William Shatner’s Band Set for Riot Fest Performance

William Shatner, the 95-year-old actor known for his iconic role, has landed an exciting gig with his heavy metal band. This was announced recently for the upcoming Riot Fest.

The festival shared the news, mentioning that Shatner will be taking the stage in Chicago’s Douglas Park on Sunday, September 20. They accompanied the post with a playful photo of him sticking out his tongue and making a rock ‘n’ roll gesture.

“After years of writing letters…Riot Fest 2026: Increased by 100%,” the post read, indicating Shatner’s enthusiasm.

In a light-hearted Instagram Reel, Shatner noted, “Since you’re such a big fan of mine, I decided to debut my heavy metal record at Riot Fest. I hope you’re there – and I hope I’m there too.”

This performance will mark the first live show for his band, The Wookers. Page Six has reached out to his representatives for more details.

Shatner’s upcoming appearance at the festival comes after John Stamos performed with the Beach Boys there last year.

The festival shared some amusing details regarding Shatner’s rider, requesting unique items, such as boats renamed in his honor and fire-breathing equipment. He also asked for traditional Chicago food to be named after him, along with some cheeky requests like Polish sausage and white socks.

Fans responded enthusiastically on Instagram. One commented about future headliners, while another humorously suggested Shatner’s team might have secured a free pass.

Responses included excitement over the news, with one fan joking, “I’ve never been so excited about something I didn’t know existed,” while another remarked, “He’ll definitely be sitting with us.”

The announcement comes just a few months after Shatner publicly addressed misinformation being spread about him on Facebook, denying claims of terminal illness. He criticized the perpetrators behind these stories, explaining that they were monetizing false narratives about his health.

Shatner highlighted the challenges of getting the misleading content removed, stressing that fans should approach rumors with skepticism unless they’re from his verified accounts.

Interestingly, he’s not the only actor venturing into music this year. Recently, it was announced that Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, now 88, will also be releasing an album and starting his career in classical music composition.