Riot Fest Denver – Must See Acts this Weekend

There’s always a temptation to come later in the day for a music festival and just catch those headliners you love so well. You’d be a damn fool to miss the fantastic talent playing throughout the day at Riot Fest Denver though. Get your life together and head out early to check out the smaller bands playing. You never know who’ll be headlining down the line…

*The Bots – Feisty punk rockers, these brothers from LA have a special je ne sais quoi going. They’ve been compared with the Black Keys and White Stripes, their music is more intelligent than their youth would lead you to expect (20 and 17!), and they inspire journalists to eye-rolling levels of pretension. Playing Saturday on the May Stage at the tragically early time of 1:15 PM, The Bots are nonetheless my can’t-miss act of the weekend. Get your ass out early so you can say you saw them when.

[The Bots circa 2009. Yes, when they were 15 and 12 years old]

Red City Riot: Punk rock made compelling with fantastic vocals and harmonies. Reminiscent of Face to Face, this compelling act plays on Saturday at 6:45 on the Revolt Stage.

In The Whale: Sexy sexy blues rock with great harmonies. 1:15 on Sunday at the Revolt Stage.

The Orwells – indie rock reminiscent of Interpol, these guys just put out their sophomore album and have already toured with the Arctic Monkeys. Catch them Friday at 5 PM at the Byers General Store.

Bob Mould – not your typical singer-songwriter. Upbeat rock with tight guitar licks from a rock and roll veteran, Sunday at 2:45 at May Farms.

Cerebral Ballzy – excellent, hardcore punk a la Suicidal Tendencies. Sunday at 6 on Revolt Stage.

Big Freedia will put on the best booty-shaking dance party all weekend Friday at 10:30 PM on the Revolt Stage.

Plague Vendor – punk rock with a surfer tinge. Fans of Iggy and the Stooges will appreciate. Saturday 8 PM on Revolt Stage. For more rock with a surfer sound, see Hot Snakes, Saturday at 6 PM on May Farms stage.

SKATERS – If you like Violent Femmes and shaking your booty. Friday at 7:30 on the Revolt Stage.

Bring Me The Horizon – fans of  the Used and Rise Against should catch these guys at 8:30 on Saturday at Byers Country Feed.

Clutch play a funky rock with vocals in the style of Faith No More. A little odd but worth checking out at 3:45 on Saturday at Byers General Store.

If singer songwriters are your bag, be sure to check out City and Colour, Lucero, Sunday at 4:30 on May Farms;

Fans of Fall Out Boy: My Body Sings Electric, Friday 6:15 on the Revolt Stage. The Unlikely Candidates, Sunday, 3:30 Revolt Stage.

Nostalghia – gypsy electro-punk. A no-brainer for fans of Glitch Mob (or Gogol Bordello!). Friday, 9 PM on the Revolt Stage.

Hardcore/Screamo lovers: La Dispute, 4:30 Friday on May Farms; Tiny Moving Parts, 4:45 Friday on Revolt; The more atmospheric Pianos Become The Teeth, Saturday 1:15 Byers Country Feed; Touche Amore, 4 pm Byers Country Feed;

It’s not too late so grab your tickets now.