Chicago’s iconic Lollapalooza Music Festival was held once again in historic Grant Park from Thursday, August 1 through Sunday, August 4, 2024. Featuring headlining acts like SZA, Megan Thee Stallion, Blink-182, The Killers, Future and Metro Boomin, Hozier, Stray Kids, Melanie Martinez, and Skrillex, attendees were also able to catch over 170 artists from multiple genres across their nine unique stages.
DAY 1 - August 1, 2024
Tyla
Delivering the first jolt of starpower over the long weekend, Tyla continued capitalizing on her breakthrough year with a high-energy performance. Making it all look so simple, the South African singer had the crowd moving for much more than her hit “Water.” Flanked by a team of dancers in front of a giant tiger, being transported to Tyla’s world was easy–especially under the hot sun.
As much as streaming can be viewed as “evil,” global consumption of music has massively shifted taste and influence, and Afrobeat and Amapiano have been pushing much of that behind the likes of maybe only Reggaeton as far as crossover appeal. Tyla’s pop princess infusion makes her recipe a hard one to beat.
Benson Boone
If you still haven’t heard Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” where do you get your music from?
The American Idol alum, who withdrew from the show ahead of Hollywood Week in its 19th season, decided to take the Gen Z route and utilize TikTok to reach current career heights and it paid off. His evening set on Thursday was infectious, powered by power-pop and Boone’s dexterous vocals; a celebration of his debut album “Fireworks & Rollerskates” released in April. There’s a sweetness to his music that’s not overwrought, it’s inherent–and it’s nice.
Labrinth
Labrinth made a dramatic entrance on the T-Mobile stage on Thursday afternoon, delivering a moody set with some of his biggest hits. Throughout the set, Labrinth gave a dramatic theatrical performance, passionately acting through each song rather than dancing. The jumbo screens ignited in colors throughout the set, displaying expressive images of Labrinth and song lyrics so the crowd could sing along. Labrinth performed several emotional songs off of the “Euphoria” soundtrack, each song fueled by rich vocals and ethereal melodies.
Elyanna
Rising star Elyanna is a Palestinian-Chilean singer and songwriter with an experimental Arab-pop sound who has captured the attention of audiences worldwide. Merging Arabic music with Latin rhythms, she has been foraging her own path in the industry by bridging her cultural background with her unique musical style.
Lizzy McAlpine
Sitting casually with her choice of three different guitars and piano, Lizzy McAlpine delivered an acoustic-heavy set of songs at the Bud Light stage on Thursday at Lollapalooza. McAlpine connected heavily with the audience through raw emotion and genuineness.
Her set included nine tracks, most of which were sung with closed eyes in deep feeling. McAlpine started with both “The Elevator” and “Come Down Soon” to warm the crowd up. Numbers which were initially sparse during McAlpine’s start set time of 6:45 p.m. began to increase as listeners sang along to the first couple of tracks. Depending on one’s definition of fun, McAlpine’s goal may or may not have been reached. McAlpine awkwardly stumbled on the words multiple times during her cover of Sufjan Stevens’s “Death With Dignity,” and even had some rough moments in her own songs.
Kesha
As one of the pop figureheads of the 2010s, Kesha has been long overdue for her major comeback — and Lollapalooza was the best place to do it. Following her guest appearance at Renee Rapp’s excellent set in Coachella this year, the pop icon brought out all the stops for her set last weekend, putting one hell of a show that brought the house down. With an eclectic blend of her biggest hits and the newly-released track “JOYRIDE,” Kesha delivered a showcase of what the music industry has been missing from her absence in the mainstream. Her signature bravura and risque nature continue to stand out with a fiery flair that’s difficult (if not irreplaceable) to mimic — proving to the world that there’s no one else capable of doing it like her.
While it was the notable line delivery in her performance of the 2010 hit “Backstabber” that generated a whole lot of buzz across social media (particularly the “Katie’s to the left, ripping my style” lyrical jab), it was further proof of Kesha’s unapologetic nature to speak her mind and her ability to embolden both herself and the crowd with a sharp (if not piercing) impression that continues to linger well past the conclusion of her set.
Hozier
Starting with “Eat Your Young” and ending with crowd-favorite, “Take Me To Church,” Irish singer-songwriter Hozier drew a massive crowd at the northernmost stadium of Lollapalooza during its opening night. Taking Bud Light stage at 8:30 p.m., Hozier sang “Eat Your Young” — the title track of his latest EP and included in his last album “Unreal Unearth.” As crowds continued to fill the field, Hozier greeted the festival goers, noting he’s thankful to be back in Chicago.
