Raye, Ryan Beatty, Renee Rapp and more: What you missed at Lollapalooza Day 2

chicago, il- august 2nd, 2024

Here are the takeways from Day 2 of Lollapalooza 2024.

Blu DeTiger

In the era of female solo acts, Blu DeTiger is ultimatley leading the pack. Accompanied by her light blue bass, she impressively drew in a huge crowd to the Bacardi Stage for her mid-day set. During her Lollapalooza debut, she shredded through an iconic pop culture mashup, seamlessly blending "Kiss" by Dua Lipa, "I Don't Care" by Icona Pop, and "Ribs" by Lorde. The infectious medley had passersby singing along as they made their way through the festival. DeTiger then transitioned into "Hey You," a song co-written with none other than Chappell Roan, performing it with gratitude as she got the crowd moving. The rest of her set showcased her impressive versatility, from virtuosic guitar solos to dynamic cowbell rhythms. Make no mistake, this is a rising star destined for greatness.

Wilderado

Hailing all the way from Tulsa, Oklahoma, the four-piece group known as Wilderado absolutely brought the house down with their delightfully twangy country-indie sound. From the moment they hit the stage, their impeccable guitar tone and lush, layered vocal harmonies had the crowd utterly captivated. Highlights of their blistering performance included the emotive slow-burner "Take Some Time" and the high-energy barnburner "Surefire," where frontman Max Rainer's gritty, soulful vocals and virtuosic guitar work took center stage.

As their set reached its climactic conclusion, the band members dramatically stepped away from their instruments, embracing in a group hug as they basked in the rapturous applause. Then, in a poignant, intimate moment, Wilderado gathered around a single microphone and acoustic guitar to deliver a stirring rendition of "Rubble to Rubble," the audience singing along passionately to the band's undeniable camaraderie and connection. It was a transcendent, unforgettable performance that left the crowd clamoring for more from this immensely talented heartland rock outfit.

Raye

Dressed to the absolute nines in a stunning full-length gown, Raye strode onto the stage and immediately captivated the crowd with her infectious enthusiasm and sheer gratitude. From the moment she opened her mouth, the British songstress utterly commanded attention, her incredible vocal range and dazzling scat-singing prowess projecting her immense talent out across the field. Raye was a dynamo, her boundless energy and charisma radiating through the speakers and electrifying the audience. Raye is undoubtedly a generational talent, a rising icon who is poised to take the pop world by storm. Her Lollapalooza set was just a tantalizing preview of the greatness to come.

Ryan Beatty

When Ryan Beatty took the stage, the frenetic energy of Lollapalooza momentarily gave way to a blissful, meditative calm. As he sat on a stool in the middle of the stage with his band spread out behind himWith just his emotive voice and an acoustic guitar, Beatty transformed his already-poignant songs into raw, achingly vulnerable ballads. On the melancholic "Bruises Off the Peach" and the bittersweet "Cinnamon Bread," In a final push to the end of the set he performed some of his most beloved summertime anthems, “Cupid” and “Powerslide” and it was clear that the audience formed a surreal connection with his music.

Kevin Abstract

You may know him from what was the iconic rap group Brockhampton, but with the group no longer, Kevin Abstract performed a solo set. The transition and dynamic change from being in a group to performing as a solo act is no small feat, but he seemed to be managing well. He wasted no time asserting is singular artisty. Dressed down in a green striped flannel and a hat, Kevin bonded with the crowd to get them excited for what was to come. He started with “BIG DOG” which was a live debut, the first of many others including “RED LIGHT” and “KOBE”. Of course, he made time to remember his roots with his previous group, and did a string of Brockhampton songs, among them “GUMMY” and “STAR”.

Renee Rapp

Reneé Rapp’s energy transcended the stage throughout her whole performance. She has an immense swagger that just elevates all of her songs. She began the show with an interlude of Talk Too Much. The first chords of this iconic song sent the crowd into raucous cheers and applause. She was truly in her own world on stage, enjoying every moment with electrifying energy. Her interactions with the audience made her show what they are, equal parts song and pure comedy. In the front row, a young fan held up a sign which says “young(est) ex wife” which is a nod to her Instagram account, @youngexwives. Reneé notices and gives her a shout-out mid-show as the camera pans to the fan. Renee was joined on stage by Chicago-native, Chance the Rapper, and together they performed “No Problems”, and the crowd was electric.

As the sun began to set over Grant Park, Renee performed a final rendition of “Snow Angels”, a great closer for the set. One of her most powerful ballads, one where she puts her heart into it. Immense props to production because they ate every step of the way, from the flakes of snow on the lens to the boosted bass and drum at closing.

Read about the highlights of Lollapalooza Day 1 and Days 3 and 4.

Cover Photo by Nathan Zucker for Lollapalooza.

Writing Assisted by Suma Sesay.