fraction of people going read this forum regularly, but attending 2 punk festivals 1,000 miles from each other only 2 weeks apart - i would imagine most of you have some kind of unique working situation that allows this, or just using all your vacation days in one block and/or running up the credit card bills

The 1000 mile gap is nothing mate, it's the 4000 mile trip to get to Chicago that's the real killer for me! I work for myself though so time off isn't the issue, paying for the flights is!

I always have fun at Riot Fest but Fest is a different experience altogether. Riot Fest get some pretty amazing bands who play full length sets and if they're bands you like then it's great. Fest on the other hand, well I could go to Fest and not watch any bands at all and still have an amazing time! Riot Fest is just like a busy week for punk gigs in a city, Fest is more like a full weekend long punk rock party!

exactly my expectations..very well summed up. i think it probably has a lot to do with Gainesville being a much smaller city than Chicago and there being multiple venues right by each other and of course an insanely higher number of bands playing.

now all they gotta do is lease several hundred acres of land and let us camp out and itll be Bonnaroo for punks - I BELIEVE IN YOU Fest YOU CAN DO IT!