Coming Home: What You Need to Know About Four Chord 12
BY ANNA PORCELLAWe’re one week out from Four Chord Music Fest, the Pittsburgh pop-punk and alternative music festival. As we approach the kickoff next weekend, we’re breaking down what you need to know about the festival, its history, and this year’s lineup.
Image courtesy of Instagram
Taking place on Friday, September 25th and Saturday, September 26th, this year marks the 12th annual Four Chord with one of their biggest lineups yet. The event has been housed by a number of different Pennsylvania venues over the years, including Wild Things Park and the historic Carrie Furnace. This year, the festival makes their return back into the heart of Pittsburgh at F.N.B. Stadium (formerly Highmark Stadium). For the founders of Four Chord, returning to Pittsburgh feels like coming home. “I just love the city of Pittsburgh,” stated founder Rishi Bahl. “It possesses a resilience and a charm that matches the people who live here. My love for punk rock started at the very location where we are bringing the festival back; my first ever Warped Tour was in this very space, and bringing it back is a full-circle moment. F.N.B. Stadium is a beautiful location near the confluence of Pittsburgh’s 3 downtown rivers, offering one of the most picturesque concert experiences” (Pittsburgh Music Magazine). The use of the stadium allows for seated viewing as well as a standing floor, with two side-by-side stages at the focal point. The doors of the stadium will open for VIP at 11 AM and GA at 12 PM. Music begins at 1 PM and runs until 11 PM, back-to-back sets happening throughout the day with no overlap, allowing for a packed day of music without missing a single set. The full list of set times can be found here: Lineup | Four Chord Music Fest 12.
Rishi Bahl, the frontman of pop punk trio Eternal Boy, founded Four Chord in 2014, seeking to uplift DIY bands and create a space for the Pittsburgh music community as the Warped Tour era came to an end. Over the past twelve years, what began as a DIY, single-day local showcase in a 1,500 capacity venue has since evolved into a two-day, two-stage, nationally recognized festival. As their lineup expands, their ethos has remained the same, putting fans first and platforming local bands alongside legacy acts. Traditionally, Four Chord features pop-punk and adjacent acts, and while that still mostly remains true, this year they have expanded their lineup to a heavier bill. “We wanted to expand the festival’s reach by offering a day of bands that have never played Four Chord before, while still staying true to what helped the festival grow,” Bahl stated, “I think the heavier bands coming to the festival provide a nuance we have never had before” (Pittsburgh Music Magazine). Day 1’s headliner is Knocked Loose, a five-piece hardcore band based out of Kentucky. Known for their heavy but catchy instrumentals and the distinctive voice of frontman Bryan Garris, Knocked Loose is one of the biggest current bands in the genre. Other major names to note on the Friday lineup includes Kublai Khan TX, Underoath, Saosin, and Superheaven. Alongside some of the biggest names in hardcore and metal are Pittsburgh-based Pain Clinic and Facewreck, who will be kicking off Day 1.
Knocked Loose: image courtesy of Tim Cayem
Day 2’s lineup is more traditional Four Chord, pop-punk fan favorites and legacy acts performing for a day filled with nostalgia. Your Day 2 headliner is Pierce the Veil, a post-harcore/rock trio from California. Coming off of a monumental year of touring and with some of the most iconic tracks of the emo scene, the Warped Tour veterans will close out Four Chord on Saturday evening. Other iconic pop punk and rock acts such as Mayday Parade, Boys Like Girls, and Motion City Soundtrack join them on the bill, as well as Four Chord returners Mom Jeans, Keep Flying, and State Champs (who will be performing their record Around the World and Back in full). Rounding out the lineup are Pittsburgh-based Heading North, Patent Pending, and of course, Bahl’s Eternal Boy.
Pierce the Veil: Image courtesy of Grandstand HQ
Though its size has expanded greatly, the festival remains fully independent, hosted by Smartpunk. The DIY ethos that has remained true since the beginning is what keeps fans coming back year after year. For more need to know information check out the Festival Guide. Be sure to arrive early to catch some of the best local and up-and-coming acts, and we’ll see you in the pit!
Full Day 1 Lineup:
Pain Clinic
Facewreck
Thousand Below
Militarie Gun
Haywire
Bayside
Counterparts
Superheaven
We Came as Romans
Saosin
Kublai Khan TX
Underoath
Knocked Loose
Full Day 2 Lineup:
Heading North
Don’t Panic
Keep Flying
Patent Pending
Eternal Boy
Hit the Lights
Driveways
Finch
Cartel
Motion City Soundtrack
Mom Jeans
State Champs
Boys Like Girls
Mayday Parade
Pierce the Veil