Whether you’re heading out to the festival to see some of today’s biggest artists, or you’re a music lover who plans to watch the fest from the comfort of your own home, there are many ways to enjoy Chicago’s most renowned music festival, Lollapalooza!
Below is the ultimate guide to the summer’s greatest festival, which includes daily itineraries, Pro Lolla tips, and information on streaming the festival online.
Friday
12:00 – 12:45 / The So So Glos / Lake Shore Stage
With punk influenced energy and melodies similar to many pop standards, The So So Glos will give you the boost you need in order to get pumped for other acts to come. This band will definitely be a favorite for those who are fans of Arctic Monkeys.
1:00 – 1:45 / Temples / Bud Light Stage
Want to feel like you’re back in 1969 at Woodstock, minus the inconvience of not having an iPhone and other modern technology? Well, Temples is the band that will let you release your inner hippie. Now is the time to let your hair down, grab your flower crowns, and dance to popular tunes, such as “Shelter Song” and “Keep In The Dark”.
1:45 – 4:30
It’s about lunch time by now and it’s also the perfect time to relax for a bit. Head down to Chow Town to grab some grub frome one of the many Chicago vendors, including Billy Goat Tavern & Grill, Chessie’s, Connie’s Pizza, Dia De Los Tamales, Original Rainbow Cone, and more! Also, be sure to grab a drink or fill up your water bottle at a waterfill station. It is extremely important to stay hydrated and eat enough to keep your energy up while dancing, walking to shows, and exploring the festival!
If you’d like to squeeze into another show after taking some time to recharge, head over to the Lake Shore Stage at 3:30 to see Warpaint.
4:30 – 5:30 / Iggy Izalea / Perry’s
First off, try to get this this show early in order to nab a good spot in the crowd. This show will be crowded, considering the rising popularity of the Austrailian hip-hop artist.
If I-G-G-Y doesn’t suit your “Fancy”, I would recommend going to see Blood Orange at the Grove at 4:45. He’s an act to see if you like Lorde and Lykke Li.
5:30 – 6:45
It’s already around dinner time, so it’s a good idea to get a snack from Chow Town and then wind down by exploring Green Street and all the little booths that offer clothing, accessories, and more.
6:45 – 7:45 / Lorde / Bud Light Stage
The Grammy Award winning artist from New Zeland is known for always put on a great performance, so try to get there early to secure a spot to see favorites such as “Royals”, “Tennis Court”, and “Team”.
7:30 – 8:30 / Lykke Li / Lake Shore
You won’t want to miss out on seeing the incredibly unique Lykke Li, especially since she is playing the Lake Shore Stage as the sun goes down.
8:30 – 10:00 / Arctic Monkeys / Bud Light
Everyones’ favorite British indie rockers are coming back to Lolla, but this time they’re headlining Bud Light! From “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” to ” Do I Wanna Know?”, Arctic Monkeys will be pulling out all the hits and the beloved obscurities in between.
Saturday
1:00 – 1:45 / Vance Joy / Bud Light
Vance Joy has been rising in fame over the past few months with lots of radio plays of the catchy little tune “Riptide”. This is an act you’ll want to check out, especially if you’re into The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons.
1:45 – 2:15
Take a break to fill up your waterbottle at one of the many waterfill stations and check out the LollaShop, located on 108 N State St, just on the outskirts of the festival.
2:15 – 3:15 / Phosphorescent / Samsung Galaxy
Indie Rock fans will be pleased to hear Matthew Houck, known by stage name Phosphorescent, perform some chilled-out and lesser-known songs.
3:15 – 4:45
Head over to The Farmer’s Market to check out healthier snacking options.
4:45 – 5:45 / GROUPLOVE / Bud Light
Even if you’ve only heard “Tongue Tied”, head over to the Bud Light stage to see this band’s set and discover some new songs!
6:15 – 7:15 / Foster The People / Samsung Galaxy
Like Arctic Monkeys, Foster The People is one of the must-see bands that are returning to the Lollapalooza, but this time at a bigger stage. Stick around for old favorites, like “Pumped Up Kicks” and “Helena Beat” and lead single off their new album Supermodel, “Coming Of Age”.
7:45 – 8:30 / Jenny Lewis / The Grove
Jenny Lewis is an act to see if you’d like to unwind and listen to some smooth songs before going crazy for Outkast. Word on the street also says she wears a super cool pastel rainbow pants suit.
8:15 – 10:00 / Outkast / Samsung Galaxy
Even though middle school might have not been the best years for all of this, I don’t think anyone will want to miss seeing Outkast performing “Hey Ya” live. Ever.
Sunday
12:15 – 1:00 / Kongos / Palladia
Rise and shine the hard rock way with Kongos, who will surely give you a boost with their up and comign song, “Come With Me Now”.
1:30 – 2:15 / Bleachers / Lake Shore
Jack Antoff from the Grammy Award Winning band Fun. will be taking on the Lake Shore stage, which is appropriate in light of the surfer rock sound of his newly formed band.
2:15 – 4:00
Nab an ice cream cone from one of the many ice cream vendors in Chow Town, such as Jeni’s, Orignal Rainbow Cone, and Windsor’s.
4:00 – 5:00 / Cage The Elephant / Samsung Galaxy
Alternative Rock legends are expected to impress with older tunes like “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” and “Shake Me Down” and break out new songs off their album Melophobia, like “Come a Little Closer”.
