So I guess it’s that time of year again when out-of-towners swarm Chicago to get a “real” music experience at one of the biggest festivals the country has to offer, all stuffed into the context of a humid Midwestern summer. Yes, Lollapalooza is back, bigger than ever. While the lineup is undeniably filled with plenty for everyone, it can intimidate even the most seasoned festival vet with feelings of anxiety over where to go next, what moment is more missable and which headliner from the last five years to relive yet again—something that’s becoming an annual tradition for us regulars. However, it appears the extra day of stages has opened up organizers to throw a larger arm around local acts, a welcome furtherance of the Chicago renaissance we’ve been experiencing for the last five years or so. Without further ado, I give you my game plan for getting through the 2016 edition of Lollapalooza.
THURSDAY
12:50pm-1:30pm Jazz Cartier Pepsi
2pm-3pm Hiatus Kaiyote Petrillo Bandshell
2:30pm-3:15pm Mr. Carmack Perry’s
3:30pm-4:30pm Yeasayer Lakeshore
4pm-5pm Danny Brown Petrillo Bandshell
5:15pm-6pm Towkio Pepsi Stage
7pm-8:15pm Excision Perry’s
8:30pm-9:45pm Flosstradamus Perry’s
8:30pm-10pm J. Cole Samsung
For those of you without weekday responsibility or with enough of it to say screw it mid-day on a Thursday, then by all means take that long lunch break straight to Jazz Cartier, who should prove to be the first true breath of life at the top end of the crowded first-day lineup. Dude has a live show and accompanying singles to turn up even the most tame, neon-clad college kid home on break. Leaving that virtual cup of coffee, my move would be to stroll by the Petrillo Bandshell to catch a couple songs by the always-entertaining Hiatus Kaiyote before settling in for the second half of Mr. Carmack’s set, continuing a sort of hot-cold juxtaposition of energy from one set to the next… then easing into a perfectly suited Yeasayer set before getting back into the thick of it with what should be an inspired Danny Brown performance. Ending at five once again at the Bandshell, that slot gives you just enough time to right your fanny pack, tighten your shoelaces and get a slight stretch in before hiking all the way up for Towkio’s debut Lollapalooza performance at 5:15pm on the Pepsi Stage, for what should be a really cool new chapter for a hometown act that is also a member of SaveMoney. After drying off from that sweat fest, I’d pop over for a never-disappointing A/V performance by Excision, which is the perfect warm-up before diving back into another Chicago mainstay with trap legends Flosstradamus, and ending the night with a couple tracks from J. Cole’s “2014 Forest Hills Drive.” Congratulations, you made it through Day One and only really moved between two stages. Minor movement, optimal experience and you didn’t even have to watch Kehlani try to keep up with her backup dancers. You’ve tasted the appetizer and are sitting pretty for the main course.
FRIDAY
12:50pm-1:30pm Saba Pepsi Stage
2:30pm-3:15pm Skepta Perry’s
3:45pm-4:45pm Lettuce Petrillo Bandshell
4:45pm-5:45pm Cherub Bud Light
5:45pm-6:45pm Mac Miller Petrillo Bandshell
6:45pm-7:45pm Future Bud Light
7:45pm-8:30pm A$AP Ferg Pepsi Stage
8pm-10pm Radiohead Samsung Stage
One of the coolest things I can say about Lollapalooza the last few years has been the festival’s willingness to tap into the local musical renaissance. Following Pitchfork and North Coast who have increasingly tapped local talent for their stages, this year boasts some of the best names from the city’s streets. One of those is Saba, who takes the Pepsi Stage at 12:50pm to kick off our Day Two and should be looking to close the chapter on his 2014 “ComfortZone” release, using the big stage to help do so with what should be a rousing early day performance. After that I’d lay low and try to catch a couple bottles of water or free cocktails however you can before dipping into Skepta just to see if all the hype holds up. If you agree it does, I’d stick around for Audien; you’re probably well-situated. Everyone else would be well-served to catch Lettuce and Cherub back-to-back for some real good vibes from a pair of collaborators with fellow local ProbCause, who introduced me to their eclectic dance sounds. After that? It’s right back to the Petrillo Bandshell, Bud Light and and Pepsi stages for an onslaught of hip-hop as Mac Miller, Future and A$AP Ferg should put even the most casual of rap fans into some sort of frenzy. Then, take all that energy and focus it into a paper cylinder to ease into the smooth, willowy vibes of Radiohead, who will almost assuredly be playing songs from their latest project, “A Moon Shaped Pool.” Whew! Two days in and we’re only halfway there. Also, Friday has plenty of after-parties, and local DJ Oreo is hosting three days of post-event celebrations around town; but if you’re here for the real triumph of getting through all four days, you’ll need all the strength you can muster.
