Lollapalooza Kicks Off In Chicago With Cage The Elephant, Luke Combs

Matt Shultz of Cage the Elephant mixes it up with fans as Lollapalooza gets underway in Chicago, IL. Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Grant Park

Photo by Barry Brecheisen

Following rain Wednesday night, Lollapalooza kicked off in Chicago on a cool, sunny afternoon along the lakefront Thursday in Grant Park.

2025 marks 20 years since Lollapalooza arrived in the Windy City as a destination festival in 2005 boasting headlining performances by acts like Weezer and a then recently reunited Pixies, with country star Luke Combs performing opposite rapper Tyler, the Creator on the festival’s two main stages Thursday night, indicative of the festival’s diversity as it continues to evolve.

During the festival’s Chicago run, Lollapalooza has gone to great lengths to embrace local talent, with artists like Chicago-based indie rockers Ratboys taking to the Bud Light main stage for a 45 minute set Thursday ahead of a set by local rapper Star Bandz Friday.

“Being a part of the Chicago Made showcase is incredible,” said R&B singer BJ the Chicago Kid, who took part in a 45 minute celebration of Chicago music dubbed Chicago Made. “It’s a pure testament to hard work and dedication – people working on their dreams and making them come true,” he said. “It was a really, really special day today.”

Coordinated by the city of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Chicago Made featured an array of Chicago artists including BJ, rapper Mike Lawry Baby, singer Clairice, R&B vocalist Feather and dance troupe The Era Footwork Crew.

BJ the Chicago Kid returned to Lollapalooza for the first time since 2019 and remains hard at work on new music, teaming with Grammy-nominated producer Nascent (Kanye West, 50 Cent) on a new album.

His latest single “Make It Hot” is now available and will appear in the forthcoming Prime action comedy The Pickup starring Eddie Murphy, which is set for release next week.

“My dad used to work security. And I grew up seeing a picture of my dad and Eddie Murphy every day as a kid in our house. So, to be a part of a project that he’s on is so incredible,” explained the singer of the new track. “My dad used to work the Bulls rallies and a lot of other festivals that were here. And today I performed on the same stage that my dad worked security on,” said BJ of the Chicago Made performance at Grant Park’s Petrillo Music Shell, which hosted championship rallies in the 90s following Michael Jordan-led victories by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. “There’s just so many cool moments about today and just being blessed for real.”

The Chicago Made showcase immediately followed a 45 minute performance by Ratboys, who’ve toured heavily with acts like the Decemberists since the release of their breakthrough fifth studio album The Window in 2023.

“We’re playing on the first day of the festival. So, it’s exciting,” said singer and guitarist Julia Steiner. “Because it feels like people have a lot of energy and they’re stoked to be here – and we feel the same way! So, we’re excited to get things off on a fun foot.”

For drummer Marcus Nuccio, performing at Lollapalooza marked a return after years spent attending as a fan.

“I haven’t been since 2009. That was the last time I came,” he said. “I went as a teenager a couple of times and it was amazing. It was kind of life changing. Rage Against the Machine was crazy. I saw Ben Kweller early on and M83 early. It was amazing.”

Nuccio added that he was excited to catch an afternoon set by alt pop duo Magdalena Bay with Steiner shouting out Sierra Ferrell, who performed Thursday for one hour on the festival’s north end.

“We’re here to experience the ups and the downs. We hold the power, remember,” said the alt country star, putting a contemporary spin upon the bluegrass genre as she set up “In Dreams” to close her Lollapalooza set. “Life is hard enough – don’t be hard on yourselves,” said Ferrell following the song. “Bring your magic.”

Backed by a four piece group including upright bass and mandolin, Ferrell and company worked a bit of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” into “Fox Hunt” near the end of the set.

Ozzy Osbourne, who passed earlier this month, came up frequently on day one of Lollapalooza 2025, with Cage the Elephant working up Ozzy’s “Changes” near the end of arguably Thursday’s most rollicking, energetic live set.

“Lollapalooza! Chi-town, my town!” shouted Cage the Elephant singer Matt Shultz, bounding from the stage down a runway as pyro soared during opening cut “Broken Boy.” “We like being here and I truly mean this,” explained the singer later, recalling formative moments on stage at Lollapalooza. “Each band member attributes our rise to this,” he continued, recalling the band’s 2007 festival debut. “We played right after Lady Gaga. That’s the truth,” said Shultz. “Brad threw up on stage. I guess we’ve come a long way!”

Shultz left the stage to mix it up with fans along the guardrail as the group ripped into the garage rock heart of “Cry Baby” early, with guitarist Brad Shultz crowd surfing as Matt made his way through the festival throng.

Bathed in orange light as the sun began to set on Chicago, Cage the Elephant delivered “Spiderhead,” with the group tackling hits like “Social Cues” and “Ain’t no Rest for the Wicked” despite early sound issues.

A massive early crowd assembled on the festival’s north end as Role Model took to the Tito’s stage at Petrillo Music Shell, with the size of the densely packed audience drawing comparisons to an equally crowded 2023 performance on the same stage by singer songwriter Noah Kahan.

“Lollapalooza… You are sexy tonight!” said singer songwriter Tucker Pillsbury,” introducing “Look at that Woman.” “I see you out there!” he declared.

Country star Luke Combs kicked off Lollapalooza week in style performing in front of just about 1,000 lucky fans during one of the week’s most coveted aftershow tickets on stage at vaunted intimate Chicago club Metro Tuesday night, calling Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” one of the first songs he learned to play on guitar as he offered up a stirring take on the iconic cut.

Performing for 90 minutes on Lollapalooza’s Bud Light main stage Thursday, Combs welcomed singer and YouTuber Alex Warren, whose set ended on stage at Petrillo as Combs started up.

Branded Dollapalooza for the day, Perry’s stage became the home for a stage headlining performance by Australian producer and DJ Dom Dolla.

Leading into Dolla’s set, Mau P performed for one hour on stage Thursday night.

“It was really cool. It was huge. There was a lot of people. I haven’t been in front of a lot of people for a couple of weeks. So, you sort of have to adjust,” said the Dutch producer and DJ following his set. “I look at the crowd a lot and I try to see what they like. So, like halfway into the set, I sort of change it up. But it’s fun to freestyle, you know? It makes you feel alive.”

Following the release of his Too Big for B-Side EP earlier this year, Mau P is set to drop the new track “Tesla,” his latest production and a song which features him on vocal, August 8.

Following an appearance at Coachella, Mau continues racing up festival bills and remains in the midst of his “Baddest Behaviour” Ibiza residency.

While casting a keen eye on the business side, Mau P prioritizes creativity as an artist.

“There’s two sides to it. Because I like to just be really focused on the creative. But being at this level there’s just so many people that are now working with me. It’s a big team. And it turns into an actual business thing you have to keep up. And I’m very blessed to have people around me that let me focus on being the artist and the creative,” he explained. “There are a lot of DJs that are very business-oriented too. Which works. But, for me, it doesn’t. So, I really enjoy just focusing on the music and the art and sort of also the marketing. The backend business side of it, I have really good people for that,” said Mau P Thursday backstage at Lollapalooza. “I’m very blessed that they take care of that side. Because that, to me, is the boring side. The paperwork.”