SZA, Stray Kids Shine on Day Two

While Chappell Rowan Politics ruled the first day of Lollapalooza 2024, the second day of the Chicago festival held at Grant Park, which featured the debut of new songs from headliners SZA and Zedd, and a big performance from chart-topping Stray Kids. It also featured surprise guests including Chance the Rapper, Remi Wolf, and Bobby Shmurda. Sets by Raye, Victoria Monét, and Laufey were also among the highlights of Day 2.

Stray Kids Adds Punk Touch to K-Pop
After their fifth album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart thanks to foodStray Kids were keen to entertain the crowd on their main set. With fans literally barking in support, the K-pop band stomped through raucous rock renditions of their catalogue, backed by a live band, fireworks and lasers. More striking than the drum and bass-inspired “Domino” or the funk-infused “Back Door” was the eight’s angular choreography. Their dance moves were in keeping with the punk-rock rush, giving them the aura of cute, movie-going bad boys. That deceit later returned: Facing a city curfew (“Should we break the rules?”), Stray Kids snuck in “Haven” for one last drunken fix to last the night. – North Carolina

SZA releases new album Cry Baby
For SZA fans, the wait is between 2017 and 2018. Control And her second album, call for help – Which topped rolling stoneLast year’s best albums list was an eternity, but she didn’t wait long to treat Lola’s audience to a new number midway through her set. “This song is ‘Cry Baby.’ It’s not out yet, but it’s coming,” she said, before launching into the love-filled song that fits well with her repertoire of melancholy and longing lyrics. Sitting on a giant ant prop, she and her guitarist intertwined the melodies on the new song. She also performed hits from both albums, which included call for help“Snooze” and “Kill Bill” as well as ControlLove Galore and The Weekend were among the other standouts, with SZA’s “Kiss Me More” featuring Doja Cat, featuring snippets of Prince’s “Kiss.” Her gorgeous vocals and the dreamy backdrop—with an ice-covered cave and a giant tree trunk—were a fitting way to close out the second night of the festival. the

The performance of the Zed drone stole the show.
Zedd, the electronic music veteran known for party anthems “Stay,” “Middle” and “Clarity,” closed out the second night of the festival with a rousing performance. Despite remixing Martin Garrix’s “Animals,” the DJ stuck to his set throughout, sending the crowd into a trance with a sped-up version of the theme song from Netflix’s “The Last Day.” squid game and Ariana Grande's synth-laden “Break Free.” Alternative pop star Remy Wolf also made a surprise appearance to announce his high-energy, dance-pop song “Lucky.” And if the fireworks, laser pointers and flames weren't enough, by the end of the show, dozens of drones took to the sky to remind the audience of Zedd's larger-than-life persona, replicate his logo and provide a release date for “Lucky,” which arrives on August 9. – South Korea

Ray's victory is a win for all of us.
Rae has been in scintillating form, and she continued to do so on stage at Lola. Earlier this year, she made history at the 2024 Brit Awards when she won six awards out of seven nominations. At the festival, she proved she deserved all the praise, and more. She performed songs from her long-awaited debut album, 21st Century BluesThe American singer, who arrived in 2023, was a study in elegance, honesty and class. With flexible vocals that soared into the sibilant range and an instinctive performance that found her dropping to her knees to deliver songs like the smoldering “Mary Jane” and a cover of “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” her genre-spanning set was utterly captivating. Delivering “Ice Cream Man,” a raw and powerful song about sexual assault, she explained how singing makes her physically sick but important because “music is meditative.” As she spoke about the healing powers of music, some in the packed audience needed help, and she made sure to help them before launching into the song. Later, she called for backup during “Genesis,” a seven-minute experimental pop-jazz-infused ballad, to which fans responded with delight. – the

Victoria Monet triumphant
On a day that featured other artists who had been hitting it big for years before they got their due, like Raye's hard-earned debut and SZA's long-delayed sophomore release, Victoria Monét earned every minute of her spot on the main stage with material from her long-awaited debut, Jaguar II. Wearing a fedora and a coat, she opened the show with “Alright,” where she and her dancers performed precise choreography. Later, coatless and in an orange two-piece, she championed women who rocked their natural bodies (“Ass Like That”) and weed (“Smoke”) during her playful set. She embraced R&B, taking a cue from the classics while adding her own twist to the genre, and weaved these elements together; “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem)” touched on Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody,” the Supremes’ “Stop! In the Name of Love” was fused with “Stop (Askin’ Me4Shyt),” and “Party Girls” included references to Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam” and Beyoncé’s “Baby Boy.” the

Luffy Shines With Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra
“Welcome to the symphony,” Lovi greeted fans in a regal tulle and silk gown. The 25-year-old Icelander was charming and graceful live, displaying a polite modesty despite her soulful songs worthy of the Chicago Philharmonic. As if singing on electric guitar, cello and piano weren’t enough, Lovi called on Ray to sing “It Could Happen to You.” It was one of the day’s most uplifting performances, a romantic, ravishing take on the Grammy-winning traditional pop that earned cheers mid-song when the cameras zoomed in on the oboe player. Judging by the crowd, the next generation’s appetite for the old-fashioned genre has only just begun. – North Carolina

