Lollapalooza: Exploring the Lineup 

It’s officially here! Lollapalooza’s 2018 lineup dropped yesterday and just like that, we couldn’t be more excited for August to be here! For months we speculated and hyped ourselves up in anticipation of Lollapalooza’s lineup. Well, the wait is finally over!

Those of us who follow and attend Lolla religiously, know that tickets tend to sell extremely quickly, usually within minutes. Yet as of 5:00 pm this afternoon, 4-day passes were still available. Last year this mega festival experienced a similar situation as 4-day tickets were still available 2 hours after they went on sale. Is this something we should worry about? In my opinion, no. This city-based festival spans over eight different stages from August 2nd-5th and is known to attract people from all over the world. Showcasing Indie, Alternative Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, and Electronic acts at Chicago’s Grant Park, The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Jack White, Arctic Monkeys, The National, and Odesza are among the headliners for this four-day event. With more than 180 acts, this years lineup is sure to offer something for everyone!

So, why the low ticket sales? We can attribute this to a variety of factors. It is no secret that festivals are no longer far and few in between. Festival-goers have what seems to be at times, unlimited festivals to choose from. In addition, an increasing number of festival goers prefer to know the day by day lineup before they purchase tickets.

Headliners and Undercards

Among the headliners, many have previously appeared at Lolla. Not only has The Weeknd performed at Lolla, he recently held a concert at the United Center. Arctic Monkeys who haven’t performed at Lolla since 2014, are making their return. With multiple festivals stops this summer they are sure to deliver an unbelievable show! Headlining at Lollapalooza for the first time is Grammy award winner Bruno Mars. His performance at the Grammys proved to us that he definitely deserves a spot as a headliner. And although we all love the headliners, let’s not to overlook the undercards. Alinea Barez, who appeared in 2016 is making her return along with All Time Low, Two Feet, The Neighbourhood, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS). RKS is an Indie/ Alternative band who made their major debut on the festival scene last year when they performed at Bonnaroo, Shaky Beats, ACL, The Hangout, and Okeechobee.

On to the Perry Stage

The Perry Stage is dedicated to those of us who love EDM. This year talent includes; Odesza, Rezz, Illenium, Zomboy, Herobust, Dillon Francis, and this EDM’s man of the year, Excision! As people speculated about the headliners, us Bassheads were hopeful and excited to see Jeff “Excision” Abel in the lineup. With his debut of Lost Lands last year and Bass Canyon this year, it is hard to dispute his talent and mark on the EDM community. In addition to this Bass God, we can’t help but be excited about the return of Rusko. Battling cancer, this EDM star made his way back to the scene in February. Having been absent from Chicago since 2014, this show is one we do not want to miss! Although they are no strangers to Chicago, Kevin, and Jeff Saurer, the brother duo as known as Hippie Sabotage will be making their debut.

Lineup Surprises

After their four year break, Vampire Weekend is making their return to the main stage! This year we will also receive a performance by Perry Farrell, singer in Jane’s Addiction and founder of Lollapalooza. Created in 1991, Farrell intended the traveling festival to be a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction. Since its rebranding with C3 Presents, it has expanded internationally into Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, and Paris while Chicago has remained its North America home.

Even with this stellar lineup, fans are shocked to see Eminem is not a headliner. Some of us are also wondering why Lorde isn’t part of the lineup. Lorde, who appeared at Lolla last year ultimately had her set canceled due to weather. Regardless, C3 who produces Lolla, Austin City Limits, Shaky Beats, and Voodoo Fest, C3, is known for their spectacular events. We should have no doubts that Lollapalooza will continue to attract hundreds of thousands of people with this year’s lineup!

Make sure to secure your tickets to this massive festival HERE!

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