Day One of Lollapalooza set the bar high, but the second day of the festival – which took place in Chicago on Aug. 1 – somehow took things to the next level. At the end of the night, Olivia Rodrigo shared non-stop energy with a massive crowd at the T-Mobile Stage while over at the Bud Light Stage nu-metal icons Korn returned to Lollapalooza for the first time in over 25 years. Amaarae, Djo, and Otoboke Beaver also shared some of the best sets full of Friday fun.
From the moment the gates opened, it was clear that Day Two was all about Olivia Rodrigo. Many fans arrived early and rushed to the T-Mobile Stage to post-up on the rail for the day and ensure that they had a great spot to see the “deja vu” singer. When she opened the show with a blistering performance of “obsessed,” the wait proved to be most definitely worth it.
A “drivers license” sing-along and “traitor,” with Rodrigo playing the piano, were both emotional moments of the set and a surprise appearance by Weezer – who joined the headliner for their hits “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So” – only added to the fun. Rodrigo’s set was full of all of the wonderful spectacle of a show-closing pop performance while across the park, Korn treated festival-goers to a no-nonsense set full of music from the last three decades of their storied career.
Earlier in the day, the genre-defying artist Amaarae took the Lakeshore Stage looking battle-ready during her early-evening set. Songs from 2023’s Fountain Baby – including “Angels in Tibet” and “Disguise” – dominated the performance, but Amaarae also took time out to preview tracks from her forthcoming release Black Star, as well.
“Lollapalooza. How you guys feeling today? This is the second time I’ve ever been to Chicago. This is my first time ever at Lolla. Shout out to Lolla. So Chicago, you know, I come bearing gifts. My album, Black Star is out August 8th, and you know, I had to play some new shit for y’all. Do you want to hear some new shit,” she said to loud cheers as the bassline from “S.M.O.” began. “Let’s fucking go!”
On the Southside of the park, Foster the People had everyone in the field dancing to songs like “Sit Next To Me” and “Pumped Up Kicks” while T-Pain entertained fans over at the Bud Light Stage. Djo – the musical moniker of Stranger Things star Joe Keery, who received a BFA from Chicago’s DePaul University – had everyone singing about the beauty of being in the Windy City during “End of Beginning” and Keery marveled at the massive crowd earlier in the set.
“You’re not messing around, man, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many people in my entire life,” said Keery before playing “Charlie’s Garden.” “We’re lucky to have you here.”
Elsewhere during Day Two, Caroline Kingsbury lit-up the BMI Stage and Otoboke Beaver conjured circle pits over at the Bud Light Stage. The 17-year-old Chicago born and raised artist Star Bandz also showed everyone how it’s done during her first-ever festival appearance.
“We gotta rock out. We’re in Chicago,” she said during her BMI-closing set.
Lollapalooza will continue through Aug. 3. Click here to learn more information about all of the festival fun.