SATURDAY
2:50pm-3:30pm Tory Lanez Pepsi
4:15pm-5:15pm Big Grams Samsung
4:45pm-5:45pm Leon Bridges Bud Light
5:15pm-6pm Jack Garratt Pepsi
6:45pm-7:45pm Two Door Cinema Club Bud Light
7pm-8:15pm Big Gigantic Perry’s
7:30pm-8:30pm Grimes Lakeshore
9pm-10pm Vic Mensa Pepsi
All right, let’s be real. After two days of heat, booze and whatever else, you’re going to want a nice night of sleep and a big brunch, or at least a decent couple hours and a breakfast burrito—whatever works for you. Don’t worry because you’ll have some time before things really get moving Saturday. Me? I’d arrive just before three to see Tory Lanez, who never fails to impress and should be a similar experience to Jazz Cartier on Thursday. At his show at Reggies last winter, dude literally walked on the crowd’s hands to different parts of the venue, performing seamlessly the whole time. We’ll have to see what he has in store for the fest crowd. After that, I’d peruse whatever access points you have for food and drink before heading into Big Grams, the confluence of pop/dance duo Phantogram and rapper Big Boi. After hearing a few songs there, I’d head into the soul-inducing back-to-back of Leon Bridges on the Bud Light Stage and Jack Garratt at Pepsi. His girlfriend is from here and word is he plays harder; wouldn’t really know as I’ve only seen him here, so cheers! After that, dive back into 2012 with the trio of Two Door Cinema Club, Big Gigantic and Grimes, which will have you tearing up at memories of Pitchfork’s heyday. Get out asap, though, and make sure you have a good spot at the Pepsi Stage where our very own Vic Mensa will at long last make his Lollapalooza headlining debut, six years after nearly dying while sneaking into the event as a high-school student. Talk about storylines!
SUNDAY
Noon-12:30pm Smino Pepsi
12:50pm-1:30pm Sir The Baptist Pepsi
4pm-4:45pm Louis The Child Pepsi
5:45pm-6:45pm Bryson Tiller Petrillo Bandshell
6:30pm-7:15pm Snakehips Pepsi
7:45pm-8:30pm Vince Staples Pepsi
8:25pm-10pm LCD Soundsystem Samsung
If you’ve really made it this far, then do it all and get there early—because Lolla’s done you dirty and front-loaded the final day of this music marathon. Why eschew sleep on this last day before getting back into the real world of afternoons spent in offices and classrooms? Because Smino’s playing the opening set, and Smino doesn’t disappoint. The St. Louis native has made quite the name since arriving here and should put his stamp on a very successful twelve months with his debut Lolla set. Don’t go anywhere though, as following him is another talented local in Sir The Baptist, who parlayed a series of hit singles into a recent signing with Atlantic and subsequent dates at Bonnaroo… and of course his first appearance here. The D.C. native and close collaborator of Chance The Rapper and The Social Experiment, D.R.A.M., should have one of the most fun sets of the weekend, once again right at the Pepsi stage and preluding yet another Chicago talent in Louis The Child, who have blown up over the last year through their distinct and up-tempo dance stylings. From there, it’s smooth sailing with some fairly easy listening in Bryson Tiller and Snakehips, before taking in the IDC attitude of Vince Staples, who endeared himself to the city late last year when he voiced his distaste for Spike Lee’s “Chiraq” at a show at Bottom Lounge. With all that in the bag, there’s really only one way to close out the weekend and that’s by taking in the sounds of the one and only LCD Soundsystem, for what might just be the final time. After all that, pat yourself on the back; you did it. Now get your dirty ass back to work; life isn’t a festival once Monday comes on.
Jake Krzeczowski is a multifaceted writer/publicist/media hired hand from Chicago, who has been instrumental in telling the stories of the Chicago Renaissance. Having covered artists like Chance The Rapper, Saba, Jamila Woods and many more for the likes of Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, The Sun-Times and others.
