Major Lazer, The Arcs, Yeasayer at Grant Park July 28-31

Lollapalooza was created in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell. This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the festival.

“I’ve immersed myself in this experience for 25 years now, but it’s in a constant state of evolution, living and breathing. As long as we always try to find the eye of the hurricane, the epicenter of the music that is truly connecting right now, I think we can go for another 25 years! And we’ll do it by always making sure to keep it fresh. Four days this year, over 170 of the best bands, including acts from all over the world as the music community connects globally more than ever; the best sound, staging and lights. We promise the festival will always strive to be the ‘lifeblood’ of the music scene,” says Perry Farrell.

The festival has expanded to host events in Europe and South America. After 25 years of providing a stage for performers to showcase their raw talent, the concept continues to thrive at #Lolla25.

In 1991, Perry and company worked with Nine Inch Nails, Ice T, Violent Femmes, in addition to a handful of emerging acts in the early ’90s. Throughout the early and mid ’90s Lollapalooza served as a platform for unknown bands to reach larger audiences. Before the Internet and the rise of home theaters, concerts and live performances served as one of the main forms of entertainment and communication.

This year the Red Hot Chili Peppers return to headline in grand fashion. The band connected with Lollapalooza for the first time in 1992 following their release of Blood Sugar Sex Magik in late 1991.

After the festival took a break, Lollapalooza returned to Chicago in 2003.

Radiohead will be making their return to Lollapalooza after the monumental year in 2008. Their presence at the festival creates a larger than life experience.

When I review the lineup, and think back to the early/mid ’90s lineups, my first thought is, wow there is over 170 acts on this bill, I wonder how close their are to competing with SXSW for the festival with the most shows taking place over one week. My next thought is the bands on the ’90s lineups were anti-establishment, punk, grunge, aggressive performers from Generation X.

The lineups recently lack the intensity of the 1991-1995 lineups. I love Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers, but they made their mark on music in the ’90s. If the Lolla lineups from the ’90s featured acts like Pink Floyd, (which would have been cool, opposing to my point), but Rush, Aerosmith, and The Who would have not been breakthrough acts, and were not booked in the early years.

Big Grams, (a collaboration between Big Boi from OutKast, and Phantogram) and would be an excellent selection for a headlining group. It is original and fresh. Their collaboration inspires other artists to connect. I think it is one of the strongest sets of the weekend. It evokes the spirit of the early/mid ’90s Lolla lineups.

Scan over 170 live acts set to perform at Lollapalooza 2016.

Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, LCD Soundsystem, Major Lazer, Jane’s Addiction, Future, HAIM, Chris Stapleton, Lana Del Rey, Big Grams (Featuring Big Boi and Phantogram), Flosstradamus, G-Eazy, Big Gigantic, Yeasayer, Lettuce, GRiZ, The 1975, Disclosure, M83, Two Door Cinema Club, Halsey, J. Cole, Flume, The Arcs, Bastille, Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Die Antwoord, Grimes, Leon Bridges, Miike Snow, Bloc Party, Ellie Goulding, The Last Shawod Puppets, Excision, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Adventure Club, Local Natives, Foals, Vic Mensa, JAUZ, Kurt Vile & the Violators, Yellow Claw, Daughter, and Silversun Pickups.

Also performing: Cherub, Mutemath, Frightened Rabbit, Vince Staples, St. Lucia, A$AP Ferg, Duke Dumont, Years & Years, Danny Brown, Oliver Heldens, Alessia Cara, Lindsey Stirling, Tchami, Cashmere Cat, Tory Lanez, Third Eye Blind, MØ, Seven Lions, Houndmouth, Snails, Kehlani, X Ambassadors, The Front Bottoms, Melanie Martinez, Frank Turned and the Sleeping Souls, The Joy Formidable, Fidlar, The Struts, Wolf Alice, Chairlift, Saint Motel, Alunageorge, Oh Wonder, Jack Garratt, Marshmello, Bro Safari, TOWKIO, Wavves, Snakehips, Haitus Kaiyote, Marian Hill, Bob Moses, Don Diablo, Classsix, RÜFÜS Du Sol, Aurora, Alina Baraz, Flatbush Zombies, Audien, Modern Baseball, Skepta, Grandtheft, Mr. Carmack, Lewis Del Mar, Dua Lipa, Muna, Lolawolf, Lija, Bas Cozz Omen, AC Slater, SOMO, Jackal, Slumberjack, Boombox Cartel, Bad Royale, Louis the Child, Kiiara, Hayden James, Day Wave, Party Favor, The Strumbellas, Lapsley, Cloves, Frances, Baid, Panama Wedding, Wild Child, Banners, Autolux, Nothing But Thieves, PVRIS, Alle Farben, Jarryd James, HAELOS, Con Brio, Jazz Cartier, Illenium, Burns, D.R.A.M., Tor Miller, VHS Collection, Sir the Baptist, SABA, The Noisey Freaks, Tennyson, Generik, SMINO, Pinegrove, Lazyboy Empire, Drowners, Nothing, Sunflower Bean, Unified Highway, Secret Weapons, Firekid, Skate Maloley, Mothers, Lucy Dacus, Totem, Jahkoy, Dreamers, Race Banyon, Arkells, Muddy Magnolias, Potty Mouth, Polly A., Horse Thief, Audiodamn!, Lanco, The Greeting Committee and Honeysuckle.