Lollapalooza 2021 review: Chicago Fest (video)

Joshua Mellin (NME, Aug. 3, 2021); Steve Aoki; Ashley Wells, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Miley Cyrus performs on stage with Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MC)

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Lollapalooza 2021 review: Chicago festival makes its raucous return

Mosh pits at pandemic-palooza? (NME.com)

July 29–August 1, Grant Park: Megan Thee Stallion, Tyler The Creator, and Miley Cyrus all shine at the Chicago festival, against an uneasy backdrop.

At the 30th anniversary of Lollapalooza – a Chicago mega-fest attended by 385,000 – the mood feels a little different.

Fred Durst's dad...if Fred F'd himself (NME)

Perhaps it’s just proximity to Fred Durst’s new dad look, but returning to live music at full throttle after almost a year and a half away is sure to cause a shock to the system.

Despite rising concerns around the fast-spreading Delta variant of [SARS 2] COVID-19 in the US, the large-scale festival goes ahead, with no emergency brakes.

• VIDEO: See Lollapalooza 2021 on YouTube

Playboy Carti takes to the Lalapalooza 2021 stage (Joshua Mellin/nme.com)

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While introducing Black Pumas on Thursday, Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot proudly proclaims that Lollapalooza is the largest music festival happening anywhere in the world this year.

At times, the atmosphere feels slightly apocalyptic given the backdrop.

As a result, some bands listed on the bill seem simply willing to put their name to potential calamity.

Miley Cyrus offered to educate DaBaby (msn)

First and foremost, Limp Bizkit, who recently enjoyed their resurgence as villains in the recently released HBO documentary Woodstock 99: Peace, Love and Rage.

• TRAILER: Woodstock 99: Peace, Love and Rage

While Fred Durst declares on stage that Lollapalooza isn’t that festival, you’d be forgiven for feeling the same sense of foreboding. More