Of ALL the music festivals I have attended (and yes, the amount of music festivals I have covered around the globe warrants my being a concert connoisseur of sorts) Lollapalooza is my favorite. The festival was conceived and created in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell, and was headlined this year for its 20th Anniversary by a quadruplet of musical masters including Eminem, Foo Fighters, Muse, and Coldplay. Besides its unrivaled roster, Lolla (as it’s affectionately labeled) is laudable for a number of reasons. Here are some of them:
MUSIC: In addition to the 4 head honcho headliners mentioned above, Lollapalooza always has an amazing line-up including artists of all genres and generations. This year included The Cars, My Morning Jacket, Cee Lo, A Perfect Circle, Damian “Jr Gong” Marley & Nas, Foster The People, and Kid Cudi just to name a few of the 130 stellar artists.
LOCATION: It takes place in the middle of a great city as opposed to the middle of a cow-pasture or parking lot.
WEATHER: Chicago in August is perfect. It averages sunny and 85 degrees as opposed to the blistering, sweltering, and sometimes fatal heat of some other concert counterparts. Think human kebab conditions.
FOOD: The festival actually has a culinary curator. Chicago chef and TV personality Graham Elliot Bowles taps fellow Chicago restaurateurs to assemble a culinary line-up to match its hyped headlining musical acts. The only thing better than great music, is great food. By now you may have heard that chefs are the new rockstars….
INTERVIEWS: I had the opportunity to have the exclusive interview with The Cars, and to get some QT with some other great artists such as Foster The People, Tinie Tempah, Lykke Li, The Pretty Reckless, and Cold War Kids. Here are some photos to document the Lolla love.
Exclusive sit-down with THE CARS
Hanging with British rapper TINIE TEMPAH
Laughing with Fall Out Boy’s PATRICK STUMP
With Swedish singer/songwriter LYKKE LI
With Damian Kulash of OK Go
With Taylor Momsen and The Pretty Reckless
It was an incredible 20th Anniversary which now makes me realize that next year Lollapalooza will be celebrating its 21st birthday. Cheers, Lolla! Or as Lollapalooza legend Perry Farrell (who has been known to DJ and/or perform at Jewish events such as Purimpalooza) would say, “L’chaim!”