4:45 – 5:30 / The 1975 / The Grove
These English indie rockers are surely bringing new sounds to the scene, including electro-pop, R&B, glam rock, and more. Besides, who can resist dancing around to “Chocolate”?
5:30 – 6:45 / Childish Gambino / Bud Light
Being an actor, writer, singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer, Donald Kinely Glover, better known by his stage name, Childish Gambino, is expected to bring his all to the stage this weekend. He is a must-see act this weekend.
8:15 – 10:00 / Kings Of Leon / Samsung Galaxy
Modern rock legends Kings of Leon will be closing up the festival and will definitely please the crowd by breaking out all the hits: “Use Somebody”, “Sex on Fire”, “Notion”, “Supersoaker”, “Wait For Me”, and many more!
The Lucky 6
There are 100+ fantastic artists playing the festival but you can only see a certain number a day. So, how are you going to pick out the acts to put into your own personal Lolla lineup? Well, I’d start first by picking out your must-see acts. Then start to fill in the gaps by picking other artists that peak your interest. Keep in mind that if you want a good view of your favorite artists, you might want to arrive as early as 30 minutes to an hour before the show. Also, leave space in your schedule to allow yourself to take some time to grab food, fill up your water bottle, and explore different parts of the festival. A good number for a daily Lolla schedule is 5 or 6 artists.
Top Lolla Tips from a Lollapaloozer
Having gone to this amazing festival 3 times before, I have started to learn the ins and outs of how to get the best out of the festival weekend. Here are some tips that will alow you to navigate the festival like a pro!
1. Workout Scheduling Conflicts Beforehand
There’s nothing worse than having two artists that you really want to see playing at the same time. This is why you should write out a schedule before going to the festival and think about which artists you would rather see. You won’t want to regret your decision, so really think it out!
2. Pack Wisely
Here are a few things that every Lollapaloozer MUST have in their bag: Phone and/or digital camera, sunglasses, LollaMap (available at the door), wallet, tickets or wristband, water bottle, hairties, poncho (if weather appropriate), public transport schedule (if needed), and sunscreen. Pack only the essentials – you won’t want to be lugging around unecessary items. Also, be sure to bring enough money to get some food and maybe even some merch!
3. Wear Comfortable Clothes
Most people would say this is a given, but I’ve witnessed many fashion catastrophes and clothing dysfunctions over the years. One of my number one rules is to not let your festival fashion compromise your comfort. This means that you should wear shoes that you can hours on end in without getting blisters on your feet and wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, since the festival persists rain or shine.
4. Navigating The Crowds
Stay alert while walking through the streets and watch where you’re heading to. It’s easy to get lost, especially if you’re a first timer, so keep your map handy. Arrive about 30 minutes to an hour before a concert. If you want a good When trying to snake your way to the front of a crowd during or before a show, look around for other festival goers who are moving towards the front and look out for gaps in the crowd. Make friends with others and they might help you move up through the crowd! If you’re short (like me) try to nicely ask people who are standing in front of you if you could move up in front of them if they were blocking your view. It might surprise you that most of the time they’ll be happy to let you slip in right in front of them! It’s also important to respect other peoples’ views when you’re taking videos or picture with your camera. Don’t be the person that has their arm up the whole time during the concert. Trust me, it’s much more important to enjoy the concert and dance around like no one’s watching opposed to trying to get a decent picture to post on your Instagram!
5. Lolla Groups
If you’re going to Lollapalooza with a group of friends, be sure to come up with a game plan before arriving. Know who is going to which shows and decide on times for eating, checking out Green Street, and exploring other parts of the festival. Also, in the case that someone gets lost, agree on meeting places and keep your phones handy. It is also a popular practice that groups have markers in the crowd, such as bringing a stuffed animal or funny print out face on a stick, like this guy’s Nicolas Cage crowd marker.
6. Merch Fan
Want to grab a super rad shirt from your favorite band? Be sure to arrive at the merch table early, because popular artists’ shirts and other merch tend to sell out early, especially in smaller sizes. Don’t forget about the LollaShop, which is the number one place to get Lolla merch, located on 108 N State St, right on the outskirts of the festival.
7. Unwind and Recharge
Take time to chill in between shows by finding a shady spot on the Northside of the festival near The Grove, refill your water bottle, and maybe even recharge your phone at one of the recharging stations.
8. Pick Your Shows
Another lesson in choosing what artists will fit in the slots in your personal schedule is deciding on which artists you want to see up close, and the others that you won’t mind chilling in the back for. Sometimes it’s just nice to sit down and listen to some good tunes and not be packed in the crowd near the front. Another plus is having more space to dance around and have fun with your friends !
#LOLLALIVE
Like most festivals, Lollapalooza is streaming many of these artists online for free. This means that even if you weren’t able to snab a ticket, you can still enjoy the show from the comfort of your own home. So pop some popcorn, clear a space in your room to dance (or mosh, or maybe even crowdsurf), and watch the stream via Red Bull TV on the Lollapalooza website right here. Here are some artists that will be streaming live this weekend: Lorde, Lykke Li, Childish Gambino, Arctic Monkeys, Foster The People, Outkast, Chance The Rapper, and more!
Check the schedule on the Lollpalooza website for the complete lineup, times, and details!
Enjoy the festival weekend!
