Scenes from the stage: Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza started out hot, figuratively and literally. Fans flooded the gates on the first day with pre-festival pep in their step and glowing smiles. As the day wore on, increasingly popular acts kept the energy high even in unrelenting heat and humidity. From those who waited in line hours before the gates opened to the office workers who raced over after their 9-to-5s, everyone was thrilled to take part in the 33-year-old celebration of music. 

Festivalgoers sit among the trees as they enjoy music from nearby stages Friday afternoon. Lila Turner/Daily. Buy this photo.

The festival has deep roots in the alt-rock scene and provides a space for unique artists to showcase their talent and for fans to revel in it. What started out in 1991 as a farewell tour for the band Jane’s Addiction evolved over time into a four-day festival that is now one of the most popular music festivals in the country.

The festival has eight main stages, along with multiple, smaller, sponsored venues for a more intimate scene with lesser-known artists. Each stage’s lineup is dictated mostly by genre, ranging from indie to EDM to pop. 

Day 1: Thursday, August 1, 2024

Though Hozier and Megan Thee Stallion were the official headliners for Thursday, the back-to-back lineup of Chappell Roan and Kesha earlier in the day attracted comparable, if not bigger, crowds. Pink Pony Club loyalists dotted the crowd, recognizable by their bubblegum pink cowboy hats.

With a quick rise to fame and the talent required to maintain traction, Roan was arguably the biggest name on Thursday’s docket. However, Hozier and Megan Thee Stallion certainly earned their spots as headliners. On one end of Grant Park, fans joined together as Hozier’s crooning vocals brought some to tears. At the opposite end, even the most stiff festival-goers weren’t immune to the dance-inducing rhythms at Megan Thee Stallion’s set.

Musician Lizzy McAlpine plays guitar and sings on Lollapalooza’s Bud Light stage Thursday afternoon. Lila Turner/Daily. Buy this photo.

Festival attendees cheer excitedly behind the barricade as Hozier takes to the Lollapalooza Bud Light stage Thursday evening. Lila Turner/Daily. Buy this photo.

Day 2: Friday, August 2, 2024

Sequels have a reputation for falling short of their predecessors, but Lollapalooza Day 2 stood tall. As always, a variety of genres graced the main stages, from a philharmonic orchestra that accompanied Laufey with a feather-light sound to Zedd’s electric performance accompanied by a drone light show high above the festival grounds.

Left: Godly the Ruler takes the Bacardi stage Friday morning. Grace Lahti/Daily. Buy this photo.

Right: Raye croons jazzy tunes to a crowd at the Tito’s stage Friday afternoon. Grace Lahti/Daily. Buy this photo.

Grammy Best New Artist winner Victoria Monét lived up to her title with a captivating and energetic performance complete with costume changes and a surprise appearance from her 2-year-old daughter.

Victoria Monét holds the audience’s attention with her stunning performance — complete with outfit changes and backup dancers — at the T-Mobile stage Friday afternoon. Grace Lahti/Daily. Buy this photo.

The energy of the crowd at T-Mobile stage for Reneé Rapp was enough to give a sense of deja vu for Chappell Roan the day before.

To end the night, wildly different but equally passionate crowds filled in at opposite ends of the festival to sing along to the K-pop band Stray Kids at the Bud Light stage and SZA at T-Mobile. 

Stray Kids takes over the Bud Light stage with a fast-paced, intense performance Friday night. Grace Lahti/Daily. Buy this photo.

Day 3: Saturday, August 3, 2024

With the official start of the work weekend, every inch of Grant Park filled in with bedazzled people. Lollapalooza-goers bopped their heads and swayed their hips to the various beats that flooded the main street from surrounding stages.

Tate McRae filled the lawn with fans and captured their attention with her catchy tunes and mesmerizing dance moves. Deftones took over the T-Mobile stage and revived the lawn from a midday lull in energy with their action-packed set.

Left: Hippo Campus’ bassist Zach Sutton sings into a microphone and plays the guitar during the band’s set at Lollapalooza’s IHG stage Saturday evening. Lila Turner/Daily. Buy this photo. Right: Jake Luppen, lead vocalist of Hippo Campus, sings into a microphone and plays the guitar during the band’s set at Lollapalooza’s IHG stage Saturday evening. Lila Turner/Daily. Buy this photo.

The Killers closed out the night with their expansive discography, ultimately featuring a chorus of Mr. Brightside with the audience. After a 30-minute delay to build the set for the final performance of the night, rapper Future and producer Metro Boomin’ took to the Bud Light stage and lit up the night with pyrotechnics and high-intensity songs.

Day 4: Sunday, August 4, 2024

Left: Abigail Morris, lead vocalist of The Last Dinner Party, strikes a pose during the band’s performance at Lollapalooza’s Tito’s stage Sunday afternoon. Lila Turner/Daily. Buy this photo. Middle: Lead vocalist Abigail Morris of The Last Dinner Party strikes a pose on stage for photographers and the crowd while the rest of the band plays during their performance at Lollapalooza’s Tito’s stage Sunday afternoon. Lila Turner/Daily. Buy this photo. Right: Abigail Morris, lead vocalist of The Last Dinner Party, sings emphatically into a microphone and dances around the stage during the band’s performance at Lollapalooza’s Tito’s stage Sunday afternoon. Lila Turner/Daily. Buy this photo.

On the last day of the festival, temperatures reached a peak of 91 degrees and event staff were kept busy keeping fans cool. Crowds flocked to the various festival stages to see their favorites finish off the weekend with cult classics and covers alike. 

Blink-182, Melanie Martinez and Zeds Dead closed out the festival with intense visuals and a loud celebration of the beloved Chicago tradition. As the final melodies filled Grant Park, festival-goers filtered out until the only things left were a dusting of glitter and the memory of a good time. 

Managing Photo Editors Grace Lahti and Lila Turner can be reached at glahti@umich.edu and lilajt@umich.edu.

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