Five Bands to See at Riot Fest & Rodeo in Denver This Weekend

By: Sierra Voss

Riot Fest is ripping through the Mile High City with a rowdy lineup this Labor Day Weekend. Over 70 bands will crush performances on the festival's four stages, set in the heart of Denver at the National Western Complex. Here are the top 5 bands we are crazy stoked to see:

Culture Abuse

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Wanna see a ripping, authentic, crush-worthy punk band? Cool, me too. Culture Abuse is known for their dreamy punk rock vibes. Their new album Peach integrates a lighter, brighter punk sound with a foundation that drives their music forward, and songs that are carried by some pretty raw lyrics. Catch them playing on the Roots Stage Sunday at 12PM.

The Original Misfits

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Danzig, Only, and Doyle will play a full-set alongside each other for the first time since 1983 at Riot Fest on Sunday. The Misfits are an iconic band, often recognized as the creators of horror punk, blending punk, rock, and horror imagery into one massive set. They’ve been influential in just about every late 90’s and early 2000’s rock, punk, and heavy metal bands. So this is definitely going to be a historic set you don’t want to miss. Watch them close out the fest Sunday at 840PM on the Riot Stage.

Wolf Parade

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Wolf Parade is another Riot Fest band returning to the stage after a long hiatus. It’s been six long years since the release of their album Expo 86. Wolf Parade took the indie rock world by storm ten years ago with release the of their album Apologies to the Queen Mary. The band's newest release, EP 4, is just that: four singles deep. Fans (including myself) will gather this weekend to see if their desires and dreams will be fulfilled by the band's revival. We can only hope that Wolf Parade will showcase a deeper look at what’s to come, while letting us be nostalgic on our fond memories of their past and longing for their previous work. See them Friday at 435PM on the Riot Stage.

People Under The Stairs

People Under The Stairs continue to release classic West Coast-vibed hip hop tracks. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, this band has a reputation for punching out funky beats since 1999. If you want to get your groove on this weekend, I highly suggest making your way to the Radical Stage at 3PM on Saturday.   

Violent Soho

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Violent Soho have traveled all the way from Australia to deliver powerful grunge riffs, abrasive song structures, and dynamics that range from loud, louder, and loudest. We love these guys. So get to the Roots Stage at 210PM on Saturday. Just do it.

Tickets for Riot Fest can still be purchased here. Get yours before they’re gone. And stay tuned for BolderBeat’s coverage of Riot Fest this weekend!

-Sierra

All photos per the author for BolderBeat. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.