Lollapalooza Friday Artist Guide (Part 2)
Zara Larsson
๐ From: Stockholm, Sweden
Zara Larsson is an international pop star known for powerhouse vocals, infectious dance-pop, and confident stage presence. She has built a career balancing radio-friendly hits with impressive live performances.
๐ง Sounds Like: Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Anne-Marie, Rita Ora
Notion
๐ From: Bristol, England
Notion is a UK electronic producer known for bass-heavy house, UK garage, and club music. His sets are energetic and built for dancing from start to finish.
๐ง Sounds Like: Sammy Virji, Disclosure, Fred again.., Interplanetary Criminal
Skye Newman
๐ From: Chicago, Illinois
Skye Newman blends indie pop with soulful vocals and polished songwriting. Her music is intimate, melodic, and emotionally engaging.
๐ง Sounds Like: Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine, Holly Humberstone
Suki Waterhouse
๐ From: London, England
Known first as a model and actress, Suki Waterhouse has become a respected indie-pop artist with dreamy vocals and cinematic songwriting. Her music balances vintage influences with modern indie production.
๐ง Sounds Like: Lana Del Rey, Weyes Blood, Hazel English, Clairo
School of Rock
๐ From: Various U.S. cities
School of Rock showcases talented young musicians performing classic and modern rock songs. These students often play with remarkable confidence and musicianship well beyond their age.
๐ง Sounds Like: Covers of classic rock and alternative favorites
Ella Red
๐ From: Chicago, Illinois
Ella Red combines R&B, soul, and hip-hop into smooth, emotionally rich songs. Her vocals and songwriting have made her one of Chicago’s rising stars.
๐ง Sounds Like: Summer Walker, SZA, Jhenรฉ Aiko
IVRI
๐ From: Chicago, Illinois
IVRI is an electronic artist blending pop melodies with modern dance production. Their music creates an atmospheric yet upbeat festival vibe.
๐ง Sounds Like: RรFรS DU SOL, Elderbrook, Bob Moses
Oklou
๐ From: Paris, France
Oklou creates ethereal electronic pop filled with delicate vocals and experimental production. Her music is beautiful, understated, and highly influential in the hyperpop scene.
๐ง Sounds Like: Caroline Polachek, A.G. Cook, FKA twigs, Eartheater
Loathe โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ From: Liverpool, England
Loathe is one of the most innovative heavy bands today, blending metalcore, shoegaze, ambient music, and alternative rock into an immersive sound. Their concerts shift effortlessly between crushing heaviness and breathtaking beauty.
๐ง Sounds Like: Deftones, Sleep Token, Deftones, Deafheaven, Static Dress
Lil Uzi Vert
๐ From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lil Uzi Vert helped redefine modern hip-hop with melodic flows, punk attitude, and genre-bending creativity. Their performances are chaotic, energetic, and crowd-driven.
๐ง Sounds Like: Playboi Carti, Trippie Redd, Yeat
SIDEPIECE
๐ From: Los Angeles, California
SIDEPIECE is the house music duo of Party Favor and Nitti, known for huge dance-floor anthems and infectious grooves. Their sets are nonstop parties.
๐ง Sounds Like: Dom Dolla, Fisher, John Summit, Chris Lake
Paloma Murphy
๐ From: Chicago, Illinois
Paloma Murphy writes indie-pop songs with heartfelt lyrics and warm melodies. Her performances emphasize storytelling and emotional connection.
๐ง Sounds Like: Soccer Mommy, Phoebe Bridgers, Julia Jacklin
Slayyyter
๐ From: St. Louis, Missouri
Slayyyter mixes hyperpop, dance-pop, and Y2K nostalgia into glamorous, high-energy performances. Her music embraces bold production and larger-than-life pop hooks.
๐ง Sounds Like: Charli XCX, Kim Petras, COBRAH
YUNGBLUD
๐ From: Doncaster, England
YUNGBLUD combines punk, pop, hip-hop, and alternative rock into explosive, emotionally charged songs. His concerts are wildly energetic and built around audience participation.
