Pop-Punk Royalty Avril Lavigne Makes Warped Tour Debut at D.C. Stop
Picture this: A heart-shaped cake, splashed in Warped Tour’s iconic neon colors, arrives backstage as Avril Lavigne films a casual studio vlog. The words “DC June 14&15” gleam under the lights. “Warped Tour’s coming back!” she exclaims, grinning like she’s just unearthed a time capsule from her pop-punk adolescence. “Let’s celebrate—see you soon, D.C.!” .
For those who’ve followed Lavigne’s two-decade reign—from Let Go’s angsty anthems to 2022’s Love Sux—this feels like a full-circle crescendo. At 40, the “Complicated” hitmaker is finally checking off a bucket-list gig: her debut at the Vans Warped Tour, which roars back in 2025 after a six-year hiatus to mark its 30th anniversary. And she’s not just phoning it in. Lavigne’s June 14-15 performances in Washington, D.C., will sandwich between her Greatest Hits Tour stadium dates, creating a summer doubleheader for fans craving raw, sweaty nostalgia .
“I grew up idolizing bands that cut their teeth on Warped,” Lavigne told Rolling Stone, her voice tinged with the same fervor as a teen discovering her first mosh pit. “Those parking lot summers? They’re sacred. To now be part of its revival—it’s surreal” . Surreal, maybe, but inevitable. Lavigne’s 2024 Greatest Hits Tour sold out arenas globally, proving that her catalog—from “Sk8er Boi” to “Girlfriend”—still crackles like a live wire. The tour’s 2025 extension, with Simple Plan (yes, those early-2000s tourmates) opening, sold out within hours, a testament to Gen Z and millennials’ hunger for Y2K rebellion .
But Warped Tour 2025 isn’t just a victory lap. Founder Kevin Lyman, partnering with Insomniac, has reimagined the festival as a three-city “30th anniversary blowout,” blending legacy acts (Bowling for Soup, 3OH!3) with rising stars like Honey Revenge. The lineup posters? Alphabetized—no headliners hogging the spotlight. “It’s about that backyard-party vibe,” Lyman insists, echoing Warped’s DIY roots .
Lavigne’s D.C. sets will share the RFK Festival Grounds with Scary Kids Scaring Kids, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and a grill. Wait, a grill? “I keep one under my tour bus,” she laughs, referencing Warped’s legendary post-show BBQs where bands cook for each other. “I’m ready to char some burgers and relive those sleepless nights” .
Yet D.C. tickets vanished faster than a crowd-surfer at peak hour—though waitlists linger . Meanwhile, Warped’s revival dovetails with pop-punk’s cinematic moment: A Green Day-inspired comedy, New Years Rev, is brewing, following teens chasing punk glory .
2025 Warped Tour Dates & Cities
| City | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | June 14–15 | RFK Stadium Festival Grounds |
| Long Beach, CA | July 26–27 | Shoreline Waterfront |
| Orlando, FL | November 15–16 | Camping World Stadium Campus |
FAQs:
When was Warped Tour’s last full run before 2025?
Warped Tour’s final cross-country trek was in 2018, with a 25th-anniversary mini-tour in 2019 .
Which artists are joining Avril Lavigne at Warped Tour D.C.?
The lineup includes 3OH!3, Simple Plan, Bowling for Soup, and Scary Kids Scaring Kids, among 70+ acts .
Are tickets still available for Warped Tour 2025?
D.C. is sold out, but waitlists are open. Long Beach and Orlando tickets start at $149.98 .
Why is Warped Tour 2025 significant?
It marks the festival’s 30th anniversary, blending legacy acts with new artists while reviving its DIY ethos .
