Lollapalooza Day 1: Surprise Stars and Soaring Guitars
By Dennis M. Kelly
The weather gods smiled favorably upon Chicago by granting a glorious day 1 at Lollapalooza. Perfect festival weather filled with incredible music spanning all of Grant Park.
Starting off the day with a killer set from Atlanta’s Silly Goose, the muddy conditions from constant rain previously did not deter the large crowd from creating a pit and crowd surfing.
Singer, Jackson Foster demanded their fans and newcomers come closer to the stage, with a determined intensity that boiled over into the pits, sparking many to crowd surf.
I knew that this very hard-working band would be a great band to catch live, but they exceeded my expectations and set a great tone for this four-day festival.
Girl Tones kept the hard rock vibes going shortly thereafter with sisters Kenzie and Laila Crowe.
The city municipal workers moved quickly throughout the morning and afternoon to lay down mulch to soak up the muddy grounds, and it helped.
Brad Shultz of Cage the Elephant paid the band a visit and performed their final song with them. Concluding the song, he carefully threw the guitar into the audience and was caught by a lucky fan who got the guitar autographed by him and the band.
Chicago’s Ratboys played a phenomenal set on the large Bud Light stage (a great place for any Chicago band to be), which was immediately followed by the Chicago Made Showcase on Tito’s Handmade Vodka stage.
DJ Cash Era laid the foundation with solid beats as fans came closer to the stage to enjoy the vibe.
The Era Footwork Collective got the showcase off on the right foot, starting with the opening track of their new EP, Locked In, Fell Off In.
It ain’t no lie when I say their displays of fast and precise footwork were impressive and very well timed with each other. With over 10 years under their belt traveling the world in dance battles and even local youth community programs, there is so much more to discover with this act.
Following the Era Footwork Collective was Mike Lawry Baby, and don’t forget the baby. With a parade level of grandeur and showmanship, Mike took the stage with background singers, flag-wavers and all the energy that he could bring to Lollapalooza.
Most performers played two song sets, highlighting their recent hits and leaving fans wanting more. Such was the case with Mike Lawry Baby’s set.
Clairice took to the stage and had a solid core of fans screaming for her during her set. The title track, Patient On Me,” left fans speechless and then her set ended with many fans wondering when they’ll get to see her live next.
Southside born, Feather sure did not take the stage lightly. Fans eagerly awaited her set, screaming with more intensity and fervor.
Recent hit, “Lit Again” saw bubbles and two giant balloon balls being bounced among the audience.
When asked about her set, Feather exclaimed, “I just want everyone to have a good time,” and that they did.
7-time Grammy-nominated artist, BJ The Chicago Kid followed up after that and his voice glided over the air as he sang a longer set of smooth R&B and soulful music.
The showcase ended with all performers taking the stage in one fun and exciting conclusion.
Continuing with the hardcore, heavy sounds, Sunami brought back the intensity back to the Grove stage… a very welcome sight to have heavy bands included with rock-pop, country, alternative, and pop music all representing a broader scope for more fans to feel welcomed.
Durand Bernarr performed a magical set on T-Mobile with fun vibes and a voice as smooth as silk. Durand made T-Mobile proud and fans satisfied.
Role Model brought out The Dare on stage, known for his club classics, making for an equally magical moment in Lollapalooza history.
Other sets of note that brought down the house were a never-disappointing set by Cage The Elephant, flames and all! Gracie Abrams and Tyler The Creator pushed the excitement into overdrive, but Xdinary Heroes were well-welcomed by an incredibly eager and loving crowd. Their set was a first Lollapalooza experience for them, which will see them following up this tremendous set with dates in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and more.
Quite an amazing first day of Lollapalooza 2025 and still so much more to go! See ya out there again today!
This recap was written entirely on an iPhone
Links:
Official: https://www.lollapalooza.com/
