Chicago Gears Up For Lollapalooza

Chicago’s Grant Park is going to get a little crowded this weekend, as Lollapalooza rolls into town for its 10th appearance, USA Today is reporting.

This year’s lineup includes headliners Arctic Monkeys, Eminem, and Outkast, as well as dozens of lesser-known acts, including several up-and-comers such as Phantogram, Chvrches, and Kongos. Chow Town will be serving up greasy music-festival fare, and a farmer’s market will supply locally-sourced, healthier options. There’s even Kidzapalooza, a kid-friendly section of the festival featuring acts geared toward younger music lovers.

According to music writer Heather McDonald, Lollapalooza was initially conceived as a farewell tour for Perry Farrell’s band Jane’s Addiction. The festival underwent some changes, including two revivals, before settling on the current format of a single-city, three-day festival of music, crafts, and political activism, held annually in Chicago. Perry Farrell is no longer associated with the festival. Where the original incarnation of Lollapalooza focused mostly on punk and alternative acts, the current festival features pop, rap, EDM (Electronic Dance Music), and even children’s music.

An appearance at Lollapalooza can launch an unknown act into stardom; at least, under the right set of circumstances. According to the Chicago Tribune, in 2012, then-unknowns The Dunwells were scheduled to take the stage just as a huge downpour cancelled their set. Known as the Lollapalooza Rainout of 2012, the storm sent tens of thousands of attendees into the bars, restaurants, and hotels around Grant Park, looking for a way to stay dry. The Dunwells wound up in the lobby of the nearby Hilton and, with a (wet) audience and a grand piano, and lacking anything better to do, the band played a few songs for the crowds assembled in the lobby. The set was Instagrammed, tweeted, and blogged, giving The Dunwells publicity that they likely wouldn’t have had if they’d simply played their set as planned.

This year, the weather is expected to be more-or-less agreeable. Other than some scattered showers and storms expected today, the rest of the weekend is going to be clear, but hot, according to Chicago “Superstation” WGN’s forecast.

For those not willing to brave the crowds, the heat, or the trip to Chicago, parts of this year’s Lollapalooza, like much of this year’s Tomorrowland (see this Inquisitr article), will be live-streamed on YouTube.

Been to Lollapalooza? Planning on going this year? Let us know in the comments.

[Image courtesy of: Stereo Gum]