Friday got off to a strong start with queer favourite King Princess taking the Snapchat Stage in the afternoon. Despite the earlier time slot, fans showed up in full force as she performed a mix of favourites from across her discography, including “PAIN,” “Cheap Queen,” and “Prophet”. The crowd energy proved that an early afternoon set was no obstacle for a dedicated fanbase.

Del Water Gap by @okaynicolita and King Princess by Anna Downs. Cover image: Lorde by Rich Fury. Images courtesy of Governors Ball.

Over on the main stage, Del Water Gap also had a wonderful set on the main stage on the earlier side, but that didn’t stop his fans from jumping and singing along to “Perfume” or “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat”. The Dare brought one of the highest-energy performances of the entire festival. Many attendees agreed that seeing him perform in broad daylight felt unusual compared to the dark clubs and underground venues where his music thrives, but he still managed to create an electric atmosphere. Fans were jumping, screaming, and fully immersed during songs like “Eastside Girls” and “I Destroyed Disco”.

KATSEYE by @okaynicolita, image courtesy of Governors Ball.

KATSEYE brought a noticeably younger crowd, with many parents attending alongside their kids, creating a different atmosphere than some of the festival’s other sets. However, the group’s choreography and vocals completely won over the audience. Watching all five members constantly moving, singing, and perfectly coordinating on stage felt almost effortless — a true display of their performance skill.

Baby Keem and Lorde were major highlights of Friday, closing out the night with massive crowds ready to sing along to every favourite track. Fans erupted for tracks like “family ties” and “The Hillbillies,” turning his set into one of the most energetic moments of the day.

Baby Keem by Rich Fury. Image courtesy of Governors Ball.

Lorde by @okaynicolita and Anna Downs. Image courtesy of Governors Ball.

Lorde’s performance was one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend, and she completely lived up to the hype. Taking the stage with her signature emotional intensity, she created a more intimate atmosphere despite performing for one of the festival’s largest crowds. Moving between newer material and fan favourites from throughout her career, Lorde had the entire audience singing along to songs like “Royals,” “Green Light,” and “Ribs”. Her ability to make a massive festival stage feel personal was one of the standout moments of Friday night, closing out the day on a powerful and emotional note.

Saturday proved to be more unpredictable than expected, as weather conditions impacted the evening performances. The day started beautifully, with clear skies, sunshine, and a refreshing breeze keeping festivalgoers comfortable. 2hollis delivered an incredible set, even ending shirtless to the crowd’s excitement. Ravyn Lenae and Wet Leg also gave standout performances. Ravyn Lenae’s vocals were especially impressive as she performed favourites like “Bad Idea” and “Love Me Not,” while Wet Leg had a packed crowd singing along to hits like “Wet Dream” and “mangetout”.

Unfortunately, thunderstorms disrupted the evening schedule, forcing several changes to the lineup. Some artists were moved to earlier time slots, while others were cancelled or rescheduled. Kali Uchis fans experienced the biggest disappointment of the weekend when her entire performance was cancelled due to the incoming storms.

Major Lazer was moved to the Snapchat Stage, while Stray Kids were moved into an earlier slot. Stray Kids quickly became one of the most talked-about performances of the festival. Marking the first time a K-pop group headlined Governors Ball, the group brought one of the most dedicated fanbases of the weekend. Many fans waited throughout the entire day to secure front-row spots, and their commitment paid off with a high-energy performance. Those who stayed until the end also braved the severe summer thunderstorm that hit Queens just minutes after their set concluded.

Sunday brought a return to sunshine and celebration, beginning with Hemlocke Springs, who captivated the crowd with her ethereal vocals and infectious energy. She performed primarily songs from her debut album the apple tree under the sea, ending her set with “be the girl” and a heartfelt message about growth, change, and embracing new chapters in life.

The sunny weather did briefly disappear when a short rain delay affected Slayyyter’s performance, cutting her set about 15 minutes short. Fans were devastated, chanting “Justice for Slayyyter!” even after the performance ended. Thankfully, her team came prepared, throwing out Slayyyter-themed flags that doubled as rain protection for the crowd.

A major highlight of Sunday was Governors Ball successfully rescheduling Blood Orange for a new festival time slot. Jennie also drew an enormous crowd, further highlighting the growing presence of K-pop at the festival. Alongside artists like Stray Kids and KATSEYE, she helped bring a more international feel to this year’s lineup compared to previous years.

The final night was especially meaningful for New Yorkers as Harlem native A$AP Rocky headlined the festival. His performance was a massive production featuring a helicopter, dozens of dancers, and a dramatic SWAT team-inspired visual moment. He closed out the weekend with a hometown celebration that perfectly capped off another successful Governors Ball.

