Lollapalooza 2021
Article by Brittany Ormiston
Lollapalooza: an annual four-day music festival held at Grant Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the largest music festivals in the world and longest-running in the United States. This year Lollapalooza took place from July 29-August 1st 2021 at its full capacity. Concert-goers were able to celebrate the festival’s 30th anniversary with live music back once again. We were fortunate enough to attend Lollapalooza this year, and be a part of the life-changing festival experience we had heard about for so long. This year’s lineup was filled with some of our favorite artists, and we were eager to set foot back in the concert atmosphere again. It was the perfect time to mark ‘attend a music festival’ off our bucket lists.
Once we scanned our wristbands and walked through the gates, those dreams we had of attending Lollapalooza one day instantly turned into reality. Everything we had imagined was right in front of us: the crowds of people, bubbles floating through the air, the smell of greasy festival food from the Windy City’s favorite restaurants, live music echoing throughout the park, and THE famous Lollapalooza sign. An overwhelming feeling of excitement mixed with a bit of anxiety and uncertainty passed through our bodies. Day one: let’s get it.
We made our way over to the Lake Shore stage to attend Christian French’s first-ever Lollapalooza performance. His setlist was filled with catchy upbeat tunes with lyrics that examine the hardships of anxiety, doubt, and insecurity while trying to find life’s silver lining along the way. French easily connected with fans and his authenticity was quite apparent. We had the ‘time of our lives’ to say the least, and we are looking forward to seeing French on his own tour in September. All Time Low’s (ATL) set was one word: insanity. From the mosh pits to the crowd surfers to the band teasing ‘Dear Maria’ as their first song of the night, you could say it was a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. ATL delivered a high-energy performance that did not disappoint. Any festival-goer could sense the band’s gratitude and relief of finally being able to perform again after so long. The lead guitarist, Jack Barakat, added a little bit of spice to the stage with his carefree spirit and witty humor. Through all of the chaos, we somehow managed to catch a guitar pick which will forever be a keepsake to remind us of our first ever ATL performance. As the night transpired, we ended up taking a trip down memory lane by screaming the lyrics to “The Climb” with Miley Cyrus. Little did we know, Cyrus would end up having several special guests during her performance, including The Kid LAROI. Their duet of “Without You” was one for the books and made the night even more unreal.
Day two arrived and we walked to Meli Cafe for brunch. Their omelettes, crepes, and fresh fruit still have our mouths watering. After acquiring our daily dose of caffeine from Starbucks, we headed to the festival. We were extra stoked to see Lauv perform and it was long overdue. Lauv showed off his extraordinary vocal range, making our jaws drop countless times. He performed his most popular tracks, such as “I Like Me Better” and “I’m So Tired”, but also made sure to include a few underrated bops, specifically “Lonely Eyes”. Lauv hyped up the crowd even more when playing an unreleased track. The audience anticipated a ballad full of heartbreaking lyrics and slow tempo. However, at the chorus it quickly transitioned into an upbeat anthem perfect for blasting through the stereo speakers on those long ‘summer nights’. Lauv was taken aback by the response to his music and good vibes radiating from the crowd. At times, he even asked the band to cut the music so he could take in those captivating moments.
Day three was the day we had been looking forward to the most because the headliner that night was the one and only Post Malone. After being fans of the well-known rapper for many years, we were finally able to scream the lyrics and dance to all of our favorite songs without a care in the world. Post Malone performed “Too Young” and we were over the moon. He performed that same track as the supporting act for Justin Bieber on The Purpose Tour in 2016. It was a surreal moment being a part of the crowd then vs. now, and witnessing how much he has evolved as an artist. Aside from the music, Post Malone has such a soft teddy bear-like personality and the biggest heart. He will forever be a ‘rockstar’ in our book.
On day four, Lollapalooza’s lineup was graced with the presence of artists whose careers took off after being discovered on the social media app TikTok. The Peach Tree Rascals, who are known for their hit song ‘Mariposa’, were able to perform for a live audience for the first time ever. Pop-punk artist Jaden Hossler (professionally known as Jxdn) was another artist on our list to see. He was the first artist signed to Travis Barker’s DTA Records, and his recently released debut album dives into the struggles of mental health, addiction, and heartbreak. Jxdn’s heartfelt performance of “Tell Me About Tomorrow” was a gentle reminder to take care of our mental health and confide in people we trust even in those darkest moments. To end an already noteworthy set, the instrumental for “Angels and Demons” started to play and the crowd instantly went wild. Jxdn’s vocals, confidence, and ability to connect with the fans reiterated the fact he is meant for the stage and will succeed in the music industry.
Lollapalooza 2021 will always hold a special place in our hearts. We can state with confidence that through all of the dirt, sweat, tears, and body aches we would do it all over again in a heartbeat. If you have not attended Lollapalooza, or any music festival, we highly recommend doing so at least once. You will be able to see your favorite artists live, add new artists to your playlists, and most importantly create memories that will last a lifetime.
