Various Augustana students quickly scooped up tickets for this summer’s Lollapalooza music festival before it sold out just minutes after they went on sale.
The festival, scheduled from July 31 to Aug. 2 in Chicago’s historical Grant Park, boasts a lineup featuring performances from over a hundred bands including headliners Paul McCartney and Metallica. Many current chart-toppers such as Sam Smith, Florence and the Machine and Of Monsters and Men are also set to perform.
“Each year of Lollapalooza has something to bring to the table,” said freshman Sierra Scanlan, who frequently attends the festivals. “It just depends on what type of taste of music you’re particularly interested in.”
According to the festival’s website, it is not just a music festival but a cultural experience.
Scanlan added that because the festival is able to book so many diverse performers that it appeals to many different music lovers.
“The fact that it is so big brings in a wide range of people so it’s a way to bond with complete strangers over the love for the music,” said Scanlan. “My favorite part of (Lollapalooza) is being around a bunch of strangers who love the music just as much as you do.”
With headliners like Paul McCartney and Metallica, this year’s lineup will appeal to an older audience that Lollapalooza does not usually attract, said senior Robert McNeil.
“This could bring an older crowd for the nostalgia factor as they may have listened to these artists growing up,” he said, having attended Lollapalooza the last four years.
Tickets have become increasingly hard to buy, as they seem to sell at faster rates from year to year.
“When I went in 2011, I was able to get a three-day pass a couple months or so after tickets went on sale,” said McNeil. “Now you’d have to have multiple tabs, a phone, laptop and desktop open all at once…The early bird passes sell out in less than five minutes or so and regular passes aren’t much better. It’s insane.”
Scanlan admitted with much appreciation that one of her professors let her arrive late to class in order to successfully purchase tickets.
Going the extra mile for Lollapalooza tickets does pay off in the end though, she said.
“I think people go for the experience…it’s such a fun, vibrant environment too,” said McNeil. “It’s hard not to have a good time when there’s just good vibes around you all the time.”