2005

LOLLA CALLS CHICAGO ITS NEW HOME

With the waning popularity of traveling showcases and the success of more compact, weekend festivals, Lollapalooza daringly reinvented itself in 2005, bringing on Austin, TX’s Capital Sports and Entertainment (now C3 Presents) to help reengineer the flagship festival for a new generation of music lovers. Revisiting the diversity and excitement that were hallmarks of Lollapalooza’s original incarnation, great pains were taken to bring onboard up-and-coming talent from a variety of genres. Specifically, independent acts gaining mainstream momentum - such as The Arcade Fire and Death Cab For Cutie - were recruited, along with major label draws such as Weezer and The Killers.

Leaving behind the “touring” model that had propelled its success through the 1990s, Lollapalooza became a “destination festival”, redefined and revved up for the 2000s. The debut of the reboot featured over 60 artists playing on six stages across three days in Chicago’s Grant Park, one of the most famous and beloved civic green spaces in the country. The selection of Chicago provided a connection to the deep musical heritage of one of America’s largest and most storied metropolitan areas, further invigorating the festival.

Scoring high marks from fans and critics alike for its lineup choices, Lollapalooza de-emphasized the subculture-based themes of its early days. Lollapalooza 2.0 strove to be more inclusive. In addition to its changes in musical format, this focus was evident in Lolla’s rejuvenated emphasis on art, food, fun and community, as well as ongoing efforts to create an environmentally sound production from the ground up. Finally, a family-friendly aspect was incorporated with the inclusion of a “Kidapalooza” stage where performances by kid-friendly artists, including organizer Farrell himself would keep the little ones as entertained as the adults.