The annual music festival Lollapalooza took over downtown Chicago in the Grant Park area over three days starting Aug. 2. Roughly 100,000 people attended each day to the sold-out shows as acts played multiple stages. This is the ninth year for the successful festival showcasing over 130 bands.
Lesbian twins Tegan and Sara; Ed Droste, the gay frontman from Grizzly Bear; and Rostam Batmanglij, the gay keyboardist from Vampire Weekend, represented our community well throughout the day.
Variety was everywhere as dance music fans jumped to Major Lazer. Queens of the Stone Age rocked it and country Courtyard Hounds crooned on the corner, leaving their Dixie Chicks history in the dust. Nine Inch Nails, New Order and The Cure provided retro tunes while Phoenix and The Killers kept things new and fresh.
Fashion included everything from leopard wearing skivvies to sports teams. Minions donned masks and stuffed animals on sticks were waved in the dance pits.
Known as Chow Town, Chef Graham Elliot hand-picked the line-up for side-by-side booths full of food along Columbus Drive. M Burger, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria and BJ's Market & Bakery rounded out some great bites offered to the hungry revelers. One of the crowd's favorites, Kuma's Corner, was no longer there after four years but the steak tacos at The Salsa Truck made up for Kuma's absence.
Grabbing grub was never easier, with Chubby Wieners and Franks 'n' Dawgs at every turn and Original Rainbow Cones for dessert.
There were more than 45 official after- and pre-parties. Some major ones were at the House of Blues, Double Door, Aragon Ballroom, Metro and Hard Rock Hotel.
This was a harmonious weekend that offered something for everyone, even a rainbow T-shirt-wearing unicorn!
Lollapalooza is in the second year of a 10-year agreement with Chicago to be hosted through 2021. Visit www.lollapalooza.com for next year's events, including information about Lolla Brasil and Chile. Text and photos by Jerry Nunn
Additional photo spread here: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/photospreadthumbs.php .