In recent years, Lollapalooza has sustained its success by branching out across different musical genres, and this year’s festival is no exception. Headliners stem from different musical genres and generations, including alt-pop superstar Billie Eilish, reggaeton queen Karol G, Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar and the classic rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers. In a time when the music festival bubble has burst, Lollapalooza has proven the most successful formula is to appease a wide-ranging audience with eclectic tastes and temperaments.
Here is our selection of the best up-and-coming and established musicians to check out during this year’s festival.
Lollapalooza runs this coming Thursday, Aug. 3, through Sunday, Aug. 6 in Grant Park. Limited tickets were available as of press time; www.lollapalooza.com
Thursday
Not to Miss: Joy Oladokun, Billie Eilish and Carly Rae Jepsen.
More than seven years into her debut, Joy Oladokun continues to impress and shine with her genreless creations. Her fourth solo album, “Proof of Life,” released in April is a sonic balm jam-packed with collaborations (Mt. Joy, Chris Stapleton) and crisp anthems crafted to boost one’s self-empowerment and joy. Oladokun’s 3 p.m. time slot on the Bud Light stage may be early for the casual Lollapalooza audience, but the softer craftsmanship of her music should work perfectly in a midafternoon set of excited, yet calm festival goers.
At only 21 years old, Billie Eilish has made a formidable mark on the music industry and entertainment world. Most recently, Eilish released her sophom*ore record, 2021’s “Happier Than Ever,” which saw the singer-songwriter pivot from the hip-hop-influenced electropop of her debut album to more downtempo and jazz-influenced arrangements. If anything, Eilish proved she is more than just a one-hit wonder, pairing spindly arrangements with biting, sometimes unnerving lyrics. Yet, despite a recent reputation for making quieter, more earnest tunes, Eilish is also known for her spirited live shows, which often feature the artist jumping around the stage like more of a rock star than a pop star. As one of the festival’s headliners on the T-Mobile stage, audiences should expect a similar energy, albeit this time ramped up to the extreme.
Is there any surprise that pop master Carly Rae Jepsen went full disco on her last album, 2022’s “The Loneliest Time” Jepsen is known for zigging where others may zag, artfully predicting music’s trends and distilling only the finest choruses and melodies throughout her songs. Her new album, “The Loveliest Time,” envisioned as an accompaniment to “The Loneliest Time,” leans into these elements even more. Released on July 28, the album is brimming with danceable grooves and the cultural energy of a world ready to have fun again. Stick around for Jepsen’s early evening set on the Bud Light stage, and be prepared to dance. Her live shows are even more enthralling than her records.
Best Stages: Thursday is typically the most questionable lineup day of Lollapalooza, but this year has broken the stereotype. This is most evident on the Bud Light stage, which has booked some of the best and brightest pop-leaning acts of the entire festival. From cheeky openers The Beaches, who have perfected dreamy indie pop, to reggaeton headliner Karol G, the Bud Light stage is sure to be the most enjoyable stage of the day. Other highlights include Oladokun, Jepsen and electro-pop band Sofi Tukker.
Something Else: In recent years, Lollapalooza has improved its numbers in showcasing local artists, and 2023 is no exception. Rising young queer rapper Kidd Kenn has made a solid name for himself around the nation for his melodic beats and instrumentation coupled with a flow that traverses rhythms and speed for each song. Here, Kenn closes out the BMI Stage, one of the best stops for up-and-coming acts that are sure to break out in the next few years.
Other headliners and performers include Noah Kahan, Diplo and Portugal. The Man.
Friday
Not to Miss: Sudan Archives, Tems and Kendrick Lamar.
Every new Sudan Archives release has proven to be more experimental and riveting than the last, and 2022’s “Natural Brown Prom Queen” is musician Brittney Parks’ most exciting yet. Emotive and captivating, Parks found a perfect means of blending her more unique sonic elements with songs rooted in R&B and soul to capture a sound uniquely her own. But Parks is at her most compelling when she’s on the stage. Known for crafting a multilayered live show experience, expect numerous pedals, synths and her signature violin. It is a rare treat to see an artist like Sudan Archives at a festival like Lollapalooza, so audiences shouldn’t miss the opportunity at the T-Mobile stage.
Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems’ meteoric rise should come as no surprise to audiences who have listened to her two EPs, “For Broken Ears” and “If Orange Was a Place.” Blending elements of alt R&B and alté (itself a fusion genre), Tems has struck an indelible chord with global musical listeners. And the American music industry has taken notice, with wide-ranging collaborations with artists like Future, Drake and Beyoncé. But Tems deserves a spotlight of her own, and Friday’s midafternoon slot at the T-Mobile stage is a perfect showcase for the artist. Come for the hits (like 2020’s “Essence”) and stay for her eclectic body of groove-heavy and beautiful solo work.
