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Day 1
The oppressive humidity did little to deter the crowds on the opening two days of Lollapalooza’s triumphant 20th anniversary.
The first day is always quite a sight to behold. Corporate America playing hooky alongside kids that could be their own, crowds (notably adorned with many a bedazzled pink cowboy hat) descended upon Grant Park on Thursday for what seemed to be the most highly anticipated day of the festival.
The heat was turned up quite a notch thanks to Tyla kicking off the afternoon. Having recently been bestowed the honor of being the youngest artist to ever win a Grammy, fans swayed adoringly as she led the crowd through hit after hit, accompanied by mesmerizing choreography executed by incredible dancers.
Tyla
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It was shortly after her departure that the excitement in the air became palpable. What could only be reasonably described as a ‘pink wave’ surged forward, people of all ages surged en masse towards the front of the T-Mobile stage and the chatter all reflected the same excitement, crowds that were eager to catch a glimpse of none other than the “Midwest Princess” herself.
Chappell Roan
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To say that Chappell’s performance at Lollapalooza was just ‘historic’ would be a gross mischaracterization. It was, to some estimates, the biggest crowd in Lollapalooza’s history and was certainly the biggest crowd for a non-headliner in the past 20 years. Words cannot fully express the sheer density around the T-Mobile stage, packed with fans that would have hardly recognized her name even on social media just a few years earlier.
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Few musicians in modern history have risen to a ‘superstar’ level of status as fast as Roan has. Long gone are the days where making it in the music business required the approval of a label – while her last four years has had no shortage of ups and down, it is undeniable that her success is undoubtedly so well-deserved. Her charm, musicality and perhaps most importantly, cultural impact have made a paradigm shift in the world of entertainment, and we’re thrilled to be along for the ride.
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In what would likely be one of the most difficult decisions for attendees that weekend, a choice had to be made between either Lollapalooza favorite Megan Thee Stallion or trek over to Hozier, two distinctly different atmospheres but neither a clear favorite.
Lollapalooza’s first night closed with equal parts high energy and serenade, with Megan pausing just long enough to take a breath before launching into more of her discography and in the distance, fans being reminded to take a moment and look out for each other, lest they lose sight of music’s unique ability to bridge cultures and experiences. Certainly a first day to remember.
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Day 2
“It really does feel like the calm before the storm.”
Sentiments heard on Chicago’s Red Line train as we headed southbound into the Loop for a similarly scorching day of music and an endless supply of people watching.
Friday of Lollapalooza has felt akin to an ‘adult swim’ – a time in which non-suburban teenagers can take advantage of the work week to have a far more relaxed time than what the weekend holds in store.
Raye
It was a pleasure to start the afternoon with a phenomenal performance by Raye, an artist who bears striking similarity in vocals and stage presence to the late Amy Winehouse. Adorned in a long blue dress and surrounded on all sides by tuxedoed band mates, the Grant Park bandshell transformed itself into a lounge and the crowd to patrons.
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Victoria Monét
It seemed only fitting to continue the afternoon in the spirit of R&B and few others can do it better than Atlanta’s own Victoria Monét. A personal favorite, Monét’s electrifying stage presence, choreography and scope of work (both as a solo and collaborative artist), made her a must-see especially for those lucky enough to get close to the rail.
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The rest of the evening was nothing short of spectacular. Phrases such as “Disney Princess” and “Literally Angelic” were used in describing Laufey, who had perhaps the most stunning set of the whole weekend, accompanied by The Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra as the sun descended below the skyline.
Fans who had sprinted (and subsequently camped themselves) along the railings were those fortunate enough to beat the insatiable crowds for K-Pop legends Stray Kids or SZA, both perhaps the most heavily anticipated headliners of this year.
Far more music awaits us in the next 2 days. We’ll be back soon.
