Lollapalooze Kicked Off In Chicago Last Night and The Crowds Were Insane. This Year's Lineup Is The Most Stacked It's Been In Years. Here's Your Guide On Who To See.
It is officially Lollapalooza season again in Chicago. The greatest collection of bands, pop stars, weirdos, and world-class DJs are back to turn Grant Park into the most crowded, expensive, most electric lawn in the country.
This year’s lineup is somehow bigger and weirder than ever.
And the crowd is even weirder.
The show kicked off yesterday, and these had to be the biggest Thursday crowds I’ve ever seen at the festival.
I didn’t get the chance to finish this yesterday before the fest started (I’m sorry). So we’re running a day behind. My bad.
If you try to see everybody, you’ll see nobody, and your only memory will be dodging Tiktokers for a $14 water.
So here’s the game plan. Day by day, genre by genre, I’ll walk you through the must-sees, the rising stars, the local acts, and the undercard acts you’ll be bragging about seeing first. Let’s get after it.
If you’re not considering the main stage acts, you’re lying to yourself. Tyler, The Creator is taking over Thursday. At this point, the guy could walk on stage and read his grocery list, and the crowd would still lose its mind. His shows are unpredictable, loud, and flat-out legendary. If you’re not there, you’ll hear about it all year. His fans LOVE to tell people what big Tyler fans they are.
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Luke Combs is making history as the first country headliner at Lolla. If you see more cowboy hats than usual on Michigan Avenue, now you know why. Get there early if you want a decent spot because Chicago’s secret country fan army is coming out of hiding. This stage and set will be the biggest of the weekend.
Friday and Sunday are the pop kid’s dream: Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter. It’s angsty breakup songs, huge singalongs, and crowds screaming every word. A$AP Rocky is here too, and the guy makes every other rapper look like they’re wearing dad jeans. And he gets to bang Rihanna, so there’s that.
Korn is playing on Friday. Yes, Korn. If you don’t get a little hyped hearing “Freak on a Leash,” I don’t believe you actually like having fun listening to music.
But Lolla is about more than the headliners.
The real gold is in the bands you don’t know yet, or the ones your music nerd friend has been talking about for a year. Here’s where you cash in on being in the right place at the right time.
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Royel Otis is one of my absolute favorite new bands. If you want indie pop that sounds like the first day of summer, this is your set. They’re Aussies with perfect hooks and the kind of tunes that make you text your ex for no reason. Bet on them blowing up by next year.
Dom Dolla has taken over the global DJ scene. If you want to see the entire park dancing like it’s midnight in Ibiza, this is your guy. He brings the filth, the fun, and the kind of drops that make you forget about your student loans for a whole hour.
Cage the Elephant is built for Lolla. Matt Shultz is a wild man on stage, always one shoe away from a full meltdown, and every song is a hit. If you’re not crowd surfing or at least fake crowd surfing, you’re doing it wrong.
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The Blessed Madonna is a Chicago legend who went worldwide. She mixes house like it’s a religious experience. Real house heads know, her set will be part party, part therapy, part church. I fucking love her.
The Droptines bring real outlaw country energy. This isn’t fake radio country, this is gritty, whiskey-soaked, “write about your ex and mean it” country. Even if you think you hate country, these guys will convert you by song three.
Bleachers is where Jack Antonoff does his best Springsteen impression and nails it. Huge hooks, saxophones, choruses you’ll be yelling for days, and maybe a crowd surf or two from the man himself. I've been wanting to see this band perform live for a few years now and getting to see them rock a festival the size of Lolla will be a great introduction. I fucking LOVE “Modern Girl”.
knock2 is pure energy. He slams together house, trap, and bass until you’re sweating through your shirt. The crowd is going to go nuts. Hydrate for this one or you might die.
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Foster the People will play “Pumped Up Kicks” but their newer stuff is even better live. Funky, tight, and surprisingly fresh. If you show up late, enjoy watching from three blocks back. I can’t fucking wait to hear “Helena Beat” live.
ISOxo is bringing chaos and a rabid crowd. Trap, dubstep, and every drop hits harder than your landlord on rent day. If you like to jump around until your knees hurt, this is your move.
The Dare is the return of indie sleaze. Basement party vibes, messy dancing, and no one trying to look cool. Loud, stupid, and way more fun than it should be.
