Who to catch at Lollapalooza 2025: Expert picks for hip-hop, pop, rock and EDM
On Thursday, Lollapalooza plugs back into Grant Park, bringing 170-plus bands on eight stages across four days. To help make sense of the massive lineup, we asked local experts in the worlds of hip-hop, pop, rock and EDM to share their perfect schedules — for each day by genre.
HIP-HOP
The Expert: Taylor Bennett, local musician, brother and manager of Chance The Rapper; has been going to Lolla since 2010.
“Lollapalooza is one of my favorite festivals in the world, and I've been to a lot,” says Taylor Bennett, who released a new single, “Champagne Tears,” last week. Lollapalooza was the first big festival performance for the brothers: Chance on the BMI Stage in 2013 and Taylor on Perry’s Stage in 2018.
“I think the artist selection and the listener balance [at Lolla] is really good,” he says. “[Organizers] have a very specific way of being able to look at the surface of hip-hop and not just bring in who’s hot or the legends, but have a mix where you can still find new music. … It fills a void in hip-hop that you don’t get at too many festivals.”
Thursday
- Chicago Made (Tito’s, starting at 2:15 p.m.): “A really big moment for a lot of local artists … and to be able to impact folks that might not even be from Chicago.”
- 2hollis (The Grove, 7:45 p.m.): “He’s been on an amazing ascension to stardom … only a few hip-hop artists have done so in such a short period of time.”
- Tyler, The Creator (T-Mobile, 9 p.m.): “There already was a highly anticipated project, ‘Chromakopia.’ But then, out of nowhere, he just dropped ‘Don’t Tap the Glass.’”
Friday
- Kenny Mason (Tito’s, 1:30 p.m.): “One of the most talented lyrically creative artists that I’ve ever seen.”
- Murda Beatz (Perry’s, 2:20 p.m.): “He has some of the biggest hip-hop productions, from Drake to Chance … but he is a talent himself.”
- Ravyn Lenae (Lakeshore, 3:40 p.m.): “I have to shout out my sister Ravyn Lenae. She has one of Billboard’s highest-charting songs from Chicago this year. I’ve known her since she went to Chicago High School for the Arts.”
- T-Pain (Bud Light, 4:30 p.m.): “Hip-hop legacy. I have not missed a T-Pain show in Chicago … he has one of the best shows.”
- Star Bandz (BMI, 6:50 p.m.): “I’m such a huge fan. She’s the hottest, youngest artist from Chicago and this is going to be a big moment and big look for her.”
Saturday
- BossMan Dlow (Lakeshore, 3:55 p.m.): “He brings something very authentic about what it’s like being African-American within Chicago communities and also across America. I’ve loved the story that he’s told.”
- Doechii (T-Mobile, 6:55 p.m.): “I’m so excited to see her live. She’s the MC. She’s so dope and so undeniably herself … an artist that wants to entertain, but she’s nobody’s puppet.”
- Chicago Youth Symphony (Tito’s, 7:30 p.m.): “Another amazing [example] of Lollapalooza being such a community event. … Sometimes I think we might not understand how much talent we have in our backyard.”
Sunday
- Mariah the Scientist (Lakeshore, 4 p.m.): “Her music is from such an authentic space … and she’s put out huge hits with Chris Brown, Tee Grizzley and on her own.”
- Isaiah Rashad (T-Mobile, 5 p.m.): “Hands-down one of the best emcees rappers, period. He’s part of TDE [Top Dawg Entertainment] along with Doechii … I would love to see some kind of collaboration performance.”
- Ian (Tito’s, 6 p.m.): “Not only is he pushing hip-hop forward, but there's also traces of history … he's done his research and has a love for this genre.”
- Dominic Fike (T-Mobile, 7 p.m.): “An amazing talent with music that sits somewhere between pop and rap. ‘3 Nights’ is one of my favorite songs.”
