Artists from across the States and seas share their paths to Grant Park.
Artists from across the States and seas share their paths to Grant Park.
Lollapalooza’s diverse and loaded lineup makes the festival notorious as many music fans’ dream. The festival represents a full-circle moment not only for attendees, but for the biggest music fans of all — the artists.
For many smaller artists, the festival represents a career turning point, taking them from playing as underground undercards to some of the biggest, most well-equipped stages in the country in front of what may well be the biggest crowds they’ve seen. The Phoenix spoke with some of these Lollapalooza first-timers to get their perspectives on making their Lolla debuts.
For Amble, an Irish trio formed in 2022, their midday Lollapalooza card was an “amazing” continuation of their whirlwind success story, according to lead singer Robbie Cunningham. With only four EPs and one album, the band has toured with live legends Hozier and Ed Sheeran, and is currently undertaking their own world tour. But Lollapalooza, they said, is different.
“Lollapalooza is a festival that, no matter where you go in the world, everyone knows it,” Cunningham said. “It’s been on our radar all year, and we’ve been counting down the weeks and months until we’ve come to Lolla and play, so we’re so excited.”
Made up of two former teachers and a data scientist, the band frequently returns to the phrase “throw the trout out to catch the salmon,” which Cunningham’s father told him in response to the news of him quitting his job.
“I feel like the salmon is slipping in and out the whole time,” guitarist Oisín McCaffrey said. “The goalpost keeps moving. It’s like you’re aiming for something that suddenly becomes this bigger thing.”
“We have got the salmon that we set out, because we never imagined our coming to Chicago and all of this,” Cunningham added. “When we met each other three years ago, [the salmon] was playing Irish gigs and to get our music out. So definitely it’s a wild chase.”
Although their initial goal was to play in bars, they said their success was so instant they ironically went straight to music venues and ticketed events.
“It took a hell of a lot of practice,” Cunningham said. “I never played on stage until I met these lads. I never sang on a microphone even. So I used to be, like, throwing up before every show. But we practiced an awful lot in the last few years. We played probably more shows than 90% of bands out there. Practice makes perfect. We’re getting there, we’re match fit.”
Charleston indie-rockers Easy Honey also shared that Lollapalooza felt like a new league to be playing in.
“It’s really sweet to work with such pros,” co-frontman Selby Austin said. “It was great, the team at the Tito’s stage was great. It’s like going from middle school sports to pro sports.”
Being active in the indie band scene since forming the band in college, the band said Lollapalooza’s central location and international importance felt like a reunion.
“Having different friends and bands who’ve seen us all over the country, it’s just super special,” drummer Charlie Holt said. “It’s almost like you’re gathering friends around the country and meeting up for a fun party or something.”
For other bands getting their start in college circuits, the band shared advice on making the transition from fraternity basement to festival stage.
“Find a good drummer,” Holt started.
“Have a fun time, because the environment is so welcoming and encouraging of your performance, even if it’s terrible,” co-frontman Darby McGlone added. “It’s your friends in the audience. So it’s a great place to get practice.”
“And every time you think about wasting time drinking a bunch of beer, you should probably be practicing,” bassist Webster Austin finished.
LA-based multi-instrumentalist Marlon Funaki said his Airbnb stage set was “a dream come true.”
Coming from being a self-supporting street busker to the Chicago festival six years after his debut, the self-described “studio artist” reflected on his journey across the country.
“It’s always been a bucket list festival,” Funaki said. “So walking out on that stage, knowing that we were playing a Lollapalooza festival set, and to see people there showing up, was a miraculous feeling.”
Funaki, who describes himself as most at home in the studio, said trusting the “well-oiled machine” of Lollapalooza staff helped him transition into the festival’s bigger environment.
“How quickly and efficiently things work here blew my expectations,” Funaki said. “This is where they excel. I feel like I excel in the studio, so I kind of let it go in a sense of, I’m going to trust the people that work here. I’m gonna trust my band, I’m gonna trust our practicing.”
With Lolla’s well-oiled machine behind him, Funaki said despite his initial nerves, realizing people were there to see and hear his music comforted him, with closing song “Red Hearts” marking the high point of his performance.
Being an older song of his, Funaki said it was “really cool” to see the song’s journey, reflecting his own.
“I recorded it in a small town in California, and now people are screaming at the top of their lungs in Chicago, at Lolla,” Funaki said.
Hoping to come back again, Funaki had a clear vision for his dream Lollapalooza set.
“7 p.m. Sunset. Slightly cool. Mainstage. Skyline,” Funaki said. “I see it. It’s gonna happen.”
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