But as Hozier took to track eight of his headlining-setlist, the crowd’s roar quickly dispersed. It was just him and his guitar on the stage, and after asking attendees to sing along if they knew the words, “Cherry Wine” brought a bittersweet passion to the energetic audience.
Chappell Roan
Despite not being a headliner, the one performance that everyone has been talking about from this year’s Lollapalooza Festival is that of Chappell Roan.
A “Femininomenon” definitely took place in Grant Park — because over 80,000 people crowded their way just to get a glimpse of Roan’s momentous debut on the festival’s stage. Clad in a Mexican luchador-inspired outfit that fit right at home with her stellar drag-inspired performance wardrobe, she pulled out all the stops to deliver a full-scale theatrical performance that is both camp and confidence all together.
The crowd roared and sang along to every lyric of the fan-favorites “Good Luck, Babe!,” “Red Wine Supernova,” and the anthemic “HOT TO GO!” — yet they also found themselves moved by emotive tracks like “Casual,” “Picture You,” and the unreleased heartbreaker “Subway” that resulted in more than a few tears shed across the venue. It’s undeniable how much of an impact and reach she’s accumulated in just one musical set, yet it promises an extremely bright future for this pop superstar in the making.
With the sheer spectacle that Chappell was able to deliver in one show, there’s no doubt that her standout set has cemented its place as one of the festival’s best and biggest performances in Lollapalooza’s longstanding history.
Megan Thee Stallion
Though Megan Thee Stallion came in to replace Tyler, The Creator’s last-minute cancellation, her performance as the headliner to this year’s Day One of Lollapalooza was ultimately worth the change.
Stallion’s infectious energy and unparalleled confidence rang across the entirety of Grant Park’s 312.98 acres of land, bringing together thousands of people to celebrate her ‘hottie’ energy at full throttle. Given her plethora of hit songs, the crowd was roaring alongside the Houston-raised rapper, with her hits “Hiss,” “WAP,” “Body,” and “Savage” electrifying the audience in attendance.
One performance that delighted the crowd was her recent hit single “Mamushi,” which had everyone dancing along to the viral choreography that’s been making waves across TikTok. For sure, you’ve either seen audiences dancing along or twerking to Stallion’s string of hit songs from the online sphere, which is exactly the kind of legacy and impression that the rapper wants her fans to make the most of.
DAY 2 - August 2, 2024
Day two of the four-day festival ran smoothly, with headlining artists SZA and Stray Kids. Other artists who performed on Friday included Raye, Reneé Rapp, Victoria Monét and Zedd. The 10-hour span of various showtimes allowed attendees to visit another 48 performances in downtown Chicago.
Laufey & The Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra
The music festival setting may not seem like the ideal scenario to hear jazz music live, but Laufey‘s magical stage presence continues to find a home with any audience that she finds herself in front of. Her set at Lollapalooza was no exception, given the massive crowd that the young jazz crooner managed to welcome at the festival’s main stage.
Laufeypalooza stood not only as a fantastic demonstration of her talents, but it also marked one of her best musical sets in recent years (according to several people in attendance). The inclusion of the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra to perform alongside her on stage added a special touch to her music, making it feel simultaneously nostalgic and fresh given the result of these rejuvenated renditions to her already notable discography. Adding to the magic of her set was the surprise appearance of UK-based singer-songwriter Raye, who joined Laufey for a harmonious duet cover of the popular jazz standard written by Johnny Burke and James Van Heusen.
RAYE
English singer-songwriter Raye spins pop music and contemporary jazz vocals into seriously intoxicating melodies. Even her scatting was delightful. With the release of her debut album “My 21st Century Blues” last year, she quickly garnered acclaim from critics for her vulnerable and clever lyrics tackling everything from sexual assault and body dysmorphia to misogyny and addiction.
Musically, it’s so slick it almost cushions the blows–which lent itself well to the live festival setting, where no one’s intentionally looking for or to be a downer. Backed by a masterful band blending elements of blues and hip-hop into the fold, Raye garnered a massive crowd by the set’s end. After, she joined fellow jazz artist Laufey during her performance with the Chicago Philharmonic on the Bud Light stage to cover Jimmy Van Heusen’s 1943 standard “It Could Happen to You.” A very special, unique Lollapalooza moment.
