Lollapalooza Continues With Rain, Schedule Changes And Headliners Charli XCX, Smashing Pumpkins

DOWNTOWN — Local performers dominated the second day of Lollapalooza from beginning to end, with the Chicago Made showcase kicking the day off at the Tito’s Stage while the sun set with the Windy-city born Smashing Pumpkins.

Rain continued on and off throughout the day, with many opting for ponchos and rain boots in anticipation of the worsening weather.

Unpredictable weather also brought last minute schedule changes that pushed back Swedish singer Zara Larsson’s set by almost two hours, and nixed rapper Lil Uzi Vert’s set all together. Suki Waterhouse took to the stage twenty minutes early, rearranging an entire afternoon of performances on the south end of the festival.

“Lolla, I’m obsessed with you,” Waterhouse said to the crowd. “I’m so inspired by your energy.”

The massive crowd remained at the T-Mobile stage awaiting headliner Charli xcx, and only continued to grow before the club-pop star’s 8:40 p.m. set. Some fans avoided crowds and ticket prices by trying to catch a glimpse of the performer’s anticipated set from along Lake Michigan.

Chicago Made

Early afternoon clouds and rain didn’t stop the Chicago Made performance, presented by DCASE, and the many fans who got to Grant Park early to catch performers like Englewood-native Lil M.U, who energized the crowd with songs like “Top Of Cars,” complete with dancers showing off their Chicago footwork skills.

Other local performers included rock-and-roll band Free Joel, rapper Corr Kendricks, hip-hop artist Queen Key, R&B singer Sherrionn and DJs Peter CottonTale and Tony “Chicago” Russell.

The Chicago group of performers each played a couple of songs before joining on stage for a minutes-long dance circle for the ultimate display of the Windy City’s music scene.

A Chicago-grown act also dominated a headlining slot as the Smashing Pumpkins made their first Lollapalooza appearance since 1994 at the Bud Light stage, opening with “1979.” The Pumpkins then surprised the crowd with an appearance by popstar Olivia Rodrigo to perform the band’s classic “Thirty-Three.”

Freddie Gibbs, the rapper hailing from Gary, closed out the night at the Airbnb stage after a bout of quick and heavy rain performing bars from his new album “You Only Die 1nce.”

Electropop star Slayyyter saw a massive and growing crowd for her afternoon set at the Bud Light stage. The up-and-coming performer was originally slated to perform at the smaller Airbnb stage, but was ultimately moved to a main stage in anticipation of a large audience.

Festivalgoers secured barricade spots for the artist upwards of three hours before Slayyyter and her band came on stage.

The artist, born Catherine Grace Garner, looked visibly shocked at the size of the crowd as she came on stage for a 2:45 p.m. set. Fans were immediately dancing and jumping along to hits like “CRANK” and the singer debuted new single “brand new chanel$” while sporting a bedazzled trucker hat reading “Slayyyterpalooza.”

Electropop and other genres of electronic music were on display at the signature Perry’s stage, the festival’s dedicated destination for all things EDM.

The nightclub-like stage saw a change in pace when rapper Lil Uzi Vert, whose solo performance was canceled due to travel delays, surprised fans during Perry’s headliner Major Lazer’s set.

Festivalgoers sprinted south through Grant Park as word spread that Uzi was on their way after all to perform songs like “Just Wanna Rock” as the Philadelphia native rapper celebrated their 31st birthday.

The Lollapalooza Fashion Show

While some come to Lollapalooza solely for the live music, others consider the four-day music festival to be nothing short of the ultimate fashion show and a chance to sport elevated, festival-inspired takes on this summer’s biggest trends.

Chunky boots were the footwear of choice. Festivalgoers sported knee-high motoboots, Doc Martens, classic cowboy boots or even furry calf-length boots — a nod to early 2000s scene style, which has been making a major comeback during this summer’s nostalgia for the music, fashion and vibes of 2016.

Even though it’s often advised to wear comfortable shoes to the music festival that stretches almost two miles around Grant Park, many sacrifice comfort for style.

Festivalgoers like Nikki Aschanta and Hannah Chu from Queens, like many on Friday, wore outfits and accessories inspired by Swedish singer Zara Larsson whose style often consists of tropical colors, floral accents, dolphin motifs and of course, lots of glitter and sparkles.

“Zara, of course,” Chu said when asked what inspired her outfit — which consisted of intricate floral makeup with jewels, a large headpiece and a charm belt to top it all off.

Larsson wasn’t the only one inspiring fashion choices on Friday, with hundreds of festivalgoers opting for the signature neon green associated with headliner Charli XCX’s album “Brat,” or sporting union jack merch in reference to the singer’s Essex roots.

Flowy, festival-style looks were also popular as Chicago-based Lollapalooza channeled Coachella vibes with an inaugural ferris wheel by the North entrance. Sheer shrugs and crochet, sequined ponchos were a popular choice, often paired with a bikini top underneath and small shorts.

But classic Lolla uniforms were still spotted in droves, like basketball jerseys and glitter, everywhere.

‘Summer Isn’t Over Yet’

Despite the schedule changes that delayed Zara Larsson’s set, fans stuck it out to see the popstar perform hits like “Lush Life” all complete with her signature summer aesthetic. The artist also opted for knee high boots and mini shorts, complete with a sunset-colored crop top.

Larsson reminded festivalgoers that “summer isn’t over yet,” a lyric from one of her hit single “Midnight Sun” which she performed — twice. The artist also brought out a local fan named London to join Larsson in her signature “Lush Life” dance.

Larsson, who spent the performance taking multiple dance breaks, snapping a selfie with a fan and more, remarked that the crowd stretching across the whole North lawn of Grant Park was the largest U.S. crowd she had ever performed for.

While dealing with unpredictable weather, festivalgoers continued to explore the different perks a ticket to Lollapalooza includes, whether it was scoring a pick-me-up from Chicago-based coffee company Dark Matter or catching a fresh hotdog from White Sox mascot Southpaw as he threw them to fans from a Vienna beef cart.

Dozens Of Fans Watched Charli XCX Through The Outside Fence

With the Sears Tower glowing neon green in honor of Charli xcx, the star performed for a crowd whose cheers could be heard from the T-Mobile stage down to Jackson Drive as Lollapalooza closed out its second night in Grant Park.

But across the whizzing traffic of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, dozens of loyal fans and last-minute spectators alike gathered and danced— all stopping to gawk through the chainlink fence at the screens from the T-Mobile stage.

A group of gal pals began to do the “Apple” dance, singing alongside the Lakefront Trail as the music blared clearly.

The quintet of friends had two-day tickets for the weekend, but could not miss their favorite artist as she headlined.

“To be out here and see some music, even if we’re not actually in the concert, I feel like still means just as much to me,” Izzi said among her friends.

“This is just Chicago. This is the essence of everything that Chicago lives and breathes — from the skylines, Lake Michigan, the people,” Sydney, visiting from New York, said Friday night.

“I think this is more community in Chicago than … what you would find in the middle of the crowd.”

Lollapalooza continues in Grant Park through Sunday. Block Club will post dispatches daily.

See more photos from day two of Lollapalooza: