Guide To Lollapalooza 2013
By Mason Johnson
Lollapalooza
Grant Park
August 2nd - 3rd
lollapalooza.com
Tired of summer festivals yet? Too bad! Muster all the energy you can find in your cold, dead heart, Lollapalooza is here and it demands your attention. As one of the biggest festivals of the year, Lollapalooza isn't just something you can ignore (even if you wanted to). With an eclectic mix of bands, big and small, Lollapalooza brings us back year after year. The Cure, Mumford and Sons, Wavves, Matt and Kim and a bunch of bands we're not cool enough to have ever heard of all make Lollapalooza worthwhile.
So let's do it.
Line-Up
Each day offers dozens of bands. Here are a few highlights.
August 2nd:
Nine Inch Nails (Bud Light)
Theophilus London (The Grove)
Hey Marseilles (BMI)
Smith Westerns (Red Bull Sound Select)
New Order (Red Bull Sound Select)
August 3rd:
The Postal Service (Bud Light)
Ellie Goulding (Bud Light)
Matt & Kim (Petrillo)
The Lumineers (Lake Shore)
Local Natives (Red Bull Sound Select)
August 4th:
Vampire Weekend (Bud Light)
The Vaccines (Petrillo)
Cat Power (The Grove)
Major Lazer (Perry's)
Beach House (Lake Shore)
The Cure (Red Bull Sound Select)
Sunday night at midnight, 93XRT will be broadcasting LIVE from the Metro. Why? The Postal Service, that's why. Find out more at 93XRT.com.
Travel
Lollapalooza is at Grant Park in downtown Chicago. The main entrance is at Michigan and Congress. There's also a North Entrance at Columbus and Monroe. The gates are open from 11 am to 10 pm.
Public Transportation
Grant Park's surrounded by a plethora of trains and busses that can get you where you need to be.
Being in the Loop, Grant Park is within walking distance of multiple CTA train stops and bus routes. You can find out more at TransitChicago.com!
If you're coming in from farther away, Metra might be your best bet. Find the nearest Metra stops and schedules at metrarail.com.
Bike!
There are plenty of bike racks surrounding Grant Park. Even cooler is Chicago's new bike-sharing system. It's run by Divvy Bikes, check them out here. It's a great way to rent a bike for those of you who don't own one, or might be out of town.
Driving
You're driving? Seriously? Are you insane?
There's parking directly underneath Grant Park. You can also park at Soldier Field's North Garage. Expect to pay an arm and a leg.
Food
Looking for cheap, tasty places to eat? 93XRT has some suggestions:
For many Lollapalooza goers, it's important to have a good meal in your stomach before all of the um…dancing. Luckily Chow Town offers plenty of sweet, savory, and nutritious grub to keep you going throughout the weekend.
The problem is, with so many delicious options, how do you decide what to eat when? Don't worry; we're here with your official Lollaplooza Food and Tunes Match Up.
Burrito Beach with Beach House
Life's a beach, so you might as well enjoy it! And there's no better way then with burritos and dream pop. The spicy, bold, and fresh flavors of Burrito Beach combined with Victoria Legrand's soft, dream-like vocals makes it easy to close you eyes and imagine sandy shores and salt water. Burrito Beach has five Chicagoland locations, but will conveniently be stationed in Chow Town this weekend. Get your guac' on and head over to Beach House on Sunday night.
Nine Inch Nails with Puffs of Doom
Both members of this combination come off as ominous, yet inviting. Nine Inch Nails are welcomed back to the Lollapalooza stage after a five year hiatus with a new album, Hesitation Marks, under their belts. NIN's music may be tough as nails (hah…) but Chicago's love for them is as soft as Puffs of Doom. These locally made artesian cream puffs are a Chicago food truck favorite and the perfect snack to accompany Reznor's sweet return.
Read the rest of 'Lollaplooza Artist Pairings For Your Trip Down To Chow Town' at 93XRT.com!
That's that! Have fun at Lolla, don't forget the sunscreen and drink lots of water!
If you're dying to have more info on the festival, check out the 93XRT.com articles below:
Twas The Night Before Lollapalooza
What To Do When Lollapalooza Closes Its Gates
Down In Front! A Tall Guy's Guide To Attending Concerts Around Chicago
Six Bands Playing Lollapalooza Influenced By This Year's Headliners, The Cure
So Many Bands, So Little Time: Some Advice on Lolla Scheduling