Faye Webster
Faye Webster brought a different, more melodious vibe to Lollapalooza on Friday, stepping onto Tito’s stage to oceanic bubble sounds and mellowing out the crowd.
Webster began her set with, “Not Kiss,” off of her newest album “Underdressed at the Symphony.” Her voice rang sweet against the sharp chords of guitar and heavy drums. Webster has a very distinct voice, almost nasally but effortlessly smooth and undeniably beautiful. Her vocals were consistently backed by steady drums, a delicate keyboard and rich guitar melodies.
Reneé Rapp
Dear artists. We know there are certain things you’re going to do when you play Chicago. You’re going to throw out the first pitch at either a Chicago Cubs or White Sox game, you’re going to perform in a custom Bulls jersey, you’re going to post something about deep dish pizza…*eye roll*
In more recent years, bringing out Chance the Rapper to perform “No Problem” has been added to this list of unnecessary, pandering annoyances–and Reneé Rapp is the latest to fall into the trap.
I do get it. Rapp shared a story about how “Coloring Book” was her favorite album of 2016 (apart from Frank Ocean’s “Blond”) and has been a fan of Chance’s for so long, so yes–this was a moment, sure. And the fans ate it up, because of course they did. But Joey Bada$$ did the same thing last year and someone else did it in 2022 who I can’t remember now, so please just stop the madness.
Besides that, Rapp has solidified herself as one of pop’s newest tour de forces. The vocals on “Bruises”? Stop.
Sexyy Red
St. Louis rapper Sexxy Red has the Song of the Summer with “Get It Sexxy” (I don’t care that it came out in March and most of you have since bestowed that title to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” it’s still everywhere) – however, the Lollapalooza set was…unfulfilling.
Once the giant, inflatable, hot pink “Make America Sexxy Again” hat hit the stage, the vibe of the crowd shifted and quickly became suffocating. So much so, a voice came over the loudspeaker asking attendees to take three steps back to alleviate pressure in front of the stage. Fifteen minutes past the scheduled start time, a DJ took the stage to warm-up an audience that didn’t need warming up. By the time Sexxy got on the mic, her set was more than half over. Unnecessary bites of cover songs were a further distraction, but “Get It Sexxy” and “SkeeYee” back-to-back hit.
Victoria Monét
Winning the Grammy for Best New Artist for a reason, Victoria Monét used every second of her hourlong Lollapalooza set to remind you what exemplary showmanship looks like. Which is why I was shocked to find she had a much smaller crowd than Sexxy Red on the north end of the park.
No matter–those who were there saw she was doing what needed to be done.
Along with her dancers, Monét displayed notes taken from generation’s of R&B and pop divas past–complete with interludes and costume changes. Delivering a capsule of songs from “Jaguar II” including “Party Girls,” “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem)”, “Stop Askin’ Me 4Shyt)” and inescapable “On My Mama,” Monet’s performance was captivating. All of that in an hour? Imagine what she’ll be able to pull off when she headlines next time…
SZA
SZA has always been one heck of an artist, standing out as one today’s most promising and innovative musicians. Given her status as one of the industry’s chart-topping and record-breaking superstars, the audience’s expectations were already quite high — yet the Grammy-winning artist was able to surpass everyone’s preconceived notions.
With an earthy, greenery-inspired stage, SZA performed a twenty-eight track setlist that was jam-packed with her biggest hits. Yet even with how beloved or recognized these tracks already were, the energy of these tracks being translated into the live setting was what resonated with the audience on an entirely different level. Songs like “F2F,” “Drew Barrymore,” “Blind,” “Kill Bill,” and “Low,” brought out a rapturous response from the crowd (as expected), thought it was her introspective and somber set of tracks like “Normal Girl” and “Nobody Gets Me” that had audiences weeping across all corners of Grant Park. As she concluded her set with an emotional encore performance to “20 Something,” it was already solidified that her set had gone beyond the expectations of her audience.
Stray Kids
It’s safe to say that Stray Kids definitely “ATE” with their headlining performance on Day Two of Lollapalooza 2024. The eight-piece K-pop group delivered an explosive set that was also an excellent display of showmanship — complemented by the astounding use of a live band, pyrotechnics, lasers, and fireworks that further amplified their artistry to its full capability. Their cool confidence continued to win over the audience in attendance, as they injected punk-inspired renditions of their tracks that breathed new life to what STAYs have found themselves familiar with.
