Underrated acts you need to add to your Lollapalooza itinerary
Lollapalooza, Chicago’s biggest music festival of the summer showcases the biggest names in music every year. This year takes the cake with headliners Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Odesza, Lana Del Rey, Karol G, the 1975, and Tomorrow x Together. The four day festival has never been something that you want to miss, but this year especially there are some artists listed in the fine print of the lineup that can be so easy to overlook when compared to household names, but should be valued the same.
The Linda Linda’s: The Linda Linda’s have been destined for greatness since they got their start in 2018, and while some would define their success as a product of nepotism, others acknowledge that that label would undermine their completely deserved success. Not only are the Linda Linda’s mostly composed of family members but they are also teens and pre-teens with the drummer of the group being just 12 years old. They take all of their teenage rage and form it into an energetic and insightful power punk sound. They aren’t new to live or festival performances and their experience makes for an iconic performance.
Noah Kahan has become a household name in the last two years, with his song “Stick Season” being one of the most popular indie-folk singles of 2022, followed by an album of the same name. Kahan’s niche New England perspective on his hometown transcended ZIP codes, leading his performances to be more relatable than expected, and can be named as the sole reason for the development of his large cult following. His stripped back performance shows there is more power in minimalism, and boosts his set list up to “can’t miss” status. Considering he’s been a breakthrough artist over the last 18 months, he’s redefining folk music and can only get bigger.
Sarah Kinsley has just released her latest EP “Ascension”, a dramatic take on love, loss and the universal experiences of childhood. Kingsleys ability to pack a message like that into a 16 minute project is wildly impressive, and while stage times haven’t been announced yet, Kingsley’s setlist deserves more stage time and a higher spot on the lineup poster. Her sound is an alternative interpretation derived from her time spent as a youth in the classical music scene, making for an interesting mix of electronics and string instruments.
An up and coming 7-piece group from Chicago, Ax and the Hatchetman are lofi- and high energy at the same time. Rounding out their nearly three month “Where TF Did I Park The Van?” tour at Lollapalooza, their shows showcase their high quality performance ability. Their highlights can be seen in their viral Tik Tok videos, leading them to gain a steadily growing monthly stream count. Because of the sheer number of guitars the group has, their sound is perfectly layered in harmonies, creating an invigorating sound, and an underrated
Arcy Drive via Instagram
Out of New York, Arcy Drive is a group with something to prove. Originally gaining a fair amount of listeners after a viral Tik Tok, the group stayed in the “summer sound” radar after releasing their 2022 eight track album, Attic Sessions, which not surprisingly was produced and recorded in an attic. Their self proclaimed “attic rock” is authentic, raw and something no one should want to skip out on
Cydeways is an alternative band out of Santa Barbara, CA. Fronted by Dustin Parks, Cydeways also features Casey Kernohan, Daniel Kearney, Trevor Buckingham (producer/engineer) & Dana Shoults (co-producer). The group initially formed in Boston, MA. before Parks moved the project out west to California. Their self-titled album is a sonic blend of reggae, pop-punk, hip hop, and alternative rock, making their performances blend of all types of stylistic choices, from calm to upbeat, and their discography is hidden gem that more of the Lollapalooza crowd needs to discover.
Don’t miss these acts! Lollapalooza is happening August 3rd-6th, 2023. Discover the rest of the lineup, stay updated on set times and buy your tickets, available now at Lollapalooza.com
