There’s something undeniably, wonderfully charming (alluring, captivating) about hosting a music festival in the heart of the Midwest.
“There’s New York, of course, and there’s L.A.,” said Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell. “But if you can win Chicago over, you’ve got America.”
And after a year off due to COVID-19, it seems all of America has indeed poured into Chicago’s Grant Park for a long-awaited weekend of music beginning Thursday, marking the festival’s 30th anniversary.
“I love Chicago, because what goes down in Chicago sends shockwaves out to the rest of the country,” Farrell said.
This year’s four-day lineup includes some of music’s most fashionable artists, including a very dapper Gus Dapperton in a preppy, genderfluid look; Steve Aoki wearing a hand-painted T-shirt, jeans, and custom kicks from his Dim Mak brand; and Miley Cyrus in a sparkling crystal-embellished red Gucci romper. The biggest trends spotted on the fans were ’90s-inspired grunge looks and colorful checkerboard patterns on just about everything. The best looks had a personal DIY aesthetic with patched-together layered pieces accented with piled-on jewelry, from statement-making earrings and layers of chain and pearl necklaces.