- A$AP Rocky (Bud Light, 8:45 p.m.): “There’s nobody that touches A$AP when it comes to design, when it comes to fashion, when it comes to creative direction for his videos. I can’t wait to see what his set is going to consist of.”
POP
The Expert: Val Haller, founder of Valslist Music and co-producer of Winnetka Music Festival; has been going to Lolla since 2007.
Lollapalooza somehow managed to nab two of the biggest pop stars of the moment — Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo. And although both are must-sees, Val Haller’s advice is “don't spend the whole day just waiting for them.” Haller, a festival organizer herself, recommends “getting a taste of everything the festival offers. Go from stage to stage, even if it’s only to stay for three songs.” She is particularly interested in the range of global pop bands this year. “A lot of them are big in their country but trying to break into the American market,” Haller says. “So it’s a chance to get on board early.”
Thursday
- Durand Bernarr (T-Mobile, 3 p.m.): “R&B/funk/soul/jazz singer-songwriter/producer with a ’70s vibe a la The Isley Brothers.”
- Glass Beams (The Grove, 5:15 p.m.): “Melbourne-based psychedelic rock trio blends Indian music with contemporary western styles.”
- Magdalena Bay (Lakeshore, 6 p.m.): “Madonna-esque synth pop duo known for their immersive retro-futuristic pop with glossy hooks and a dynamic frontwoman.”
- Gracie Abrams (T-Mobile, 7 p.m.): “Indie pop artist offers emotionally intimate lyricism, soft vocals and introspective bedroom pop with a folk polish.”
- Royel Otis (Lakeshore, 8 p.m.): “Aussie indie pop/rock guitar duo merges jangly psychedelic with new wave influences.”
Friday
- Dogpark (Lakeshore, 12:30 p.m.): “Formed at the University of Richmond, they bring energetic ‘90s-inspired, guitar-driven melodies.”
- Old Mervs (The Grove, 12:50 p.m.): “Australian indie duo known for playful, bark-influenced vocals and hooky melodies.”
- Hey, Nothing (The Grove, 1:50 p.m.): “Young Atlanta emo duo with emotionally raw lyrics and melodic folk punk.”
- Zinadelphia (The Grove, 2:50 p.m.): “Fusing neo-soul, jazz, funk and vintage ’60s and ’70s pop into richly-styled indie music.”
- Midnight Generation (BMI, 4:30 p.m.): “A five-piece from Chihuahua, Mexico that will get the dance party going with disco funk and electro pop big on 80s influences.”
- The Dare (The Grove, 5:15 p.m.): “Harrison Patrick Smith is getting his moment for doing something completely different: a high-energy blend of dance punk, electro clash and new wave.”
- Carol Ades (BMI, 5:40 p.m.): “If you want to hear angsty dream pop wrapped up in raw confessional lyrics about young love, Carol is it.”
Saturday
- Carter Vail (BMI, 2:10 p.m.): “With uplifting pop rock anthems and humor, he reminds me of Portugal. The Man and Foster The People.”
- Bôa (Bud Light, 2:30 p.m.): “The ’90s-era UK act had a cult hit with the song ‘Duvet,’ which has found a resurgence via TikTok.”
- Max McNown (T-Mobile, 2:55 p.m.): “Nashville-based, Oregon-born talent blending heartfelt Americana and modern country with raw and resonant storytelling.”
- Damiano David (The Grove, 7:45 p.m.): “Best known as the frontman for Eurovision-winning glam band Måneskin, David’s solo career has more introspective pop.”
- TWICE (Bud Light, 8:30 p.m.): If you can see one K-pop act at Lolla, TWICE is a great bet. In addition to the catchy music, the dance moves are perfection.”
- Mk.gee (The Grove, 9 p.m.): “Singer-songwriter/producer is celebrated for his genre blurring of lo-fi and psych-inflected bedroom pop. His albums are no-skip perfection.”
Sunday
- Joe P (Lakeshore, 12:45 p.m.): “Brooklyn indie pop artist known for his ultra-viral hit ‘Off My Mind’ that’s intimate yet anthemic.”