Fans in the mood for a little more substance in their Lollapalooza festival experience should skip The 1975 and head to Kendrick Lamar’s headlining slot at the T-Mobile stage on Friday. Expect to hear tunes from his rich body of work, including 2022’s “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” a concept album that saw the hip-hop artist explore themes of trauma, healing and personal responsibility. Lamar is a charismatic performer known for imbuing his live performances with cinematic, theme-laden visuals that linger in the minds of his audiences long after his set ends.
Best Stages: Audiences can get a little bit of everything at Friday’s T-Mobile stage. Start the day off early with underrated rapper Skizzy Mars, then stick around for not-to-miss acts like Sudan Archives, Tems and Lamar. We are particularly excited for Fred Again…, whose meditative downtempo house tunes are often lovely, life-affirming odes to his friends and family.
Something Else: Don’t underestimate “teen pop.” Sabrina Carpenter may have first made her breakthrough as an actress on Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World,” but she has established a formidable solo music career featuring stirring pop. On her fifth and latest solo album, “Emails I Can’t Send,” Carpenter’s songwriting is sharper than ever, revealing bold insight into her young life of confusion and heartbreak. Give her a chance during her late-afternoon set on the Coinbase stage.
Other headliners and performers include Beabadoobee, Foals, Sabrina Carpenter and Jessie Reyez.
Saturday
Not to Miss: Maggie Rogers and Nora en Pure.
Music is spiritual business for Maggie Rogers. In 2021, Rogers enrolled in Harvard’s Divinity School to study, according to The New York Times, “the spirituality of public gathering and the ethics of pop power.” Rogers’s 2022 album, “Surrender,” was crafted, in part, for her master’s thesis. Whereas her debut, “Heard It in a Past Life,” featured more traditional folk-pop elements, “Surrender” is firmly rooted in electropop. Sonically, it is a more up-tempo and propulsive record. Rogers once called it “joy with teeth,” a description that is evident and true on tracks like “That’s Where I Am” and “Want Want.” Catch her on the Bud Light stage for an early evening set sure to provide audiences with a rapturous awakening.
Looking for something different during your Lolla experience this year? Look no further than producer Daniela Di Lillo who performs as Nora En Pure. Although Lolla has amassed a noticeable, bro-heavy EDM audience through its usual lineups at Perry’s stage, booking Nora en Pure (and Fred Again… on Friday) might signal a sonic change in its electronic music lineups. Di Lillo has made a name for herself over the last decade by releasing gorgeous deep house tunes (like the iconic “Come With Me” or the piano-laden “Sherwood Forest”) perfect for warm, late summer nights on the shores of Ibiza. Her Lolla set, scheduled for late evening, is sure to be a perfect balm from the typical chaos of the festival on a Saturday.
Best Stages: One of the most interesting and surprising stages of the year is Saturday’s Perry’s stage, which is jam-packed with an eclectic lineup of artists, from the Balearic deep house of Nora en Pure to the silly, but enjoyable EDM of AC Slater to the body-jacking groves of Solardo. We’re also excited for Pusha T’s closing set on the stage, which should prove to be something of a breath of fresh air for the normally electronic-focused stage.
Something Else: It’s hard to believe it’s only been five years since The Linda Lindas first formed and two years since they found viral fame from a video posted by the Los Angeles Public Library. Since then, the group (whose oldest member is only 18 years old) has racked up a number of achievements most artists could only dream of, including a set at Coachella and an opening slot for Paramore during their latest tour. Yet the group has only released one album and one EP. Brimming with ingenuity and promise, we’d recommend catching them here on their early afternoon set at the Tito’s Handmade Vodka stage (ironic since no members are of legal drinking age) before they inevitably gain an even larger fan base.
Other headliners and performers include ODESZA, Tomorrow X Together and J.I.D.
Sunday
Not to Miss: Dehd, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lana del Rey
Chicago three-piece indie rock band Dehd is a local success story, so it’s only fitting they’ve garnered a much-coveted slot during Sunday’s Lolla lineup. After the surprise success of 2020’s “Flower of Devotion,” the group solidified their talents with their latest record, 2022’s “Blue Skies.” Featuring the viral hit “Bad Love,” the album is a formidable collection of the band’s winning charm, lyricism and surprisingly catchy melodies. Catch this early afternoon homecoming show on the T-Mobile stage for a guaranteed good time.
Lollapalooza may have grown significantly and incorporated many new genres since it first premiered in the 1990s, but festival organizers still try to maintain some of the elements (i.e., rock music) of the original event. Booking a long-lasting and beloved rock band like the Red Hot Chili Peppers certainly fits that bill in 2023. Propulsive and enigmatic, the Red Hot Chili Peppers is sure to be a good time, even for the most casual of fans. Audiences interested in straight-up rock should stick around for this headlining set at the T-Mobile stage.
Lana Del Rey’s live sets have come a long way since she first found fame more than a decade ago. The elusive yet prolific singer-songwriter has gained significantly more confidence, imbuing her live shows with a cinematic, almost haunting, mood. For fans who have grown with the musician and her many genre experimentations through the years, this makes for a compelling, cheeky and even emotional live show. Expect to hear music across her rich discography, with a particular focus on Del Rey’s latest album, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,” which was released in March and features a return to some of the sonic elements (alt-pop, hip hop) that gained her fans in the first place. She closes out the Bud Light stage.
