Post Malone, Tyler the Creator, Miley Cyrus and The Foo Fighters will be among the headliners when Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park for its 30th anniversary July 29-August 1. The festival returns at full capacity after a year away due to the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees at this year’s festival must be fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 24 hours of each festival day.
Additional headliners for the festival include Dababy, Marshmello, Illenium, Journey, Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Ricch.
Bigger than ever, rap-pop-rock hybrid artist Post Malone returns to the festival. Other returning acts include Tyler the Creator, Marshmello and Dababy. Roddy Ricch, who had a major 2020 despite the pandemic (thanks in no small part to TikTok) is a notable performer set to please the crowds who missed out on seeing him live last year. Three-time Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion makes her Lolla debut this year after exploding into the mainstream with hits like “Savage” and “WAP.” Her appearance is much-welcomed after a lack of female headliners in years past.
Ten years after they played a now-classic rainy set at the festival, perennial rockers The Foo Fighters return to the Lolla stage. Much beloved, their unsurprising appearance is another reminder of the middling state of mainstream rock ‘n’ roll. Whereas the festival’s pop, hip hop and electronic headliners continue to represent a crop of performers hand picked off the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, the rock acts often fall into the throwback vein. Classic rock band Journey, while a perfect pick for a city like Chicago, first peaked in the ’80s and gained a wave of nostalgia in the aughts due to television shows like “The Sopranos” and “Glee.” Their inclusion is less an indictment of the festival itself than how rock music operates among Gen-Z and millennial listeners.
According to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office, additional details on the festival and its entry process will be released in early July. The festival announced more than 165 bands and artists Wednesday. Four-day passes begin at $350 (plus a $58.78 service fee that includes the Chicago amusem*nt tax) and went on sale at Lollapalooza.com at noon Wednesday, while one-day tickets have not yet been announced or on sale. Typically, Lollapalooza waits until four-day passes are sold out to announce the day-by-day lineup and put single-day tickets on sale.
New this year is GA+ which begins at $650 and offers more comforts than standard general admission, like shade and seating in two private groves near Buckingham Fountain. In 2019, a general admission four-day pass went for $340.
Other notable acts for this year’s festival include Kaytranada, Jack Harlow, Kim Petras and Orville Peck. Fresh off his two Grammy wins, Canadian Kaytranada is sure to please audiences and get a much-needed dance party started at the home of house music. Rising indie pop star Petras, who is known for her unique and visually thrilling live sets, should make for an exciting appearance. Those looking for a throwback may be interested in checking out Limp Bizkit. The choice may seem odd, but most things Y2K have become popular again among the Gen-Z set. Why not exasperating rap-rock?
The festival continues to increase its number of Chicago-area artists and 2021 is no exception, with the likes of Whitney and Mick Jenkins among the performers. Chicago rapper Polo G makes a return to the festival two years after his first solo set. His return is sure to be something of a homecoming for the certified star whose second album, “The Goat,” made a splash in 2020 and reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. Earlier this year, his single “Rapstar” debuted at No. 1, cementing the 22-year-old’s longevity.
The full lineup:
Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Tyler the Creator, Miley Cyrus, Dababy, Marshmello, Illenium, Journey, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Kaytranada, Brockhampton, Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Limp Bizkit, Modest Mouse, Jack Harlow, Polo G, Trippie Redd, $uicideboy$, Alison Wonderland, Slander, Steve Aoki, Brittany Howard, Band of Horses, Jimmy Eat World, Dermot Kennedy, Young the Giant, Lauv, Giveon, Angels & Airwaves, Iann Dior, Saint Jhn, All Time Low, Mt. Joy, Marc Rebillet, Whitney, Dominic Fike, Surfaces, Tchami, Jauz, Freddie Gibbs, The Front Bottoms, Big Wild, Kim Petras, Yellow Claw, Subtronics, Oliver Heldens, Cash Cash, Oliver Tree, Omar Apollo, Ashe, LP, Arizona Zervas, Tate McCrae, Earthgang, Rico Nasty, Jpegmafia, Jacob Banks, White Reaper, Peekaboo, Olivia O’Brien, Orville Peck, Princess Nokia, Cautious Clay, Dayglow, Trevor Daniel, Flo Milli, Bia, Flipp Dinero, TNGHT, AG Club, Boy Pablo, Elohim, Cam, Slowthai, Mick Jenkins, Tobi Lou, Drama, Grandson, Cavetown, Toosii, MXMTOON, Noga Erez, Sullivan King, Dabin, Saymyname, Riot Ten, Lost Kings, Dombresky, Wooli, RMR, Ed Maverick, MAX, Hinds, Porches, Emotional Oranges, Black Pistol Fire, Peach Tree Rascals, Elderbrook, JXDN, Jessia, Dr. Reach, Cannons, Vintage Culture, Gus Dapperton, Jawny, Sir Chloe, LP Giobbi, CID, The Backseat Lovers, Clever, Goth Babe, Michigander, Tai Verdes, William Black, Rookie, Justin Jay, Almost Monday, Ant Clemons, Chiiild, Joy Oladokun, Night Lovell, Aly & AJ, Chomppa, Vnssa, Level Up, Blossom, Laundry Day, Moby Rich, Njomza, Sophie Cates, NEZ, Sebastian Paul, Brownies & Lemonade All Stars, Ant Saunders, Rence, Kid Quill, Contradash, Mothica, Absofacto, Riz La Vie, Lauren Sanderson, Kenny Mason, Phem, Sofia Valdez, Serena Isioma, Taylor Janzen, Payday, Christian French, Jac Ross, Radkey, Jake Wesley Rogers, Sarah Barrios, Neal Francis, Sa-Roc, Charm La’Donna, Moore Kismet, Julian Lamadrid, Shy Carter, Hoko, Elephant Heart, Migrant Motel, Ottto, The Aquadolls, Jake Duby.
Britt Julious is a freelance critic.