Together with their synchronized choreography on stage, the group’s performances of “FREEZE,” “Super Bowl,” “Maniac,” “MIROH,” “Chk Chk Boom,” and more immediately made such a strong mark on the crowd. With the addition of two whole encores added to close out their set, it left such an indelible mark on those who bore witness to the show — solidifying their rock-star status.
DAY 3 - August 3, 2024
It was lackluster, a little, to say the least. Day three of Lollapalooza wasn’t as lively or exciting, especially when considering the last two days of pure vigor and passion the Thursday and Friday artists brought to the stage. Still magical in its own way, Saturday brought peaks and valleys to the heart of downtown Chicago.
Accompanied by extreme heat with no shelter from the clouds, Saturday’s collection of near 50 performances juxtaposed energetic performances from Tate McRae and Deftones with more laid back ones, including Quarters of Change and Happy Landing.
Headlining on Saturday were rock band The Killers on the T-Mobile stage and both Future and Metro Boomin at the Bud Light stage. Other performances included Four Tet, Dasha, Cannons, Natalie Jane, boywithuke, eyedress, Destroy Boys, Nia Archives and Skrillex, who went on twice.
Hippo Campus
Hippo Campus owned IHG stage as well, with them claiming the last start time of 7:45 p.m. Their folk-rock set was similar to Maroney’s in the vibe of the music, but the band’s loyalty to the crowd was experienced heavily by audience members.
The Killers
At this stage in their career, The Killers are consummate professionals. The boxes are checked. Live your karaoke fantasy and sing as long as you can, We're sure Brandon Flowers prefers it that way nowadays. “Mr. Brightside” has become “Sweet Caroline” for millennials, we’ve reached that level.
Deftones
Deftones delivered a lively, hyped-up set when they owned the T-Mobile stage at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday. Their setlist consisted of fan favorites and recent tracks, spanning the entire history of the older band.
Ethel Cain
Indie rocker Ethel Cain performed an alluring set at IHG to an immense Lollapalooza crowd on Saturday. Full of passion and emotion, Cain’s haunting vocals and storytelling shined through in each song with her music exploring themes of family trauma, religion and love.
The attendees livened up as the eerie strum of the guitar signaled the beginning of “House in Nebraska,” one of her most popular songs off of “Preacher’s Daughter.” The opening of the song sounded like Cain was merely muttering into the microphone, but her voice finally amplified as she started on the chorus.
Tate McRae
Tate McRae filled the Bud Light field when she went on at 7 p.m. Crowds even toward the back, where more festival goers are resting their legs and sitting on the floor, stayed standing and dancing throughout her set. The star from Canada hit the stage with gusto in Chicago, flaunting a fiery red bra top edged with white detail, glitzy mini-shorts that shimmered under the bright lights, and sky-high grey boots with a slouchy look.
Future x Metro Boomin
Future x Metro Boomin delivered an increasingly vigorous performance at the Bud Light stage at 8:30. With a packed field and people who had been camping there all day, the set did not meet the hopes of many onlookers who were looking forward to the set.
Skrillex
With Skrillex’s music, thrashing is always expected to ensue. Despite breaking out into the scene with his hits “Bangarang,” “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,” and “Where Are U Now” (featuring Justin Bieber), it was the dubstep veteran’s set at Lollapalooza that solidified his title as one of the most innovative musicians of the past decade.
Pairing his bass-defying tracks like “Xena” and “Rumble” with a series of onstage flame machines that (literally) heated up the park, the entirety of his hour-long-plus set was one giant mosh pit that took audiences back to the peak days of electronic dance music in the 2010s. Blending remixes to popular tracks from Fred again, Jay Z, Kanye West, Justice, and Avicii with some of his brand new material, there was more than enough material for everyone to partake in the ceremony of head-banging and fist-pumping in the air — making one hell of a rave to be a part of.
IVE
Marking the K-pop group’s first time performing for a music festival, IVE made sure to commemorate the occasion with an impressive debut that awarded them with more fans. Bringing their string of hits, such as “LOVE DIVE,” “After LIKE,” “Accendio,” and “I AM” to the festival’s grand stage was a treat for the thousands of people in attendance, and showcased the group’s refreshing and energetic take on the K-pop genre.
An Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo won over the hearts of the entire audience, with Yujin and Liz delivering a vocal spectacle that highlighted their impeccable high notes. Even as Yujin lost her hair extensions mid-performance, her professionalism made for a seamless performance alongside the rest of the group. Yet beyond talent, it was also Wonyoung’s infectious charm also enamored the crowd even further, making their set one of the more memorable performances of the festival this year.
