Your Guide to Lollapalooza and Chicago’s K-Pop Weekend
Superstars TOMORROW X TOGETHER will headline Lollapalooza Saturday, August 4th, alongside a stacked lineup of several K-Pop and AAPI artists.
One year after BTS’ J-Hope made history by becoming the first K-Pop artist to headline at Lollapalooza, more K-Pop idols and AAPI artists are slated to perform at the historic Chicago festival. Lollapalooza is one of the only mainstream North American festivals taking K-Pop seriously as a music genre worth paying attention to, and their smart programming is bringing some unexpected guests this year.
The full lineup for Lollapalooza
Originally conceived as a farewell tour by Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell in 1991, Lollapalooza has transformed into one of the most important North American music festivals. Today, Lollapalooza is settled in its home at Grant Park and has expanded into a four day weekend. I’ll be there to cover all of the performances I’ve highlighted below, plus many more sets not included here. You can also look forward to interviews, videos, and reviews.
Tickets are nearly sold out: 4 day General Admission ($385) and GA+ ($700) are wait-listed only, while VIP ($1600) is still available. All single day tickets are sold out and wait-listed only, except Saturday ($135). Act fast if you want access!
Below are my picks for the best to check out if you’re heading to the festival, as well as a few cupsleeve events being hosted around the city in honor of the K-Pop groups performing.
K-Pop and AAPI-artist performances at Lollapalooza:
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
WHEN: Saturday, August 5th at 8:30 p.m.
Headliners Tomorrow x Together will make their first comeback to the Lolla stage this year, one year after their festival debut. Last year’s highlight performance was career defining: a euphoric moment of excellence that displayed how TXT can exist far outside of K-Pop by infusing their punk rock origins. Backed by a live band, TXT breathed new life into some of their best songs and brought in a far greater crowd than they thought possible.
This year, TXT returns as one of the most popular groups in fourth generation K-Pop. Their latest mini-album “The Naming Chapter: Temptation” scored the boys their first number one debut on the Billboard 200. Bolstered by the infectious lead single, “Sugar Rush Ride”, “Temptation” signified a brighter rebirth for the group: sexier, wilder, and more thrilling than ever before.
NEWJEANS
WHEN: Friday, August 3rd at 4:45 p.m.
Perhaps the biggest score for Lollapalooza is the addition of NewJeans to their lineup. In the past year, NewJeans has redefined the sound and look of K-Pop, injecting a dose of realism and deftly pulling together outside influences that have rarely been explored in the genre. Since their debut, NewJeans have become a cultural phenomenon. They are, hands down, the most popular girl group in K-Pop, and their second mini-album “GET UP” recently notched them their first number one album on Billboard.
Lollapalooza will be the girls’ first concert Stateside, and while they are not headliners, they will certainly be one of the most anticipated acts. To commemorate the occasion, Spotify will open Bunnyland, “a dedicated space packed with activities and prizes for fans to enjoy for one-day-only on Thursday, August 3rd,” according to the event description.
THE ROSE
WHEN: Thursday, August 3rd at 8:30 p.m. and Friday, August 4th at 10 p.m.
Fans of The Rose have two opportunities to catch them in Chicagoland next weekend: The band will close out the festival on Thursday, August 3rd at 8:30 p.m, followed by a headlining aftershow at The Vic Theater on Friday, August 4th (tickets are sold out, but resale is available).
Led by California-native Woosung, The Rose has spent the last few months cutting their teeth at music festivals across the world. Their latest single “Back To Me” and album highlight “Heal the World” are foolproof for a high energy festival set. The group’s latest album “HEAL” is some of their most explosive and mature music yet, deftly displaying why they deserve to be wider known to Western audiences.
RINA SAWAYAMA
WHEN: Sunday, August 5th at TIME
For the past three years, Rina has worked as a diligent student of pop music. She’s covered Lady Gaga’s classic “Dance in the Dark”, rebuilt Gaga’s “Free Woman” into a song that jets to the sky on “Dawn of Chromatica”, worked with alt-pop supernova Charli XCX, and finally, stepped into her own as a musician. “Hold the Girl”, her second studio album, strips back the opulence that Rina barelled through pop culture with in 2020, and instead, takes a more diaristic approach to music. But that doesn’t mean Rina’s lost her edge.
