Marianas Trench at Riot Fest 2025 | High-Energy Set, “Haven” Talk & What’s Next

We caught up with Marianas Trench (Matt & Ian) at Riot Fest 2025 in Chicago to talk about crafting a high-energy 30-minute festival set, the storytelling arc behind Haven, and why they’re only playing “Down To You” from the new record in this run. They break down live harmony swaps (Matt/Mike taking leads so Josh can breathe), the reality of cramming “bangers” into a short slot, and what makes Chicago crowds special. They also share what’s next: ~6 weeks of U.S. touring through late October, then back to the studio to start a new album (targeting early next year). Dream collab? Freddie Mercury/Queen—lock them in a room with Josh and watch chaos (and harmonies) happen. Highlights Festival strategy: “all killer, no filler” in 30 minutes Haven live details: harmony stacks, “Worlds Collide” moments Chicago fans = engaged, vocal, no-phones energy Tour → studio → new music coming early next year 🎥 Interview by Music Coast at Riot Fest 2025 🔗 Music Coast links: <a href="https://links.musiccoast.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://links.musiccoast.com</a>