The Vans Warped Tour stood tall for nearly a quarter of a century, as every other big “traveling music festival” (Lollapalooza, Lilith Fair, H.O.R.D.E., Ozzfest, etc.) either reconfigured to become “destination” fests or collapsed completely. With low-cost tickets and an egalitarian philosophy that de-emphasized the power and prowess typically allotted a festival headliner, Warped Tour remained an anomaly on the summer concert scene, thrilling generations of young music fans (and, certainly, a few older ones). And with its mix of Pop Punk, Metal, Hip Hop, Hardcore and various other styles, it has also served as a breeding ground for some of the biggest names in music — Paramore, blink-182, No Doubt, Katy Perry, Green Day and Eminem all cut their teeth on the Warped circuit. After this year’s tour, that will come to an end. Founder Kevin Lyman announced last fall that 2018 would be the final summer Warped would travel coast to coast (leaving open the possibility of it sticking around in some form going forward).
When Warped returns to Riverbend, a regular stop over the past 24 years, the lineup includes The Amity Affliction, The Interrupters, Bowling For Soup, Less Than Jake, Broadside, Tonight Alive, The Maine, Twiztid, Mayday Parade, Unearth, Motionless In White, We The Kings, Palaye Royale, 3OH!3, Every Time I Die, Real Friends, Reel Big Fish, Four Year Strong and Silverstein, among many others.
