Aug. 20--Riot Fest scored a coup last year with a somewhat unconventional approach to a rock festival by staging a mid-day panel -- in the rain, no less -- with members of Russian outlaw band Pussy Riot. This year it'll expand the tradition with panels on the West Memphis Three and Chicago punk.
The three-day festival, which moves to Douglas Park on Sept. 11-13 from its previous location in Humboldt Park, will include a discussion with the West Memphis Three's Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin on Sept. 12 led by Henry Rollins. The two and Jessie Misskelley were convicted as teenagers in 1993 of killing three boys in West Memphis, Ark., with prosecutors linking the teens' love of metal music to the crime. But the trial became a cause celbre in the music community, and after numerous benefit concerts, a benefit album, widening public scrutiny and the introduction of new evidence, the three were freed after a plea deal.
Metro co-owner Joe Shanahan will moderate a panel Sept. 13 on Chicago's underground scene that will include Rise Against's Joe Principe, Naked Raygun's Jeff Pezatti, Lawrence Arms' Brendan Kelly, Bloodshot label cofounder Nan Warshaw, the Bollweevils' Daryl Wilson and Oz club owner Dem Hopkins. In addition, punk poet John Cooper Clarke will perform Sept. 13.
Headliners for the festival include No Doubt, System of a Down, Modest Mouse, Faith No More and Iggy Pop.
