Lollapalooza is an annual music festival held in Chicago that showcases alternative, heavy metal, hip-hop and punk rock bands, dance and comedy shows, and craftsmanship. It also provides a venue for nonprofit organizations and politicized groups.
The Lollapalooza Festival is deservedly one of the top ten most celebrated music events in the United States. On its days, Chicago’s Grant Park is transformed into a veritable music town for a few days. The five festival stages offer space for all genres of contemporary music – from rap to heavy metal, with a touch of alternative genres. Over the years, Lollapalooza has hosted such artists as Nine Inch Nails, Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys on its stages. Lollapalooza Festival has an annual audience of more than 160,000 people.
The festival’s success story began in 1991, when frontman Jane’s Addiction decided to give his band a grand finale tour featuring friendly musicians. At first, Lollapalooza was a mixture of a concert tour, a con-cultural exhibition, and a traveling circus roaming the cities of America. After closing in 1997 and reviving in 2003, the festival changed its format slightly and took up permanent residence in Chicago’s largest park.
Since 2016, when Lollapalooza celebrated its 25th anniversary, the famed festival has expanded its traditionally three-day program by one more day. Over those days, audiences are treated to an unprecedented show featuring more than 170 top performers. One-day tickets to Lollapalooza are on sale now for $120.