Lollapalooza’s flagship competition in Chicago is a novel expertise for competition goers. Whereas I normally attend solely dance music festivals, I appreciated the number of sounds at Lolla 2025. I used to be principally at Perry’s stage (virtually completely for DJs) to expertise a few of the greatest sounds in our favourite style. From Martin Garrix to Dom Dolla to Two Buddies to Knock2, there was one thing for everybody. Rüfüs Du Sol fantastically closed down the primary stage on Saturday.
Exterior of dance, headliners included Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyler the Creator, Luke Combs, Twice, A$AP Rocky, Korn, Gracie Abrams, and Doechii.
Lollapalooza Chicago 2025 wasn’t only a music competition—it was a cultural assertion. With a lineup that fused legacy acts, future legends, and underground innovators, it proved that Lolla nonetheless is aware of lead, not observe. On the finish of my first day there, I used to be left feeling the Lolla Pretty vitality.
Grant Park & Chicago
Lollapalooza is an extremely particular competition. You may actually really feel the entire metropolis get behind this occasion and showcase Chicago at its greatest. I actually just like the daytime vitality of the fest. As a result of it’s all ages, mother and father carry their children to attempt all the brand new meals and go to Kidzapalooza. You’ll not discover festivals as massive as Lollapalooza having a devoted space and stage for teenagers.
Grant Park is totally huge. Situated proper in the midst of Chicago, it’s the excellent place for a 100,000+ attended venue. Strolling the size of it the primary time, you’ll be shocked by how massive it’s. With a number of entrances and exits, getting in is a breeze with bascially no wait time.
The Meals and Experiences
There may be extra meals than you’ll be able to think about, starting from Asian cuisines to Birria Tacos to Chicago’s well-known beef sandwiches and pizza. One in every of my favourite components is the devoted Desert Island. If in case you have a sugar tooth like me, you’ll love this part. Chow City stored foodies fed with choices starting from deep-dish classics to plant-based innovation.
The distributors are a standout from some other competition I’ve been to. Most provide free meals and drinks (so long as you’re keen to attend in line). The favorites I had have been Bodega De Café Bustelo, Heinz Sauce Cease, Peace Tea’s Mad Peaceable World, Purple Bull Dusty Disco, and Airbnb Haven.
The variety of phases was fairly spectacular. Because of all of the bushes and house, there was no sound bleed in any respect, which I beloved. The 8 phases all had their very own sound to them, so that you knew what you have been getting. T-Cell’s foremost stage had all of the pop acts, Perry’s featured all of the DJs, Bud Mild had each rap and pop, Lakeshore rocked with heavy metallic and rock, and The Grove had the gang singing rock and nation.
The Music and Headliners
As I mentioned above, due to my love for dance music, I caught to Perry’s Stage principally. I used to be in a position to catch ISOXO, Tape B, Bunt., Dr.Fresch, Levity, Chase & Standing, Marlon Hoffstadt, Sammy Virji, Gryffin, and naturally Martin Garrix. Every of their units was as electrical as I’ve seen them.
ISOXO at all times leaves the dance ground enraged with vitality. Dr.Fresch is thought for his daytime uplifting at Lolla, and he didn’t miss a beat. Chase & Standing introduced their DnB throughout the pond and had the gang dancing foolish. Two Buddies had a ridiculous drone present. I used to be amazed watching that from one other stage and might solely think about what it felt wish to be at Perry’s.
Gryffin performed the proper mixture of heavy bass and his lovely pop classics. He introduced out a bunch of singers and, after all, his iconic guitar.
Garrix performed the ultimate set at Perry’s to a packed crowd and had everybody’s fingers within the air singing to each file. He had laser galore that completely synced to every tune. It was one among my favourite units of his. Martin introduced out Lauv for his or her new tune ‘MAD’. He performed an array of heavy IDs and closed on his newest observe with Alesso ‘Inside Our Hearts.’
My favourite set of the weekend got here from Rüfüs Du Sol who closed the primary stage Saturday evening. This was my first time seeing them stay, and I can’t wait to see them once more. I heard wonderful issues for years, they usually lived as much as all of the hype. They sounded precisely (and higher) like they do on Spotify. Their most well-known songs ‘You Had been Proper’, ‘Music Is Higher’, and the wonderful ending with ‘Innerbloom’. The fireworks present with that taking part in was a second I’ll always remember.
Lollapalooza merely does every little thing proper for its attendees. It’s seamlessly run and never overcrowded for being offered out. Lolla exhibits off Chicago at its best, and I shall be again. It’s no shock that this model has expanded all over the world. Keep Pretty Lolla!
