Chicago Culture Authority’s new correspondent, Emma Sennett, rates her Top Three bands on Day One of Riot Fest 2026.

Bratmobile
This band made the most out of their 30-minute set, from splits to feminist messaging to heavy riot Grrrl music there was always something going on. A song that stuck out to me in particular was one of their hits, “Bitch Theme.” This song really gets the crowd going with its repetitive lyrics and simple melody, even though it is not the most impressive song you will ever hear it makes for a great singalong. Overall, Bratmobile was my favorite band of the day because of their stage presence, costuming, messages and general energy.

Sex Pistols
Even though this is not the same band as it was 50 some years ago, they still put on an incredibly compelling performance. One of my favorite moments of the show was when the lead singer came into the crowd and opened up the pit. This helped to give a big event a more intimate feeling and it showed that the band really cares about their fans. Not only was the crowd work great, the music was also amazing. That is why this was my second favorite band of the day.

Santigold
Truly a one-of-a-kind experience, Santigold made the whole audience feel like they were part of the performance. The main example of this is when she called audience members on stage to have a “dance competition,” but throughout the show she and her dancers were really trying to connect with the audience. The music, while upbeat, was also incredibly moving and powerful. This was number three on my list of acts I saw today, but honestly it was a toss up because all of the bands I saw did an incredible job.

General Overview
Overall, Riot Fest was well run with food and merch lines being a reasonable length for a festival. The grounds were fairly clean all things considering and the staff were very friendly. I would recommend Riot Fest over festivals such as Lollapalooza if you are looking for a more relaxed atmosphere. I would also recommend it if you aren’t only here to see the music as there is a small “carnival” area with three rides and carnival games. I only went on one ride (Zero Gravity) and I will definitely be going on more over the next few days because it was a great experience.

Photo by Rachel Zyzda