See the Best Photos from Lollapalooza 2017
Twenty-six years since the very first Lollapalooza kicked off, the now-veteran music festival stretched out over four days in Chicago’s Grant Park from August 3rd to August 6th. And while very, very stormy weather spoiled planned sets from Lorde and Muse, headliners like local boy Chance the Rapper (bringing an old cohort onstage), Run the Jewels (rapping with a fan), Tegan and Sara, Machine Gun Kelly (paying tribute to Chester Bennington), Cage the Elephant and others made the 2017 fest as raucous, varied and satisfying as ever. Check out the best photos from the long weekend.
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Chance the Rapper
Entering the stage on a motorbike August 5th, the hometown hero played to a huge crowd, later spraying them (benevolently) with a fire hose.”I’m going to f–k this show up,” the rapper said. “I want it to just be me and Chicago.”
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Vic Mensa
Another Chicago MC – rumored to have been feuding with Chance the Rapper recently – was a surprise guest during Chance’s epic August 5th set, performing “Cocoa Butter Kisses” and “Didn’t I (Say I Didn’t.” “The world will take you a lot of places … never let it take you away from fam,” Chance said before Vic took the stage.
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Liam Gallagher
The outspoken former Oasis frontman ended his scheduled one-hour set on August 3rd after just 20 minutes, later tweeting an explanation: “Sorry… Had a difficult gig last night which fucked my voice. I’m gutted.”
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Machine Gun Kelly
Performing on August 6th, the singer-rapper was on the verge of tears as he held a moment of silence before launching into a cover of “Numb”. “I’ve been waiting to do this for three fucking hours, man,” he told the crowd. “And I just don’t want to rush through it. While these skies are gray and cloudy, I’d like to just take a moment to maybe dedicate this moment to our friend Chester Bennington from Linkin Park.”
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Charli XCX and Halsey
Charli XCX brought out surprise guest and future tour mate Halsey during her August 6th show to stage a sing-along of Spice Girls’ anthem “Wannabe.” “You guys like girl power, right?” Charli XCX asked before the performance. Together, the duo tackled the rest of the 1996 single, even busting out some of the British group’s trademark dance moves.
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Run The Jewels
The highlight of El-P and Killer Mike’s August 4th set? Inviting super-fan Jacob Powell to join them onstage – and perform a cappella– after they spotted his hand-made poster “Let Me Rap Legend Has It.”
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Muse
Along with Lorde, Porter Robinson and Lil Uzi Vert, the August 3rd/opening night headliners cut their set short after severe weather forced the evacuation of fairgrounds. For her part, Lorde tweeted that she was “gutted” by the cancellation. “This is the most MELODRAMA shit ever.”
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Tove Lo
The Swedish pop visionary (who flashed the crowd, per usual) stuck mostly to her second LP, Lady Wood, but sang trademark tracks “Talking Body” and “Habits (Stay High)” as well for her August 6th show.
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Spoon
The veteran band played tracks from their latest, ninth album Hot Thoughts and classics on August 3rd.
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The XX
The moody British trio played a robust 15-song setlist which included “I Dare You” and “Loud Places” on August 5th.
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Tegan and Sara
Acknowledging literally everyone during their August 4th show, the sisters (singing debut 2007 single “How Come You Don’t Want Me,” “Closer” and “Nineteen” among others) shouted out “This is going out to the VIP” and, later, “This verse is for the general population!”
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Cage the Elephant
The band huddles backstage at Grant Park pre-show on August 3rd.
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Matt Shultz Backstage
“I wanted to look pretty for you,” the lead singer later told the crowd.
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Matt Shultz of Cage the Elephant
Later, guitarist Brad Schulz hopped the security fence to play among fans.
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Cage The Elephant
The band’s 17-song set concentrated on their two most recent LPs, Melophobia and Tell Me I’m Pretty.
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The Killers
The Brandon Flowers-fronted band added a pair of surprise covers to their August 4th set as they performed both the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Disarm” and Muse’s “Starlight.”
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Mac D Marco
The Canadian singer-songwriter crowd-surfed August 6th.
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Barns Courtney
He gave it 100 percent during his August 6th show.
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A-Trak
The DJ from Montreal did his thing on August 3rd.
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Grace Mitchell
The 20 year-old singer-songwriter vamped backstage August 6th.
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Bishop Briggs
The British singer crooned on August 4th.
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Rae Sremmurd
The brothers from Tupelo, Mississippi – famous for “Black Beatles” – played a scorching August 6th set.
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21 Savage
The rapper from Atlanta spit rhymes on August 5th.
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Joey Badass
The Brooklyn MC (and Mr. Robot actor) got airborne August 6th.
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Phantogram
The duo formerly known as Charlie Everywhere chilled on August 4th.
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SAINt JHN
He frolicked just outside the fairgrounds on August 4th.
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Slander
The heavy trap DJ duo lit it up on August 6th.