Who said queers can’t rock and roll?
From Pansy Division and Limp Wrist to Bikini Kill and Hunx & His Punx, queer people have formed and fronted rock and punk bands for decades. With Riot Fest coming up right around the corner, we wanted to highlight some of the sickest LGBTQ+ artists performing at the festival.
Don’t have tickets yet? Enter to win a pair of 3-day passes with Gay Do312.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / Sleater-Kinney
Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney
Influential and iconic are the only ways to describe the vanguard riot grrl band Sleater-Kinney. Founding members Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker were robbed of coming out as queer on their own terms in the 90s by Spin magazine. While unfortunate, they never shied away from that identity and used their music to reflect emotions from rage and anger to friendship and intimacy with other women. Listen to Dig Me Out for some early tunes to start off this list.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / lunachicks
Chip English of Lunachicks
Lunachicks were destined for punk stardom since they started as a teen band in the 80s. Although the band has been through various iterations and members, its music has always maintained a bold and brash sound. Chip English joined the band as a drummer in the 90s and has been an inspiration for many as a queer and trans man. We can’t wait to see them live after following their 2019 reunion!
Fun fact: Former drummers of Lunachicks, Becky Wreck is a queer woman and Gus Morgan is a trans man (and he's also a former drummer of Led Zeppelin)!
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / yungblud
YUNGBLUD
YUNGBLUD has been on the rise since his debut and bagged awards at MTV and NME along the way. The pop-punk star has always been an advocate for social justice, being there both online and in person for communities in need of support. He came out as pansexual and headlined Manchester Pride soon after. His single mars was inspired by a trans fan who brought in parents who one of his concerts to help them understand her identity better.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / pvris
Lynn Gunn of PVRIS
PVRIS pop-rock project fronted by queer musician Lynn Gunn, with a sound that blends dreamy electronica with beat-heavy rock. Lynn’s outspoken attitude has meant PVRIS has seen plenty of queer proposals and coming-outs from fans while on tour – which only strengthen their motto to create alternative spaces. Their current multi-genre sound started with the acclaimed album White Noise in 2014 and continues to the 2021 release Monster.
Enter to win tickets to Riot Fest Late Night with PVRIS at Cobra Lounge.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / mom jeans.
Eric Butler of Mom Jeans.
California’s Mom Jeans. is the definition of energetic, passionate, and indie rock. The band first made waves in 2014 with their self-titled EP and subsequent debut studio album Best Buds. Their frontman and lead vocalist Eric Butler is queer and has been outspoken about bands made up of predominantly white men (including Mom Jeans.) needing to create more spaces and opportunities for underrepresented artists in all avenues of music, production, and touring.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / bully
Bully
Singer and guitarist Alicia Bognanno used her solo project Bully to come out as bisexual and channel a lot of other heavy material through music. Bully’s grunge sound has consistently received positive reviews from critics and fans alike, with the 2015 debut album Feels Like really shaking things up.
Enter to win tickets to Riot Fest Late Night with Bully at Empty Bottle.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / pale waves
Heather Baron-Gracie and Ciára Doran of Pale Waves
Goth glam looks always catch stares, but Pale Waves just embraces this and always pushes back. Two of the band’s members are queer, vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie and drummer Ciára Doran, which explains why we love their 80s alt-pop sound so much. If you’re looking for something to jam to, we seriously suggest their 2022 album Unwanted, and it's lead single Jealousy.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / destroy boys
Alexia Roditis of Destroy Boys
California band Destroy Boys goes hand in hand when it comes to the current evolution of feminist and lesbian punk. Their music is raw and raucous, and they’ve been making waves since being nominated for multiple awards at the 25th Sacramento Area Music Awards in 2017. Lead vocalist and guitarist Alexia Roditis is queer af and is here to make you move. Check out their wild single Muzzle if you don’t believe us.
LGBTQ+ Allies and Advocates
While this list has been about highlighting queer artists on the lineup, we wanted to shout out some allies who have stood strong beside the LGBTQ+ community throughout the years. Huge acts like My Chemical Romance, Nine Inch Nails, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have never shied away from their queer fanbase and made room for all to be celebrated. Artists like Mannequin Pussy, Cumgirl8, and Alice Glass have a style and aesthetic that resonate with queer people and have been integrated into underground music scenes.
And since allyship is about really being there and supporting a community, this list wouldn’t be complete with bands like Portugal. The Man, Bleachers, Save Face, and Jeff Rosenstock and their fundraising efforts for LGBTQ+ organizations over the years – including Human Right Campaign, The Ally Coalition, Trevor Project, and Pulse Nightclub.
Check out the full schedule for Riot Fest so you can catch these and all your favorite acts!
If these queer artists got you pumped for punk and rock music, check out our list of LGBTQ+ Alt & Rock Bands In Chicago and support some local talent!
Oh, and stream Riot Fest’s Pride Playlist, Queer (As In Fuck You!).