Now that Lollapalooza 2024 has arrived at its conclusion, I’m compelled to do my due diligence and share with you why this year’s edition of our hometown’s main music festival will live on in our memories. With a wide range of dope highlights to reflect upon, we narrowed it down to a dozen of artists
Here are The Top 12 artists we saw at Lollapalooza 2024.
BigXthaPlug
When he says “big,” I’m gonna “X!” It’s refreshing to have the latest rising star out of Texas Rap in our front yard, especially when he can back up the hype he’s generating by performing the hell out of his songs. The vibes were excellent early into the first day of the festival thanks in large part to the anticipation for Chappell Roan’s set later in the day, and the result was a testament to a young artist knowing what to do when they’re given the opportunity to impress a crowd.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby
This Chicago band’s set helped open the day for the IHG Hotels & Resorts stage, playing at the same time as the main attraction at the 12pm slot for Saturday: Skrillex. I didn’t know that I needed that New Wave sound so early in the day but they really sold it with their sense of style and their commitment to their performance that they are among this year’s Lolla artists whose music I have turned to the most while editing my pictures.
Chappell Roan
I don’t think there are enough words to summarize just how amazing it was to see up-close the amount of people that came out to witness Chappell Roan’s legendary artistic run hit the biggest festival in our city and how she harnesses the energy of this momentum to create a memorable show. While it’s easy to get lost in the reported record-breaking attendance figures, her impact on the overall vibe for the opening day of the festival was also impressive, helping Tyla and Kesha benefit the most from Chappell’s influence. Her music is fun and her live show is produced to create an equally captivating environment for Chappell to shine. I cannot wait to see where she goes from here.
d4vd
There’s a lot more explosivity to d4vd’s set than you’d imagine from listening to his droopy music. But this Queens, NY artist delivers a good balance of showmanship and emotive vocal performances to make you feel equal parts happiness and mopiness.
Deftones
The only band on this year’s lineup I’ve followed longer than blink-182 are these NorCal rockers. Chino Moreno is as frenetic as ever, the music lays dark and heavy even on a bright summer afternoon, and the fans bursting with intense and loving energy created a vibrant environment in which to appreciate songs that have made them one of the most beloved Metal bands of their generation.
Friko
I have to admit that I didn’t know a thing about this band prior to seeing them perform, but there are such few things that I enjoy more in covering music than whenever I stumble upon a performance from which I can walk away excited about exploring further with my headphones.
Kyle Dion
Kyle Dion’s set was drenched in soul and sexiness. Even on the last day of the festival and with one of the earliest sets of the day, Dion showed up for everyone in attendance and delivered a set that got people grooving and dancing from start to finish.
Laufey
The Icelandic singer left her mark in the Lollapalooza history books by becoming the first to perform with an orchestra when she hit the Bud Light stage with Chicago Philharmonic. Laufey delivered a beautiful set with her brand of Jazz and Bossa Nova tunes coming to life in such a grand way, dressed in a poofy dress that helped cement the vibes. What stood out to me the most was seeing those thousands of people quietly appreciating song after song, breaking their silence only to cheer at the end of each song. I’d never before witnessed so many people engaged in this way. I also liked being further back away from the stage and noticing girls dancing like ballerinas.
The Last Dinner Party
Rock radio has desperately needed some fresh faces to come in and sweep us off the floor – I think The Last Dinner Party is ready to be that band. Their active performing style is one of their best attributes, and the way lead singer Abigail Morris commands the mic showed me that they’re one massive album away from being ready to headline the fest.
Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion is a national treasure, I tell you hwhat. The HTX rapper stepped in for Tyler, the Creator and made the opening night of the fest a memorable one with a setlist packed with hits, conquering the crowd with her hardest twerk (her words). She also backed up her support for Kamala Harris with a resounding “Hotties for Harris, gotdammit” towards the end, which only makes me respect her even more.
Pierce The Veil
The ferocity with which the Pierce The Veil dudes still perform is something anyone that’s liked them over the last decade-and-a-half. The Mexican community has a major PTV enclave, and Chicago made sure to show up for them – and the fact that that support was acknowledged from the start by being introduced to the stage to the tune of Vicente Fernández’s iconic “El Rey” set the mood from the start, and we were all better off for it. These dudes rock and I would want to see them any time they come back.
SZA
When I heard I wasn’t going to be able to shoot photos of SZA’s performance, I was bummed, but I was not about to miss out. Her headlining performance included the kind of stage production that made her S.O.S. tour stand out, giving Lolla a major boost in respectability as the kind of festival for which artists should not only bring their A-game but also something that deserves to deliver on the wow-factor.
