An unmistakable feeling sits intermingled with the heavy, humid air today.
Storms did little to alleviate the moisture, nor did it have any damper on the looming excitement. 35 miles away, teens that desperately gambled ways to find a day off from their summer jobs had undoubtedly laid out outfits the night before and trains from all directions will soon be filled with throngs of jersey and sparkle adorned youth, anxiously packing into Ogilvie and streaming out onto Madison. 35 minutes away, 35 year olds and above steel themselves for these crowds.
With another impressively diverse lineup and in light of the lack of summer competition due to the ending of Pitchfork, few events this summer have been as highly anticipated as this run of Lollapalooza, the festival making its triumphant return back to Grant Park for another 4 days of phenomenal music. Things are looking up in the Windy City despite the haze – a sense of relief, no doubt, after Bonnaroo this year came to an unexpected and damp ending. There’s certainly quite a bit to be excited for in this lineup.
Thursday
Historically the most relaxed day of the festival, Thursday still offers an abundance of genres and environments for those looking to kick off the weekend early. In what is one of the starkest differences in headliners that I have ever seen at a festival, country fans will be assuaged to see Luke Combs close out the night on one end of the venue, while many will have eagerly camped out to catch a glimpse of none other than Tyler, The Creator, opposite him – fresh off the heels of his massively successful US leg of the Chromakopia world tour and returning to reclaim his time after a sudden cancellation shortly before his performance last year. Also returning to great fanfare are none other than Lollapalooza veterans Cage The Elephant, fresh off of a run themselves after having supported the hotly anticipated Oasis reunion shows earlier this summer. Those who indulge in the Perry’s stage will be packed in to see Barry Can’t Swim and Dom Dolla, and those wanting a more laid back start to the festivities can enjoy sets by both Royal Otis as well as an evening appearance by Gracie Abrams.
Friday
Millennials in particular will find themselves treated substantially well in the kickoff day to ‘Lolla Weekend’, with none other than Korn headlining, opposite Olivia Rodrigo, whose meteoric rise in even just the last two years has been often compared to but never fully replicated. Those who manage to brave the teens and tweens with back and knee pain alike (including yours truly), will be (likely) sitting for performances that harken back to the Golden Age of indie pop including sets by Bleachers and Foster the People, even giving us a chance to (maybe, but not likely), get a bit rowdy for none other than T-Pain. In the midst of it all, we’ll undoubtedly hear an echo of the lyric …“and when I’m back in Chicago I feel it”, as Steve Keery brings his latest project Djo back to the 312, reminding us all that in spite of his success in LA, he’s never strayed far from his Post Animal days. We love him for that.
Saturday
Attendees for strictly the weekend would be remiss not to see Argentina’s own Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, and Latin discography is certainly given its roses this weekend with Young Miko rising to the top of the card for an early evening performance. In a delightful tradition of continuity, Saturday also brings us South Korea’s hugely anticipated Twice, cementing Lollapalooza as one of the few major US festivals to give K-Pop fans the opportunity to see groups in the States – a major source of traffic after hugely successful performances by groups like TXT and Stray Kids in the prior two years. Doechii, Clairo and Mk.gee will also be shortlisted by many, but few acts this weekend will hold a candle to none other than Rüfüs Du Sol who will surely have the most ethereal performance of the whole weekend.
Sunday
In a particularly dance heavy day, those with the energy should no doubt flock to shows by Martin Garrix, Gryffin and none other than Rebecca Black, while those who lack that energy will appreciate a slower change of pace with sets by The Marías, Dominic Fike and Still Woozy. While A$AP Rocky will be certainly quite a fun time to be had by all, I strongly suspect crowds will be far deeper for Sabrina Carpenter opposite him, her recent US Tour cementing her as the latest and greatest new American starlet.
Much to see and so little time to see it all – we’ll see you in the fields. More to come.
