Summer 2024 was everything a music lover could want. From the groovy melodies at Perry’s stage to the raging crowds under the drink lyrical tent, there was plenty to see and quite a few surprises.
Looking back on the two biggest Chicago music festivals, what were the best performances? And which event outshone the rest?
When the long anticipated festival lineups dropped in the spring, there was a rush of excitement as everyone searched for their favorite artists. Sure, these concerts can be tons of fun just going blind, but they’re all the better when you can see a big name or two.
Summer Smash’s lineup definitely did not disappoint. “I was excited for the Summer Smash lineup, especially for artists like Travis Scott and Denzel Curry,” relays senior AJ Koenigsknecht.
The biggest surprise likely came when people saw the third headliner, Chief Keef. Banned from performing in Chicago back in 2012, this marked his first performance in the area since. Rapper Lil Yachty praised Keef’s influence during his set on day three of Summer Smash, stating that “Without Chief Keef there would be no Lil Yachty, there would be no 2016, so when that man comes on stage y’all better show some love and respect.”
And show love they did, with one of the craziest crowds of the weekend. Thousands of fans packed together, and pushed to get closer as Sosa blasted a series of songs from his newest album “Almighty So 2.”
Artists Playboi Carti and Travis Scott also threw some ragers with their headlining performances. “The crowds were super high energy, especially for Travis. I was getting thrown around like crazy,” Koenigsknecht recalls.
Considering this, it’s no surprise that over the following two days hundreds of people lined up at the lost-and-found booth, looking for phones, wallets and whatever else got lost in the chaos. Stolen items are a common occurrence at any music fest, but it was especially difficult to stay aware in such an intense atmosphere.
And yes, the festivals are about the music, but let’s not forget another important aspect – the festival experience. Feedback by Summer Smash attendees has been largely positive.
“I thought the experience was really good. I loved the setups of the three different stages because there was almost always someone I wanted to see,” states senior Kai Dorsett.
“I thought the food was really good, and the prices were actually very good too. The Lazer Dim Burger was the best.”
As stacked as Summer Smash was, comparing the two festivals by their lineups doesn’t fully tell you which is better. They’re inherently different, and it completely depends on your own music taste.
Summer Smash’s focus on rap has allowed them to hone in on the underground, and bring in some artists that aren’t as well known by the public but are huge to anyone who is tuned into the rap scene. This year saw some popular names such as LAZER DIM 700, Osamason, and Nettspend.
Lollapalooza, being a lot less genre specific than Summer Smash, saw a massive array of artists and styles ranging from lively country ballads by Megan Moroney to intense head bangers by FISHER. Some of the biggest artists this year included SZA, Future with Metro Boomin, Megan the Stallion, Skrillex, Deftones, and many more.
It’s hard to pick the best moments out of so many highlights, but there were a few moments that stood out above the rest.
“My favorite experience from Lolla was getting to see a variety of artists like Hozier, Megan the stallion and Chappell Roan with my friends,” expresses sophomore Zoe Brourman. “All of the different artists brought their own unique energy to the festival, making the whole experience more fun and memorable.”
After an immense number of fans showed up to her set, popstar Chappell Roan was forced to switch to a larger stage, then proceeded to perform to the largest crowd of the weekend, and probably the last few years. A Lolla spokesperson told USA Today that Roan may have broken the Lollapalooza set attendance record.
On another stage, we had the jazzy Icelandic singer and musician Laufey (Lay-vay).
Laufey wasn’t your average concert. As her vocals floated over the audience, the atmosphere mellowed below. There wasn’t any moshing, however, there was a tension that seemed to still the crowd. Her performance with the Chicago philharmonic symphony was incredible, and an unforgettable highlight of the festival.
And let’s not forget SZA. Continuously shifting between expressive and bright visuals, she created one of the most aesthetic shows of the week, topping it off with a drone show and fireworks. Her setlist was packed, including fan favorites “Saturn,” “Nobody Gets Me” and of course “Good Days.”
Both festivals have their strengths, and Lollapalooza’s layout is definitely one of them.
“The food options were so good and added to the overall experience,” Zoe remarks. From the food to the floor size, it doesn’t get much better than Lolla.
If you’re wondering what the show of the summer was, ask yourself whether you’d want to be in the raging moshpit of Summer Smash, or the relaxing soundscape of Lollapalooza. That pretty much sums it up.
If you didn’t make it and feel like you missed out this summer, don’t fret. Many fantastic artists have yet to tour this season, and at slightly more reasonable prices.
Anderson Paak is performing his funky smooth record “Why Lawd?” in October. His vocal flow, and the relaxed production by Knxwledge will have you bumping your head and adding track after track to your rotation. The indie star Clairo takes her most recent album “Charm” to the salt shed in October. Currently my favorite release of the year, the album is interwoven with contrasting sounds, and spirited chord progressions. And for all you house lovers, don’t miss Kaytranada tour with his newest release “Timeless” at the Huntington Pavilion on September 20th.
Just make sure to keep your phone and wallet tight…