Sexy Red Stops on Presidential Campaign Trail
Everyone stood up for the hottie. She was escorted on stage by fake Secret Service agents, and Sexy Redd delivered her State of the Union address, driving even the most hardened puritans crazy. Sexy Redd, who was a St. Louis celebrity, performed a rap dance number “U My Everything” and “Get It Sexyy” and a short karaoke interlude that included the band’s funky music. And Miley Cyrus. Half the thrill was hearing her rearrange the words “coochie,” “dick” and “titties” like a group of Mad Libs. hottest princess Sexy Red promised that she was here to have a good time: “Bitch, you know I do it big.” – North Carolina

Faye Webster brings her fans thriving folk rock.
Faye Webster knew what she was doing when she opened the show with “But Not Kiss,” an ode to falling asleep in the arms of a lover. The Atlanta singer-songwriter produced a tight, dreamlike folk-rock sound; as the sun set, her slide guitar and thumping bass played to a group of sprawled-out listeners. She interspersed songs from her new album, Inappropriate clothing at the symphonyHer old favorites, “Kingston” and “Right Side of My Neck,” showed Webster’s consistency as a master songwriter. But don’t confuse that with predictability; when she’d lull you into a comfortable trance, she’d suddenly let out a sharp, shrieking scream. North Carolina

Kevin keeps it honest.
Kevin Abstract, wearing a plaid hoodie, doesn’t hide when he goes off script. Putting the crowd first, the Brockhampton founding member ran to each side and asked, “Is everybody feeling the vibe tonight?” before performing two unreleased tracks. He continued to be candid, asking the crowd, “Does anybody like me?” and later describing his type as Disney Channel star Ross Lynch. Despite the “endless disconnect” from Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract nodded. Saturation “Star” and Second saturation “Gummy” before launching into the soulful guitar riffs “Georgia” and “Baby Boy,” from his second album. Arizona baby. Before he left the stage, he asked the audience for one more favor: to form a group dance pit. Fans tuned in, creating a gap in the crowd in time for “Blanket,” the lead single from his latest album. – South Korea

Renee Raab Shines With Chance The Rapper
Singer and actress Renée Rabe dominated the stage like a person born to do it, and she was Mean Girls/Sex Life of College Girls The star has managed to balance her singing and acting careers. Armed with songs from her debut album, Snow Angel“Pretty Girls” was one of her highlights during her concert. The show also featured a surprise guest. She noted that she has been a fan of Chance the Rapper since 2016, when Coloring book He arrived, and joined her on stage to perform “No Problem.” the

Wisp presents Wistful Shoegaze at their first ever festival
Going viral is surreal when experienced firsthand, but Natalie R. Low, the 19-year-old behind Wisp, takes it with aplomb. Last year, her “Shoegaze” project blew up with just a few songs, earning her bragging rights. Still, during her first festival performance, she admitted to being nervous. Wisp’s thumping guitars slammed the crowd (whose fans, dressed in baggy pants, oversized T-shirts, and dyed hair, echoed the band’s alternative aesthetic) into overdrive as the heavy singles “Tangled Dreams” and “Your Face” wove in between songs from her debut album, Pandora“I know you may not be the dancing type, but let’s move a little,” Lou laughed meekly—this was both a request to them and a reminder to herself. North Carolina

Military Weapon Do it Faster (Twice)
Like any band formed during a pandemic, Militarie Gun played like they would never give up on touring again. Hardcore guitarist Ian Shelton created the band to channel folk-minded songwriting, but live, their alt-rock songs took on a more raw edge. Despite the peak UV rays, Militarie Gun kept the energy high—Shelton stepped into the crowd to cover Blur’s “Song 2,” swapping places with a guitarist to play “Do It Faster” twice—as did the crowd, who spontaneously sat on the field to mimic a rowing team. Collectively, everyone played the song fast and loose, sweating like proud champions of the midday block. North Carolina

High luxury turn up the volume
The crowd at Loud Luxury, the Canadian-born dance-pop duo, couldn’t stay still. The crowd clapped their hands to “Sunroof,” Loud Luxury’s laid-back remix of the Nicky Your and Dazed pop song. Andrew Fedick and Joe De Pace kept the crowd pumping their fists to “Love No More” and “Aftertaste” as magical visuals and fireworks were projected from the Perry Stage. It was reminiscent of the duo’s club residencies in Las Vegas. The band’s exhilarating house set reached its peak when surprise guest Bobby Shmurda took the stage to perform their unreleased single “Cool Like That,” before sending the crowd into a thud with “Body.” It had been five years since the duo’s last set at Lollapalooza and they made sure to leave a memorable performance. South Korea

Blu DeTiger brings you bass sound
The 26-year-old guitarist, Blue D. Tiger, who has made a name for herself on TikTok for her guitar skills and covers of Ariana Grande and Cardi B songs, put on a show at the Bacardi Theater on Friday in front of an intimate crowd. Using a blue electric guitar, D. Tiger put together a fan-pleasing medley of Lorde’s “Ribs” and Icona Pop’s “I Love It” before landing on her hit single “Cotton Candy Lemonade.” In front of a swaying crowd, Blue D. Tiger opened the weekend with songs like “Hey You,” which she co-wrote with Chappell Roan, and the laid-back alternative ballad “Figure it Out.” – South Korea