Best Stages: It is difficult to choose a favorite stage for Sunday’s Lollapalooza lineup, but we are particularly drawn to the T-Mobile stage. Audiences can find a little bit of everything on this stage, from ’90s rock (Red Hot Chili Peppers) to rap and indie pop. And with plenty of time between each performer, you can traverse the Grant Park landscape and catch some of the other, smaller acts performing during the festival.
Something Else: Rina Sawayama may have broken through recently in the acting world with a role in “John Wick: Chapter 4,” but we will — first and foremost — always think of her as a pop artist. Most recently, Sawayama released her sophom*ore record, “Hold the Girl,” in 2022. The critically acclaimed album found the singer exploring a more complex pop music landscape, incorporating elements from genres as far-ranging as electro-pop and country to R&B and trance. Sawayama is a star with charisma, drive and intelligence. Never afraid to experiment, she is sure to dazzle audiences during this early evening set on the Bud Light stage.
Other headliners and performers include Neil Frances, Lil Yachty, Bakar, Gorgon City, Afrojack and Magdalena Bey.
What to know
TICKETS: Limited Saturday General Admission tickets were available as of press time from $135. 4-Day General Admission from $385, 4-Day General Admission+ from $700, 4-Day VIP from $1,600 and 4-Day Platinum from $4,350 are available at lollapalooza.com/tickets. Children ages 8 and younger are free with a ticket-holding adult (limit two children per ticketed adult).
STAGES: There are eight stages this year: Bud Light, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Bacardi, BMI, Solana x Perry’s, Coinbase, T-Mobile and Kidzapalooza stages. Each day’s primary headliners perform on the Bud Light, T-Mobile, Bacardi and Perry’s stages.
EXPERIENCE: It is a full mile inside Lollapalooza grounds, from north to south. The main gates on Michigan Avenue are at about the halfway mark and wide-open inside for foot traffic. The food tents of Chow Town and specialty vendor areas usually are the first thing you meet, with Buckingham Fountain and merch sellers just behind. Turn south for the T-Mobile, north for the Bud Light Seltzer stage. Box toilets and aid stations are plentiful most everywhere. Daily capacity is 115,000 fans, an increase from 100,000 in previous years as a provision to extend the festival’s lease in Grant Park for another 10 years.
UPDATES: For up-to-date information from the festival, a mobile app is available for iOS and Android. Plus follow Lollapalooza’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages; check www.lollapalooza.com or get festival emails. Lollapalooza is presented by Austin, Texas-based C3 Presents, a division of Live Nation.
FOR ENTRY: Gates open each day at 11 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Main gates are located on Monroe and Columbus and Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive. Guests must have a festival wristband for entry and reentry.
Bag policy: All bags will be searched before entering the festival. Small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6 inches by 9 inches or smaller do not need to be clear, but can have no more than one pocket. Larger bags must be clear. Bags cannot be larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. Hydration packs are allowed and do not need to be clear, but should be empty of all liquids before entering the festival. More information on Lollapalooza’s Support page.
Lockers are available for rent. More information on Lollapalooza’s Support page.
SAFETY: Lollapalooza has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, including harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, body size, appearance, age or national origin. Lollapalooza encourages patrons to contact staff if they feel threatened or unsafe.
Patrons in need of emergency medical assistance can go to one of the available medical tents.
This Must Be the Place, an overdose prevention nonprofit, will have a booth with Naloxon, an opioid reversal medicine, and offer education on the dangers of fentanyl.
ACCESSIBILITY: Accessible festival entry lanes are available at each entrance. A sign will indicate each entrance.
Trained service miniature horses or dogs are allowed on festival grounds to provide assistance to individuals with a disability. Guests with a service animal will get a Patron Notice of Responsibility for a Service Animal or can request the form in advance from access@lollapalooza.com.
American Sign Language-interpreted music performances are available for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing. A full schedule of interpreted performances will be released closer to the festival date.
Upon arrival, guests who require accessible viewing areas should visit the Access Center for information on the accessibility wristband program. This provides the guest plus one patron access to the accessible viewing or deaf and hard of hearing areas.
Wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, and three- or four-wheeled scooters are allowed only for use by patrons with mobility disabilities. Powered wheelchairs can be charged at the Access Center and guests should bring all cords and accessories needed to charge their devices. Chargers must use a 110-volt, 20-amp circuit.
Accessible portable toilets are available at the ends of each bank of portable toilets throughout the festival venue, as well as the Accessibility Center.
Patrons who need prescription medication must present the pharmacy-labeled container that states the prescription, dosage and patient name to the medical staff at each entrance gate. Patrons are only allowed a supply of the prescribed medication for that day. Medicines needing to be inhaled or smoked are prohibited unless in a prescribed inhaler. Over-the-counter medications are allowed in a sufficient supply for the day.
Britt Julious is a freelance critic.