- Vincent Lima (The Grove, 1:50 p.m.): “Angsty singer-songwriter on a quick rise thanks to his raw lyricism and delicate blend of guitars and indie folk pop.”
- Lekan (BMI, 2:10 p.m.): “First generation Nigerian-American R&B singer with a plush velvety baritone and throwback sounds … like Leon Bridges meets Marvin Gaye.”
- Katseye (T-Mobile, 3:15 p.m.): “The six-member global girl group blends hyperpop, R&B, salsa, EDM and K-pop choreography for an incredible package.”
- Graham Barham (BMI, 6:50 p.m.): “Louisiana-born ‘club country’ artist brings a signature blend of slamming 808s and slick steel guitar that’s some of the best in modern country.”
ROCK
The Expert: Lauren O’Neil, midday DJ at Q101; has been going to Lolla since 2012.
While Lollapalooza may not be the rock-dominant festival of its youth, Q101 DJ Lauren O’Neil says rock and alternative still have a stronghold in 2025. “I feel the lineup is pretty eclectic this year,” she says, even if “outwardly a lot of the headliners lean more in the pop or even country categories.” O’Neil adds: “Lolla knows their place as far as booking too many of the rock and metal bands — because Riot Fest would like to have a word. But they do a good job of picking a few that are appointment-setters if you're into those genres. … You just have to do the digging.”
Thursday
- Girl Tones (BMI, 1 p.m.): “Many compare them to the White Stripes, but they’re in a league of their own.”
- Ratboys (Bud Light, 1:30 p.m.): “A great act from Chicago that’s been killing it for over a decade.”
- julie (Lakeshore, 2 p.m.): “I get such big ‘90s alt vibes from them.”
- ALEXSUCKS (BMI, 2:10 p.m.): “This is the set I predict will have mucho crowd surfing.”
- Sunami (The Grove, 2:50 p.m.): “Probably the hardest band of the entire weekend.”
- Half-Alive (Tito’s, 3:45): “Think if Vampire Weekend and Twenty One Pilots had a baby.”
- Cage The Elephant (Bud Light, 6:45 p.m.): “They should be at the absolute top of your must-see list.”
Friday
- Gigi Perez (T-Mobile, 2:45 p.m.): “The acoustic ballad ‘Sailor Song’ is all over Q101.”
- Foster The People (T-Mobile, 4:40 p.m.): “Their newer music gives me BDE … big disco energy.”
- Bleachers (Bud Light, 6:30 p.m.): “Jack Antonoff’s band that completely eclipsed his first band fun.”
- Djo (T-Mobile, 6:40 p.m.): “I predict the biggest singalong of the entire weekend will be every single person shouting, ‘When I’m back in Chicago I feel it…’”
- Wallows (Lakeshore, 7:40 p.m.): “A band of musicians turned actors. They played Warped Tour when they were teenagers back in 2011.”
- Korn (Bud Light, 8:30 p.m.): “When they play ‘Blind’ and Jonathan Davis asks the crowd if we are ready, Lollapalooza is going to erupt all the way over to Olivia Rodrigo's side.”
Saturday
- Winnetka Bowling League (Lakeshore, 12:25 p.m.): “Make sure you pee before their set because you’ll be laughing.”
- Junior Varsity (BMI, 4:30 p.m.): “They just crushed it at Q101’s Piqniq at the Taste of Randolph and, in my opinion, are destined for greatness.”
- Clairo (Bud Light, 6:30 p.m.): “Went viral for her song ‘Pretty Girl.’ I think she’s very similar to Chicago’s own Lili Trifilio of Beach Bunny.”
- Rüfüs Du Sol (T-Mobile, 8:45 p.m.): “Super fun dance party with a great light show to accompany.”
Sunday
- Wunderhorse (Tito’s, 2 p.m.): “Good ol’ rock ’n’ roll with huge guitars and distorted vocals out of the UK.”