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With a good portion of festival attendees in their teens, electronica continues to rule Lollapalooza weekend with performances from industry up-and-comers like Halsey, Grimes, and Phantogram.

Yet, it was rock and hip-hop that won the festival: J. Cole, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction, and Vince Staples, to name a few. Four days and 400,000+ attendees later, Lollapalooza’s 25^th anniversary was full of highs, lows, a few technical difficulties, and a plethora of Chicago’s finest MCs.

Many up-and-coming artists use Lollapalooza as a stepping stone, an opportunity to showcase their artistry before they “make it big.” Many of these artists have a following, but Lollapalooza can catapult their careers. This was the case for electropop artists Halsey, Grimes, and Chicago-based MC Saba.

Grimes essentially played a one-woman show – singing, dancing, and playing multiple instruments simultaneously. Although she was vocally flat during her set, she was entertaining to watch – dancing without missing a beat, despite having two sprained ankles.

With striking background visuals and voluminous bass, 21-year-old Halsey gyrated and grinded her way through fan favorites “Gasoline,” “Roman Holiday”, and her cover of Justin Bieber’s “The Feeling”.

Well-known for his live performances, ASAP Mob member A$AP Ferg took to the stage, opening with his verse on Carnage’s “WDYW”. Eventually joined by fellow ASAP Mob member A$AP Rocky, Ferg kept the crowd engaged during his entire set by reminding them that “this isn’t a performance, this is a party!” After a cameo performance of “Overnight Celebrity” from Chicago’s-own Twista, Ferg’s set climaxed with “Shabba” and “Work” – two of his biggest hits – before he closed his set with “New Level”.

With his guitar and Budweiser in tow, City and Colour (AKA Dallas Green), brought his folk sound to the Lollapalooza stage for a rainy hour-long set on Thursday. As Green’s soothing voice engulfed the northernmost area of Grant Park, it was easy for fans to forget about the gloomy weather. As Green and his band entranced fans with “Waiting” and “Wasted Love”, the sun peeked out to enjoy his music before disappearing behind the clouds during “Lover Come Back”.

After a five-year hiatus, LCD Soundsystem reunited to close out Lollapalooza by stepping on the accelerator and never letting up. From beginning to end, the band flawlessly executed their nearly two-hour set, performing a total of 15 songs, including “Daft Punk is Playing at My House”, “Tribulations,” and “Dance Yourself Clean.” Watching LCD Soundsystem, it’s hard not to be engulfed by their music, hypnotized by all the instruments and sounds at play.

Essentially opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction took the main stage at their own festival. Complete with scantily clad female dancers and cameos by Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, Jane’s Addiction played, in its entirety, their final studio album before their first disbandment, 1990’s Ritual de lo Habitual.

Cole and Red Hot Chili Peppers took home the gold for their 2016 Lollapalooza performances. Cole, who has played at Lolla in the past on a smaller stage, performed music from his flawless 2014 Forest Hills Drive, as well as his debut and sophomore projects. Headlining the opening night of Lollapalooza to a crowd that swelled to unknown numbers, Cole, backed by a live band, once again proved why he’s one of the best MCs in the industry right now.

Backed by a six-piece band, soul singer Leon Bridges flawlessly executed an hour-long set at Toyota’s 25^th Hour Lollapalooza after-show. Prior to Bridges and his band taking the stage, Big Boi (Outkast) warmed up attendees with a 30-minute DJ set. Despite having a performance at Lollapalooza the following day, Bridges performed like his life depended on it – giving the crowd a taste of what it was like to spend time in the juke joints during the Jim Crow era. Bridges played his debut album Coming Home in its entirety and like the true artist that he is, left attendees wanting more. There’s much more to come from this talented Texas native – stay tuned.

Accompanied by just his acoustic guitar, 18-year-old guitar prodigy James Bell X performed an acoustic set during the It’s So Miami Lollapalooza brunch at Chicago’s Renaissance Hotel. The UK native’s sound was the perfect setup for day three of Lollapalooza, featuring some of his original songs at the invite-only event overlooking the Chicago River. James Bell X is a gifted singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist who is sure to have a future in the music industry and will hopefully grace the stages of Lollapalooza.

Well-known in his hometown of Chicago, producer and MC Saba, née Tahj Malik Chandler, performed an early afternoon set day two of Lollapalooza. The diversity of his music made him one of the most notable performers of the weekend’s festivities. Performing an early afternoon set at a music festival can be a daunting task, but Saba took it all in stride and made every moment on the Lolla stage count. Performing music from his upcoming album Bucket List, Saba’s talent as a songwriter, producer and MC were on full display and his fanbase is sure to have grown exponentially.

photos by Kris Lori Fuentes Cortes. Images of leon Bridges are courtesy of Toyota.

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