Lollapalooza returned to Grant Park from August 3-6, 2023, and the result was another impressive festival experience in the heart of Chicago.
When it comes to festivals with a worldwide, cross-genre reputation, Lollapalooza has to rank near the top of the list. The flagship Lollapalooza festival just took place in downtown Chicago, and the sold-out event once again created the best weekend of the year in the Windy City.
Lollapalooza 2023 was headlined by Billie Eilish, Karol G, Kendrick Lamar, The 1975, ODESZA, Lana Del Rey, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Some of the artists performing at the EDM-dedicated Perry’s stage included Louis The Child, Subtronics, Diplo, Dom Dolla, Svdden Death, Afrojack, and Alan Walker.
Lollapalooza 2023 had one of the better lineups in recent memory, with tickets selling out months in advance for the first time in several years.
Originally conceived in the 1990s as a touring alternative rock festival, Lollapalooza now focuses on all genres of music. It has brought out an even more diverse lineup recently, hosting country artists, K-pop stars, DJs, and more to create a unique festival experience at a state-of-the-art venue.
The location of Lollapalooza is a huge part of its appeal, with beautiful views of the Chicago skyline and Buckingham Fountain setting the tone upon entering the fest. Downtown streets are closed for the event and taken over by upwards of 100,000 attendees per day.
The festival spreads throughout the downtown stretch of Lake Shore Drive, with lengthy walks between the two main stages on the north and south ends of Grant Park.
Stage hopping at the festival can be a time consuming and tiring process, but the effort is worth it to experience the pure depth of the lineup that Lollapalooza brings out every year. From noon to 10 PM each day, the talent across Lolla doesn’t ever disappoint. There is also a deep selection of afterparties held across dozens of the city’s best venues.
While a significant portion of the crowd is there to see more mainstream artists, electronic music-inclined fans can see sets at Perry’s while enjoying a much different lineup than the average EDM festival.
Electronic music has always been a huge part of the Lollapalooza experience, as festival founder Perry Farrell’s namesake stage is the unofficial rave of Lolla. The lineup always skews towards the world’s biggest DJs, with Timmy Trumpet, Alan Walker, Diplo, and Afrojack being some of the main draws this year.
The Perry’s lineup in 2023 was stacked with hidden gems throughout the weekend. Disco Lines, SVDDEN DEATH, Blanke, Hairitage, Ray Volpe, RemK, and Knock2 were some highlights, while ACRAZE, Wax Motif, Gorgon City, Dom Dolla, Nora En Pure, and Meduza brought proper house music vibes.
Electronic music can also be found sprinkled throughout the rest of the grounds. Big Wild, Sofi Tukker, Fred Again, Sylvan Esso, and Neil Frances all played on the main stages. There’s also the 8 PM spot on the Tito’s Stage right before the headliner, one of the best time slots of the weekend to dance in an intimate crowd and discover new artists like Ninajirachi and Carola.
The most energetic sets of the weekend are usually the hip-hop artists, where the crowds can get completely out of control.
Lolla is an all ages festival that attracts a largely young and suburban demographic. While in past years, Perry’s was always the main attraction, the real mosh pits now happen at hip-hop sets. If you’re looking for a pure Lollapalooza experience and some quality people watching, I think one of the best things to do here is see the rappers. Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, Lil Yachty, JID, and Pardyalone had some of the best crowds of the weekend.
Some other genres specifically worth seeing are pop music and rock bands.
Icons like Carly Rae Jepsen and Rina Sawayama were great additions to the lineup, while bands like Peach Pit, Knocked Loose, Thirty Seconds to Mars, The 1975, and Poolside were some other memorable shows. There’s always acts to discover on the lineup, whether it be country, hyperpop, punk, or whatever else you stumble upon. If you attend Lolla and don’t leave with new artists to listen to, you’re doing it wrong.
Throughout the festival grounds, there are famous restaurants, side stages, brand activations, and gift shops.
The food selection at Lollapalooza is another one of the festival’s best qualities, with countless Chicago restaurants lining the streets with plenty of food options. There are also bars and beer gardens around the venue, as well as dedicated popups for brands like Hendrick’s Gin, Bacardi, Hulu, T-Mobile, and our favorite, the Toyota Music Den.
Although the rain took over much of Saturday and Sunday, the amenities at Lollapalooza still allowed for a pleasant experience.
The festival was noticeably more crowded than in past years, but with a huge venue and plenty of areas to chill or hide from the rain, Lollapalooza generally does a good job of crowd control. When bathroom and bar lines get long, there’s probably another line or register around the corner that has a shorter wait.
Lollapalooza is not without its flaws, but it’s a festival that consistently delivers on its expectations year after year.
Between a lineup that has something for everyone and amenities like 60+ restaurants lining the streets of Chicago, Lollapalooza is a one-of-a-kind festival. It’s both a destination for festivalgoers from across the world as well as an introduction to the culture for thousands of kids from around the area. While it doesn’t have the camping festival vibe that Coachella or Bonnaroo has, Lollapalooza is up there in the same conversation in its own category.
The stage production, including both lighting and sound quality, was particularly impressive at Perry’s this year. There were some sound issues at the larger stages like T-Mobile, but the crowd area there is so massive (with several rows of speakers), I was always able to find a spot that sounded great. Overall, the festival amenities and production at Lollapalooza are definitely above average.
We’re looking forward to another weekend at Lollapalooza next year, and we plan to return regardless of the lineup.
There aren’t many festivals that we’d consistently attend annually, however, Lollapalooza is such an iconic event in our hometown that we plan to return no matter who’s playing. It’s a citywide celebration that appeals to music fans of all genres, and while dealing with the crowd for four days can be tiresome, the quality of the festival always makes it worth it in the end.
Lolla recently signed a 10-year contract to remain in Grant Park through 2033. Will we keep going to Lollapalooza every year for the next decade? Only time will tell, but we’ll see you back in Grant Park next August for another festival weekend.
Story: @michael__premier
Photos: Lollapalooza & @benleahyy
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Tomorrow by Together was also a headliner…