Spring Break
Lollapolooza set to hit Chicago again
Brent Busby
Issue date: 7/16/08 Section: The Edge
Lollapalooza will return to Chicago this summer when the three-day festival kicks off Aug.1. With an impressive lineup for headliners, such as Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Wilco and Kanye West, as well as supporting acts like Gnarls Barkley, the Black Keys, Lupe Fiasco and Flogging Molly, its easy to justify the $200 three-day pass ticket cost. For others, a one-day pass can be purchased for $80 as well.
The festival will take place once again in Grant Park, which has been the home to Lollapalooza since it became a single-city concert in 2005 and will continue to be the official jamming grounds for the concert until 2011. Originally created by Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell as a tour to send his disintegrating band out with a bang, the festival went through good times, as well as hard times. In the early days, it featured many different genres, as it still does, with acts like Ice-T and Metallica on the list of Lollapalooza alumni. Even country star Waylon Jennings performed at Lollapalooza.
After many years of remaining dormant, Farrell revived the tour along with his old band, which eventually broke up yet again, but Lollapalooza lived on. After slow ticket sales, Lollapalooza was retooled and redesigned as a city festival to be held in Chicago's Grant Park. The new concept allowed even more bands to appear, as well as creating stages and sets that wouldn't work in a nationwide tour.
Also back with the tour is Lollapalooza's "Last Band Standing" online battle of the bands competition. "Last Band Standing" allows fans to listen to songs by local bands that have been uploaded and vote for their favorite group. The band that wins with the most votes gets an opening slot to play in front of thousands at Lollapalooza as well as the honor of being listed in the official lineup.
Lolapalooza isn't just about music. The festival also helps raise money through its Parkway Foundation, which helps raise money to support parks and other public areas, such as playgrounds. Lollapalooza has helped raise over $2 million since first coming to Chicago exclusively.
A couple hundred dollars may sound like a lot of money, but with three days jam packed with amazing music and atmosphere, the price is well worth it. Tickets are still available online at Lollapalooza's official Web site, www.lollapalooza.com. Somehow, a more exciting way to end summer vacation just doesn't seem to exist.
The festival will take place once again in Grant Park, which has been the home to Lollapalooza since it became a single-city concert in 2005 and will continue to be the official jamming grounds for the concert until 2011. Originally created by Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell as a tour to send his disintegrating band out with a bang, the festival went through good times, as well as hard times. In the early days, it featured many different genres, as it still does, with acts like Ice-T and Metallica on the list of Lollapalooza alumni. Even country star Waylon Jennings performed at Lollapalooza.
After many years of remaining dormant, Farrell revived the tour along with his old band, which eventually broke up yet again, but Lollapalooza lived on. After slow ticket sales, Lollapalooza was retooled and redesigned as a city festival to be held in Chicago's Grant Park. The new concept allowed even more bands to appear, as well as creating stages and sets that wouldn't work in a nationwide tour.
Also back with the tour is Lollapalooza's "Last Band Standing" online battle of the bands competition. "Last Band Standing" allows fans to listen to songs by local bands that have been uploaded and vote for their favorite group. The band that wins with the most votes gets an opening slot to play in front of thousands at Lollapalooza as well as the honor of being listed in the official lineup.
Lolapalooza isn't just about music. The festival also helps raise money through its Parkway Foundation, which helps raise money to support parks and other public areas, such as playgrounds. Lollapalooza has helped raise over $2 million since first coming to Chicago exclusively.
A couple hundred dollars may sound like a lot of money, but with three days jam packed with amazing music and atmosphere, the price is well worth it. Tickets are still available online at Lollapalooza's official Web site, www.lollapalooza.com. Somehow, a more exciting way to end summer vacation just doesn't seem to exist.
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