BUNT. somehow invented “folk house.” It sounds made up but it works. These guys are just fun—clap, stomp, sing, and dance like you’ve got nothing to lose.
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Tanner Adell is the next big thing in country-pop. She sings, writes, and actually has the presence to back up her hype. Nashville loves her, TikTok loves her, and now Chicago will too.
Mk.gee is the music snob’s pick. Bedroom pop, lo-fi guitars, no skips, and a live show that will stick in your head for weeks. He’s low-key, but you won’t be able to look away.
Two Friends throw the best DJ party sets at festivals every year. It’s wall-to-wall singalongs, nostalgia, and everyone acting like they’re at the happiest wedding of all time.
Chase & Status are UK drum and bass monsters. If you want to dance until your shoes fall apart, this is the spot. The energy is relentless and the crowd is always unhinged. These guys are fucking huge in Europe and getting bigger and bigger over here. This is going to be an awesome set.
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Levity is a local Chicago duo that does trap and dubstep for people who like their music as loud as possible. If you see neon hats and someone doing a backflip, you’ve found them. This crowd of hometown fans will be nuts.
JPEGMAFIA might be the only artist here who can mosh, spit bars, and roast the crowd in the same breath. It’s weird, wild, and there’s nothing else like it at the festival.
Bilmuri is post-hardcore, alt-rock, and a joke only the real fans get. If you want to see something loud, rowdy, and kind of unhinged, here’s your show.
Winnetka Bowling League is your prescription for happiness. They’re like Weezer without the baggage, and every song feels like the first day of summer vacation. This band is fucking awesome and insanely talented.
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Martin Garrix is the EDM king. If you’ve never been to a real festival DJ set, start here. Lasers, confetti, drops, and 100,000 people jumping at once. Pure serotonin.
The Marías are smooth as hell, bilingual, and the definition of “cool.” Their set is the sound of a summer night in Chicago. Show up, catch a vibe, and live your indie movie fantasy.
Dominic Fike is the pop/rap/indie hybrid you didn’t know you needed. “3 Nights” is the hit, but the whole catalog is stacked and the band is tight. This is the new school. This guy is legit as fuck.
Finneas might get Billie Eilish to show up, but even if he doesn’t, he brings moody, sharp pop songs and a killer live show. This one’s for the real music heads.
Gryffin plays the kind of dance music that makes you feel like the sun’s always setting and everyone’s in a good mood. It’s big, melodic, and the crowd is always on the same page.
Sammy Virji is bringing UK garage back. His set is fast, bouncy, and impossible to stand still during. If you want to party like it’s 2002 in London, this is your guy.
Joey Valence & Brae are the Beastie Boys for the TikTok crowd. Silly, wild, and better live than you expect. It’s a party, not a show.
Jigitz is your wildcard pick. No genre, no rules, just pure bounce and surprise. The set you’ll tell people about when everyone else was stuck in line for pizza.
Don't miss out on the pop, hip-hop, edm, and local talent.
Pop is everywhere this year. Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Magdalena Bay, Remi Wolf, and KATSEYE are bringing all the singalong anthems and break-up songs you can think of. If you want to feel like you’re on Tiktok in real life, this is your year.
Hip-hop is stacked with both local and national stars. Doechii is about to blow up, more than she already has. Ravyn Lenae has been white hot. BossMan Dlow and Isaiah Rashad have real stories and even better beats. JPEGMAFIA is an experience all his own, and an act I really want to catch live.
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If you’re going for EDM, you’re set. Dom Dolla, Martin Garrix, Gryffin, Two Friends, Mau P, Chase & Status (who I personally cannot fucking wait to finally see live), ISOxo, and knock2 all bring something different. Perry’s Stage is its own city, and the only rules are dance, sweat, (watch out for kids who did way too much drugs), and hydrate properly.
Parting shot-
You’re not going to see every act you want. That’s not the point. Lolla is about wandering, finding something unexpected, losing your voice, and making at least one memory you’ll lie about later. Drink water, wear shoes you don’t care about, and don’t be the person blocking everyone’s view with an iPad. Have fun, be nice, and enjoy the fact that for four days, Chicago is the best city on earth.
See you in Grant Park.
P.s.- This Black Folks Lollapalooza Survival Guide From "The Tribe" is pretty good