DAY 4 - August 4, 2024
As the fourth and final day of the festival came to a close, the sun was high, the skies were blue and Lollapalooza attendees posed for photos in front of the iconic sign one last time.
Headlining on Sunday were Melanie Martinez and Blink-182, who played at the Bud Light and T-Mobile stages, respectively. Other artists included grentperez, Pierce the Veil, Teddy Swims, WILLIS and The Last Dinner Party.
Two Door Cinema Club
Thrice Lollapalooza veteran Two Door Cinema Club returned to the festival’s stages on Sunday, performing at IHG Hotels & Resorts at 7:45 p.m. to a packed and captivated crowd. First appearing at Lollapalooza in 2011 again in 2013, the Irish band is no stranger to the Chicago crowds. But since a decade has passed since their last appearance, they’ve released three new albums: a current total of five.
Two Door Cinema Club played music from their discography on Sunday evening, but focused heavily on one era. They began with “This Is the Life” and concluded with “What You Know,” both of which are songs off the band’s second studio album “Tourist History.”
Conan Gray
Known for his charming, slightly awkward and real personality, Conan Gray performed a confident and unwavering set on the last evening of Lollapoolza. Bud Light stage was filled with viewers as Gray sang popular hits “Heather” and “Maniac.” Gray has an extremely wide vocal capacity, and the crowd cheered as they acknowledged this in “Never Ending Song,” the second song of the evening.
It came after “Fainted Love” and an audience greeting, where Gray noted he was thankful to be back on stage after five years since playing the festival last. With cheers from the audience between and during songs, Gray won the hearts of the audience. He earned their engagement and displayed it when they all bounced around in “Killing Me.”
HANABIE.
HANABIE. is a Japanese pop metalcore group from Tokyo, Japan. The band was formed in 2015 and is known for its unique Harajuku-core style, fusing together heavy metal music and a cute aesthetic. The band comprises vocalist Yukina, guitarist Matsuri, bassist Hettsu and drummer Chika.
Cults
After taking to Bacardi stage on Sunday, Cult played some of their biggest hits like “Bad Things,” and “Always Forever,” as well as some songs off of their new album. The indie rock pop band — based in New York City and comprised of Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin — formed in 2010, and their debut album released in 2011.
Teddy Swims
Atlanta-born Teddy Swims sang his ass off Sunday afternoon. Period. A little country, a little rock and roll, Swims and band were no frills, no gimmicks–just straight-up roots music with a lot of soul. I love a good, down and dirty set like that.
Blink-182
Cringe-worthy and repulsive, Blink-182’s headlining performance was unworthy of closing out this year’s Lollapalooza. The set — though filled with lively songs and an engaged audience — was filled with all-too-memorable, odious remarks from the two lead singers, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge.
The Last Dinner Party
The Last Dinner Party performs the way we used to with our imaginary band in our bedroom when we were a (pre)teenagers–and we mean that as a compliment. Twirling is rock and roll.
The British indie rockers have shot to the top of artists to know lists since the release of their debut album “Prelude to Ecstasy”--an artful immersion into their baroque-pop sound and look that has drawn comparisons to the likes of Kate Bush and Florence and the Machine. We believe we could always use more of that–especially when it comes with songs like “The Feminine Urge,” “Sinner” and “Nothing Matters.”
Packing in a massive crowd on the Tito’s Stage (known at the park’s Petrillo Music Bandshell), those passing by asking “Who is this? Have you heard of this band before?” quickly found out.
Unreleased song “Second Best” hinted at even more promise of grandeur (and slight doom) from the quintet (plus touring drummer Casper Miles), and a surprise cover of Blondie’s “Call Me” showed how much they totally rip.
Melanie Martinez
Melanie Martinez started her headline set on the Bud Light stage at 8:45 p.m. with a lullaby resounding from the speakers before morphing into heavy bass, as fireworks shot up into the sky and lasers shot toward the crowd. Her set was split into three parts— the first part focusing on her 2015 album “Cry Baby,” the second part on her 2019 album “K-12,” and the third part on her 2023 album “PORTALS.”
The jumbo screen portrayed a nursery before Martinez came out on stage in a frilly baby-pink dress, beginning her set with “Cry Baby,” off of her 2015 album.
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