Somewhere along the way at my first trip to Lollapalooza, I thought to myself, “why did I never make it out to this festival before?” In its fifth year of being held in my home of Chicago, this three-day festival continues to provide arguably the biggest and most wide-ranging showcase of music in North America. That old marketing cliché of, “there’s something for everyone” actually holds weight at Lolla. And of the hundred-plus acts that played the multiple stages, I only wish I could have seen more.
Being completely sold out the entire weekend, it wasn’t always a breeze walking from stage-to-stage amongst tens of thousands people. But considering how incredibly gigantic Grant Park is, there was often some quiet corner where you could escape the madness on the Lolla grounds, whether it was the “Hammock Haven” or just some random tent. Sometimes it felt like people weren’t even there to see any one in particular but to just lay on the grass and enjoy the day.
Being on specific assignments, I didn’t have much time to lounge, but more importantly I got to see artists that I’ve been meaning to catch (Santigold), even if it was just part of their sets (Snoop). Moreover seeing legendary pop/rock acts (Depeche Mode, Jane’s Addiction) for the first time was something I probably would not have done otherwise yet proved to be unforgettable. And I’d be willing to bet that a lot of Lolla-goers enjoyed more than just what they may have come to see.
If you look past the wet, gloomy Friday, Lollapalooza 2009 left little to complain about. Standing steps away from both Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago, surrounded by some of the best music in the world, you’d be hard pressed not to enjoy yourself during this busy August weekend.