- Rebecca Black (Perry’s, 3 p.m. & Tito’s, 8 p.m.): “Get down on a Friday … on a Sunday.”
- La Femme (The Grove, 4 p.m.): “A French rock band who is very unique for the lineup.”
- Remi Wolf (Bud Light, 5 p.m.): “ ‘American Idol’ gave her the boot 10 years ago. And now she’s playing the big stage at Lolla. Suck it, Simon.”
- Finneas (Lakeshore, 6 p.m.): “It would be pretty dope if [sister Billie] tagged along. There does happen to be a break in her touring schedule, so it’s not impossible.”
- The Marías (Bud Light, 7 p.m.): “It’s English, Spanish, Spanglish, jazz percussion, riffs and horns, all melded into one super fun set.”
- Dominic Fike (T-Mobile, 7 p.m.): “Singer-songwriter, rapper, actor. His song ‘3 Nights’ was one of the most requested songs on Q101 for the longest time.”
EDM
The Expert: Ellie Barker, founder of EDM Ladies of Chicago; has been going to Lolla since 2016.
When Barker moved to Chicago from Detroit eight years ago, she founded EDM Ladies of Chicago — an online community of electronica lovers — with Devin Dalakouras, Diia Gward and Shelby Miller. It was a way for “women, femmes and non-binary to get together safely,” Barker says. The group has since grown to 10,000 members, and an international edition, Female Ravers United, boasts 60,000 members, all of whom discuss shows, outfits and meetups. Getting together at Perry’s Stage is an annual tradition (find meetup times on the group’s Instagram page, #edmchiladies). “It’s nice that Perry’s Stage is total EDM culture with people wearing standard rave wear and trading candy … all the things that make EDM special, all in one place,” Barker says. Here are her curated picks, all at Perry’s — except for Rüfüs Du Sol, the alternative dance group from Sydney, headlining the T-Mobile Stage at 8:45 p.m. on Saturday.
Thursday
- DJ Heather (Perry’s, 12 p.m.)
- Prospa (Perry’s, 3:10 p.m.)
- Cloonee (Perry’s, 5:50 p.m.)
- Mau P (Perry’s, 7 p.m.)
- Dom Dolla (Perry’s, 8:30 p.m.)
Friday
- Mary Droppinz (Perry’s, 12 p.m. & Tito’s, 7:30 p.m.)
- Alleycvt (Perry’s, 3:15 p.m.)
- Bunt. (Perry’s, 4:15 p.m.)
- Tape B (Perry’s, 5:45 p.m.)
Saturday
- Flux Pavilion (Perry’s, 3:30 p.m.)
- Dr. Fresch (Perry’s 4:45 p.m.)
- Levity (Perry’s, 6:15 p.m.)
- Chase & Status (Perry’s, 7:30 p.m.)
- Rüfüs Du Sol (T-Mobile, 8:45 p.m.)
Sunday
- Nimino (Perry’s, 1:45 p.m.)
- Marlon Hoffstadt (Perry’s, 4:15 p.m.)
- Sammy Virji (Perry’s, 5:45 p.m.)
- Gryffin (Perry’s, 7 p.m.)
- Martin Garrix (Perry’s, 8:30 p.m.)
LOCAL ACTS
The Expert: Nudia Hernandez, afternoon music host of Vocalo Radio.
Hernandez recommends the TIP Fest (Teens in the Park) Pop-up Stage, located near Buckingham Fountain, a DIY platform at Lolla to catch homegrown acts. “The TIP Stage has some huge names for the young kids in Chicago. … And it’s where local acts can share their music with the younger generation of festival goers.” Starting at 2 p.m. Friday, the stage will host DJ Ca$h Era, Jean Deaux and Pivot Gang. On the Chicago Made Stage (Thursday, Tito’s, 2:15 p.m.), Hernandez called out BJ The Chicago Kid and Clairice. Hernandez says surprises are likely: “From the artists I've talked to recently, a lot of them are planning to share new or unreleased music at Lollapalooza.”