Festival Watch is a Tomorrow’s Verse feature where we break down festival news into the facts you need to know.
Lollapalooza – August 2-5
Headliners To Watch
Jack White – Guitar-rock icon Jack White returns to Lollapalooza as a solo act. Despite his newest record, Boarding House Reach, being shaky at best, White is always backed by talented musicians and guarantees a great live show, incorporating his many other projects’ music throughout.
Arctic Monkeys – A perfect fit for Lollapalooza, Arctic Monkeys combine a hard-rocking base with accessibility. A powerful, energetic live show, the band’s return to Chicago for the first time in four years should be welcomed with open arms.
Vampire Weekend – Beloved indie-rockers Vampire Weekend are officially back for their first tour in four years. Their set at Lollapalooza should certainly offer some surprises alongside classics.
The National – Despite these guys seeming to be on every festival this summer, their live show never fails to impress. Offering a more refined and sophisticated side of alternative rock than most bands on these bills, it’s hard not to recommend catching their set.
The Undercards
Perry Farrell’s Kind Haven – Jane’s Addiction singer and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell has recently announced a crazy, interactive Las Vegas entertainment complex called “Kind Haven.” Apparently, the hologram, virtual reality and potentially pornography-filled environment will make its way to Lollapalooza, and may very well become one of the most interesting acts on the list.
Greta Van Fleet – A young band that gained some serious hype over the last year or two, Greta Van Fleet flaunt a serious dedication to Zeppelin-style blues rock, but pull it off with such impressive musicianship that it’s hard to criticize. Known for a blistering live show, these kids can inject a healthy dose of rock ‘n roll into a lineup that lacks it.
Parquet Courts – With an energetic sound that combines post-punk with art-rock, Parquet Courts continue to amaze their fanbase year after year with strong songwriting and unforgettable live performances.
St. Vincent – Combining indie-pop with a art-rock, St. Vincent is known for a serious live presence, and will fit well with the most accessible and weirdest acts at Lolla simultaneously.
Catfish and the Bottlemen – UK alternative four-piece Catfish and the Bottlemen have an impressively infectious sound that’s simply made for the festival crowd, earning them a high recommendation from us.
You Need To Know
Taking place in Grant Park over the course of four days, Lollapalooza features nearly 200 acts from practically every genre. Four-day passes cost nearly $400 after taxes, with single day passes on sale soon. With tickets traditionally selling out quickly, its recommended you buy soon. With that said, many bands will opt to perform smaller aftershows around the city throughout the weekend, giving an alternative option. Find tickets here.
The Bottom Line
Despite boasting a lineup of nearly 200 bands, the focus here is definitely on pop (Bruno Mars, The Weeknd), EDM (Odesza, Zedd), and hip-hop (Travis Scott, Logic), appealing to younger generations more each year. While there are certainly some big rock bands performing, most of them are at the top of the bill, making daytimes potentially hard to fill with guitar-based bands you’d want to see.
With that said, it’s always a fun scene that finds the city in good (and inebriated) spirits, and an opportunity to see a whole lot of bands in a short amount of time without leaving city limits.
Check out the full lineup on the poster below.