๐ง Sounds Like: Machine Gun Kelly, Bring Me The Horizon, My Chemical Romance
Mustard
๐ From: Los Angeles, California
Mustard is one of hip-hop’s most influential producers, responsible for countless modern rap and R&B hits. His DJ sets feature wall-to-wall chart-topping tracks.
๐ง Sounds Like: DJ Mustard’s collaborators include Kendrick Lamar, YG, Ty Dolla $ign, Ella Mai
Not For Radio
๐ From: Chicago, Illinois
Not For Radio blends alternative rock with modern indie influences and energetic live performances. They represent Chicago’s thriving independent music scene.
๐ง Sounds Like: The Wombats, Catfish and the Bottlemen
Nettspend
๐ From: Richmond, Virginia
Nettspend is one of the most talked-about young rappers of the underground internet scene, known for chaotic production and unconventional flows. He’s become a favorite among Gen Z hip-hop fans.
๐ง Sounds Like: OsamaSon, Ken Carson, Yeat
HorsegiirL
๐ From: Berlin, Germany (fictional equine persona)
HorsegiirL is an electronic artist whose humorous horse-themed identity has become an internet sensation. Behind the joke is a genuinely talented DJ producing excellent techno and house music.
๐ง Sounds Like: DJ Gigola, VTSS, Peggy Gou
Charli XCX โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ From: Cambridge, England
Charli XCX has become one of pop music’s boldest innovators by combining mainstream songwriting with hyperpop, electronic experimentation, and fearless creativity. Following the success of BRAT, she’s one of the hottest artists in the world. Expect one of the weekend’s biggest dance parties.
๐ง Sounds Like: Caroline Polachek, SOPHIE, Kim Petras, Slayyyter
Major Lazer
๐ From: Originally formed in Jamaica/United States
Major Lazer blends EDM, dancehall, reggae, Afrobeats, and pop into enormous festival-ready performances. Their catalog includes some of the biggest dance hits of the last decade.
๐ง Sounds Like: Diplo, DJ Snake, Dillon Francis
Freddie Gibbs
๐ From: Gary, Indiana
Freddie Gibbs is widely regarded as one of the best technical rappers of his generation, equally comfortable over jazz samples or hard-hitting street beats. His collaborations with Madlib and The Alchemist are modern hip-hop classics.
๐ง Sounds Like: Pusha T, Benny the Butcher, Griselda, Joey Bada$$
The Smashing Pumpkins โญโญโญโญโญ
๐ From: Chicago, Illinois
The Smashing Pumpkins are one of alternative rock’s defining bands, blending grunge, dream pop, heavy metal, and psychedelia into a catalog filled with timeless songs. Billy Corgan’s distinctive songwriting and the band’s massive sound have influenced generations of musicians. A hometown Lollapalooza performance should be one of the emotional highlights of the weekend.
๐ง Sounds Like: Hum, Failure, Jane’s Addiction, Silversun Pickups
โญ Friday’s 10 Can’t-Miss Acts
- The Smashing Pumpkinsย โญโญโญโญโญ
- Charli XCXย โญโญโญโญโญ
- High Visย โญโญโญโญโญ
- Loatheย โญโญโญโญโญ
- Freddie Gibbsย โญโญโญโญโ
- I-DLEย โญโญโญโญโ
- YUNGBLUDย โญโญโญโญโ
- Suki Waterhouseย โญโญโญโญโ
- Balu Brigadaย โญโญโญโญโ
- Claire Rosinkranzย โญโญโญโญโ
๐ Friday Hidden Gems
- High Vis
- Loathe
- 54 Ultra
- Love Spells
- Oklou
- Julia Wolf
- Balu Brigada
๐ธ Best Rock Sets
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- High Vis
- Loathe
- YUNGBLUD
๐ Best Dance Sets
- Charli XCX
- Major Lazer
- SIDEPIECE
- Notion
๐ค Best Hip-Hop
- Freddie Gibbs
- Mustard
- Lil Uzi Vert
๐ Best Early-Day Discovery
High Vis. If there’s one band playing earlier in the day that has the potential to become your favorite new discovery, it’s them. Their blend of post-punk melody and hardcore intensity has earned widespread acclaim, and they have a reputation for delivering unforgettable live performances.