Lollapalooza 2023 is a wrap, so the next best thing right now to keep enjoying is to think about what made it so special… So here are my favorite artists at the festival this year.
The Backseat Lovers
This one surprised me in a very welcoming way. Prior to Lolla, I’d only heard of this Provo, UT band by name earlier this year when a friend recommended them and just a couple weeks later they were announced on the lineup so I always had it in the back of my mind that I’d like to check them out live. What I wasn’t expecting was the kind of energy with which they played their woodsy-tinged brand of Alternative, and I definitely wasn’t prepared for the fervor that a barefoot Joshua Harmon and co. would create with RHCP’s set just waiting for this set to end. It’s an unenviable task, but they stood up to the challenge and they held their own. A set that mixed delicate and sweet-like-honey melodies with hard-rocking jams was a gorgeous sight to see as the sun set on the final night of this year’s festival.
Carly Rae Jepsen
This one surprised me too. While I’m not completely opposed to her brand of bubblegum Pop, it’s also not something I ever think about playing in my personal time — but I knew I wasn’t being honest with myself if I didn’t at least see for myself why she keeps getting placed this high on the schedule, and on the second biggest stage of the festival. I quickly learned that CRJ is more than just “Call Me Maybe,” but that song in particular was absolutely a highlight of her set that I couldn’t fully appreciate until I experienced live. I really enjoyed her energy, her choreo was fun and engaging, and even though I didn’t recognize 90% of the songs she performed, they were known enough to keep the crowd satisfied. Most people looked like they were there for Karol G, but it was made pretty clear early on that there more mutuals than I had given her credit, and that provided the energy you need on Day 1 to keeps you pumped for the rest of the weekend
J.I.D
The T-Mobile stage can be pretty intimidating when you consider that there’s a very likely possibility that a great number of fans there are more so looking forward to the headliner, but when you’ve grown to amass a considerable following of your own, your approach to your set there will demonstrate that you’re just as ready to be the closer as the one actually scheduled to perform at that time slot. That’s the energy that the Dreamville stand-out brought and it was so dope to see how he commanded that stage like a headliner. His decision to pay tribute to Mac Miller was made sweeter when a rainbow appeared behind him as he played his last few songs.
Karol G
The first Latina reggaeton artist to headline Lollapalooza delivered on all counts. Her bright and colorful stage combined with her Radio-topping hits turned Grant Park into one big dance-fest. The Latin flavors that were brought together was also a beautiful thing to see, with flags from all over the continent out on full display adding that extra sazón from which the fest can always benefit by including this type of artist on its lineups. ¡Que chimba la bichota!
Lil Yachty
This one lived up to the hype. Lil Yachty made quite the leap from his 2020 album Lil Boat 3 and the Psychedelic trip that is 2023’s Let’s Start Here, and that alone made this Lollapalooza set interesting before he even chose his fit for the performance, but the man delivered. I liked how he managed to keep fans entertained and engaged even after the vibe-switch that was the Let’s Start Here part of his set. I also have to give Yachty props for providing the sickest, most beautiful guitar work that I got to witness at Lolla this year.
L’Imperatrice
Low-key, the Sunday headliner at the now-called Bacardí stage has been one of the sets I’ve most look forward to catching because the fest organizers usually pick an act that packs a punch
Los Aptos
I gotta give props to my fellow Yo. Check This host Rigo for forcing me to see the current Música Mexicana wave that’s taking over the States this year because otherwise I wouldn’t have been as open to seeing this young band from Ft. Wayne. Their connection to Dream Pop and Corridos Tumbados
Pusha T
The only Perry’s stage set I got to catch this summer just had to be King Push. This man was competing with the Pop appeal of TXT and Odesza, yet he drew an impressive crowd that all chanted his verses. His closing songs wer
Red Chili Peppers
Not much left to say about one of the bands that have played Lollapalooza the most. This was my first time seeing them at Lollapalooza with John Frusciante back on the lineup, and though I’d seen them together for their stadium tour last year, it was dope seeing them bring their best once more with the classic lineup.
Sabrina Carpenter
Sudan Archives
Tomorrow X Together
