On March 19, you might have seen more phones in the hallway than usual. The reason for this was the drop of the beloved Lollapalooza lineup. Some of this year’s headliners include Sza, Tyler the Creator, Future X Metro Boomin, Hozier, alongside many other incredible artists.
Lollapalooza, also known as Lolla, is an annual Chicago music festival held in Grant Park, featuring artists from all genres over a 4-day weekend in the beginning of August. Some 200,000 attend the festival, ranging from teenagers to even families. The schedule is created in a staggered manner, so attendees have the chance to make it to every show they wish.
Music festivals hold benefits not only for the concertgoers, but also for the city itself. They can boost the economy, increase exposure for starting artists, promote local pride, and overall enjoyment. Dragging people in from all over the country, comes with an instant skyrocket of total revenue for the city. These travelers have to get food, stay at hotels, use cabs, and much more while staying somewhere. Smaller artists are usually exhibited earlier in the day at these bigger festivals, expanding their audience, nonetheless, considering the number of tickets sold for these large events. Having such an event in your own city makes one realize how cool it can be to live in a city where history and such remarkable memories are being made. Things like Lollapalooza leave Chicagoans remembering why they choose to live in their city. Music festivals are also just incredibly enjoyable, whether you know the artists or not. No matter what, you will leave as a fan of an artist you wouldn’t have known otherwise.
Being so close to Chicago, many Fenwick Friars get the chance to attend Lollapalooza… even annually! Many Friars trek downtown together by train in excitement for various new daily lineups. Juniors Mickey Johnson and Natalie Jasinski said they have taken the train in years past, while being able to recognize other Friars in a range of grades. The two, when asked how many days they would attend Lolla, both said all four, while another junior, Kiera Mullarkey, kept it at a mere two days. The festival is so memorable that Mickey said she would be willing to pay up to $500 for a 4-Day General Admission ticket. Kiera said she would pay up to $250 for her prospective 2-day pass.
The experience is truly once in a lifetime and if given the opportunity, I think it is in every Friar’s best interest to attend at least once.
