The festival demonstrates why it is the greatest in the US with incredible performances from Karol G, TxT Lana Del Rey, and more.
Lollapalooza definitely fits within the sweet spot of US music festivals, however it's difficult to pinpoint exactly why. Even though it's not as influencer-focused as Coachella, people are nonetheless getting dressed up for the occasion and posing for pictures in front of a large fountain in the middle of Grant Park in Chicago.Like New York City's Governors Ball, it's also conveniently located near a metro stop. However, unlike the Big Apple festival's lineup, which caters primarily to younger audiences interested in DIY bedroom acts and TikTok viral hitmakers, Lollapalooza offers something for everyone, drawing in both hip-hop enthusiasts and eager bunnies to see NewJeans dance to "Hype Boy" and sing along to "If You Know You Know" with Pusha T.
It's also not at all like Bonnaroo, where patrons camp out to see their favorite bands, refusing to take showers despite walking through numerous puddles of mud on a Tennessee farm. Similar to what happened to fans during Red Hot Chili Peppers' closing show on Sunday, August 6, at Lollapalooza, you can still find yourself balancing for your life in a puddle of mud here. However, you have the classy option of washing yourself off at a nearby hotel afterwards.
Maybe what sets it apart from other festivals is the friendly nature of attendees from the Midwest, like the woman who told NME, "You look so good," the day before The 1975's Friday (August 4) headline act. Given that she is sporting merchandise from Kendrick Lamar and that the rapper is set to perform hits from "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" to an ecstatic audience at the same time as the Manchester band, it appears that she is unaware that she is parodying lyrics from one of the band's greatest songs, "Robbers."
Perhaps because of festival founder Perry Farrell's penchant for showcasing emerging genres and creating history with the festival's selection of headliners—whether it's Tomorrow x Together's sharp and youthful, rockstar status-confirming set as the first South Korean group to top the bill after proving their mettle on a smaller stage just a year earlier or Karol G's jaw-dropping reggeaton performance as the first female Latina headliner to take on the fest. Even yet, the festival stays true to its roots as a Jane's Addiction farewell tour from 1991, pulling sizable crowds to the same stage that Lollapalooza veterans RHCP end the festival on. Up-and-coming rock artists like LoveJoy also draw sizable crowds.
However, despite the performers giving it their all during the festival, there is always a hint of imperfection that keeps everything relatable and genuine. Lollapalooza doesn't try to be anything it's not. Each year, the festival returns with a fresh approach to prioritize diversity in sound and an unwavering commitment to showcasing up-and-coming acts (like on its BMI stage, where fans cheer along to every word of Annie DiRusso and Beauty School Dropout). This shows that the festival is committed to putting music first, and the people it attracts reflect that commitment.
This is best shown on Sunday night when Lana Del Rey takes the stage at Bud Light. Beneath her, in the post-rain mud, are hordes of girls in white skirts and red heart sunglasses, their legs splattered with dirt and their faces streaked with black mascara tears. It becomes apparent why Lollapalooza is so unique as cameras pan across the audience, displaying their shouts and smiles on LED screens.It's orderly and disorganized, perfectly planned yet still leaving room for mayhem. Lollapalooza represents the chaos, beauty, and promise of music in four exciting days, much like the people that rush back into the city after festival gates close, their bodies exhausted and eager, hurrying to their beds or off to the next event under the clean lines of Chicago skyscrapers.
In a white antique dress, Del Rey embodies it too as she sings on life, death, and love. The audience acts as a choir, echoing back to her the lyrics of "Summertime Sadness." As the final minutes of her concert go by, she jokes about being pulled off the stage once more due to curfew. As Lolla closes the festival's 2023 offering down with "Hope Is A Dangerous Thing For A Woman Like Me To Have," it's safe to conclude that she and the festival are right there in that sweet spot. Like Lolla, the performance is messy and clean, well planned but with opportunity for mayhem.
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