Rina has only doubled down on what makes her a compelling artist: In the insane banger “This Hell”, Rina channels Shania Twain and declares, “Got my invitation to eternal damnation/ Get in line/ Pass the wine, bitch/ We’re going straight to hell!” Throughout “Hold the Girl”, Rina plays with dark and deep material, even taking a song’s title, “Minor Feelings”, from a book on the Asian diaspora and racism. She’s a trailblazer, one of the most intelligent pop stars of our generation, and, crucially, a queer woman unafraid to call out bullshit. Rina will defiantly raise her middle fingers all the way to hell. Wanna join her?
SARAH KINSLEY
WHEN: Sunday, August 5th at 12:15 p.m.
In her debut EP “The King”, Sarah Kinsley created a masterclass in vital, joyful pop music. At 22 years-old, Sarah’s vivid songwriting displays what an ambitious musician she is, whether she’s theorizing about the intersection of music and spirituality (“Accession”), crowning herself as royalty (“The King”) or comparing her strength to powerful mountains. “If I were a mountain, I'd close my mouth and/ Maybe I'd be forgiving,” she sings in some of her best lyrics. “But I’m not a mountain.”
“Why would people release music they’re not madly in love with?” she asked The Forty-Five. Sarah is one of Lollapalooza’s fastest rising artists, but my theory is that she won’t fly under the radar much longer. Catch her while you can.
DPR IAN + DPR LIVE
WHEN: Sunday, August 5th at 7:45 p.m.
Existing far outside of K-Pop, but widely embraced by its stans, the DPR crew has emerged as leaders in the underground alt-pop/rock new wave. Ian and LIVE are well-loved for their savvy fashion, their outspokenness about mental health stigmas, and the excellent music they’re creating.
Both artists compliment each other in their differences: DPR LIVE’s “IITE COOL” EP is a breezy collection of R&B, funk and hip-hop, while Ian’s rock-influenced “Moodswings in To Order” made him a supernova inside the K-alt scene. Look out for some of DPR’s best collaboration tracks, like “DIAMONDS + PEARL”, and “BOOM”, when they hit the stage.
K-Pop themed events around Chicago during Lollapalooza weekend:
K-Pop stans know how to throw a kickass event.
Cupsleeve events are the most popular events created by the genre’s stans, and there will be plenty around Chicagoland this weekend. Cupsleeve events typically are held at boba tea shops in Asian neighborhoods, such as Chinatown or K-town, and include vendors, freebies, and specially designed cupsleeves for your boba tea drink. Below are a few happening to celebrate Lollapalooza and your favorite groups:
KPOP NARA BUNNIES PARTY:
To celebrate NewJeans performance as well as their 1-year anniversary and album release, Kpop Nara Chicago will be hosting a Bunnies Party 🐰Activities include:
7/29 - 8/3: Cupsleeve Event @ TEA% Boba
7/29 - 8/3: NewJeans Themed Picket Freebie @ Kpop Nara
7/29: Photocard Trading Event @ Kpop Nara Chicago Event Space
7/29 - 7/30: Best Dressed Contest @ Kpop Nara
7/29: NewJeans Lightstick Themed Cake Pops by @ Kpop Nara
7/30: Random Dance Play and Trivia by Knockout Dance Crew @ Kpop Nara Chicago Event Space
Details and specific times will be shared soon! Follow KPOP NARA’s IG for the latest updates.
THE ROSE 6th Anniversary Cupsleeve Event:
WHEN: August 2nd from 1 - 5 p.m.
WHERE: Daboba Chicago in Chinatown
This event will have a cupsleeve with the purchase of a drink, film strip, postcard and banners available for The Rose’s headlining set.
This 3-day event is for Bunnis (NewJeans) and Moas (TXT). Pre-order your merch and get a glitter cupsleeve.
his event is for Moas and will have a free cupsleeve with your drink purchase, plus a raffle, freebies and vendors.
This event is for Moas and will have cupsleeves, photocards and banner freebies.
xikers Cupsleeve and Exclusive Hello82 Album Event:
💿 ALBUM PURCHASE: xikers POP-UP
WHERE: KPOP NARA CHICAGO, 900 South Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL, 60605,
WHEN: August 4th - 6th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
🥤Cupsleeve event
WHERE: TEA%, 57 E 11th St, Chicago, IL 60605
WHEN: August 4th - 6th 11AM to 8PM
While xikers is not performing at Lollapalooza, K-Pop fans looking to get in more events can check out these events for a chance at receiving exclusive Hello82 photocards, Hello82 designed cupsleeve and signed albums.
