‘We’re Celebrating, We’re Singing, We’re Smiling’: Newcomers Rejoice Reaching the Lollapalooza Stage 

Attending Lollapalooza isn’t a simple walk in Grant Park — it’s a full-on marathon. After heavy rains and muddy aftermath nearly cancelled an entire day’s performances, there’s no question that braving the wet, slippery terrain required a strong desire to see one’s favorite acts perform in such conditions. 

Yet an even greater energy was careening around The Loop, not from the sea of concert-goers, but from the performers themselves — especially those new to the Lollapalooza stage. 

“This is my first festival ever, actually,” indie-pop artist Beno said. “Growing up, I think Rolling Loud was the shit — I’m from Miami. It was the shit to go to Rolling Loud, and I never wanted to go until I was playing. And now we’re here, so we made it.”

Since starting to produce music in high school, the singer-songwriter recently graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, an institution he credits with fostering his music career’s success. 

But not even his time spent at a world-renowned music school could prepare him for the overwhelming sensation of performing at the Airbnb stage in the early afternoon July 31.

“I’m blown away. I don’t even know the words to describe it,” Beno said, his set practically relived through the excitement in his eyes. “To be honest with you, now that we’re here, I feel kind of desensitized. I’ve known this shit was going to happen for so long, but it’s been fucking sick. More than I could have asked for.”

While the summer festival circuit starts to come to a close, Beno looks past this year’s wristband-filled warm weather and onto the next — with deep ambition in his gaze. 

“What stage did we watch Sombr at last night?” he asked one of his team members. “Bud Light stage, two years, quote that shit.”

The act of looking up to other musicians wasn’t unique to Beno, but rather a deliberate manifestation of success and a catalyst to better one’s own act. 

“I went to this festival in New Zealand, and I saw this DJ there and I was like, ‘Damn, that looks like the best feeling in the world,’” singer Will Swinton said. “How fun to make something like that and people just enjoy it so much.” 

While Swinton charmed the BMI stage Aug. 2 evening with his hazy take on indie rock, the New Zealander’s musical roots sprouted from 2010s Max Martin pop music and a short stint as a DJ. 

“We’re lucky that didn’t turn out, the world has too many DJs now,” Swinton joked, letting out a slight chuckle. “They didn’t want me as one, trust me.”

Despite failing to become the next Skrillex, Swinton’s early exposure to music production and regular attendance at music festivals no doubt prepared him for his Lollapalooza debut — only his second festival billing in the states.

Perhaps the Kiwi’s greatest asset, which can only be learned through repeated exposure to festivals, is an intrinsic connection with his fans that far surpasses the strums of a guitar or the beating of a drum. 

“I just want them to just be able to sing along,” Swinton said, the corners of his mouth upturning to reveal a slight smirk, revealing only a slight amount of the barrage of emotions he felt performing.

This ethos proved successful. At his performance, the audience wasn’t stagnant, nor were they simply cheering — they were feeding off the raw emotion pouring out of Swinton, singing along with a conviction as if they had written the song themselves, blurring the lines between the pit and the stage. 

A similar symbiotic relationship could be found between the dreamy synth-pop duo New Constellations and their audience — regardless of the crowd’s status as fans. 

“There were clearly people that were there to see us, but tons that were not that were just waiting for more of the headliners or people later in the day,” lead vocalist Harlee Case said. “But even if they didn’t know the words, they were so supportive and giving us their full attention.” 

Case, along with instrumentalist Josh Smith, was tasked with opening the T-Mobile stage the afternoon of Aug. 2 — the biggest stage of their decades-long career. 

The pair originally met as teens in church, where they created their first music together, before ultimately splitting up upon going to college. Fifteen years later, after an out-of-the-blue inquiry for a bandmate, the two reunited in 2015 under the New Constellations name.

“When Harley and I first started making music together, I pretty instantly knew we were onto something special,” Smith said, with a look on his face that could only be replicated after years of good memories.

Despite their long musical drought and a steady stream of singles, it would take over 10 years for the duo to release their debut album, “It Comes In Waves,” earlier this year. New Constellations hasn’t seen this years-long anticipation as a hindrance, but rather a secret weapon, citing their extensive experience within the music industry as well as the maturation of their sound.

Their sheer perseverance catapulted them to Lollapalooza, where they were able to entrance the audience with an eager aura unable to be smoldered by a soft summer drizzle. 

For Case, live shows aren’t just another performance on a festival lineup, but an opportunity for concertgoers to transcend the banality of day-to-day life. 

“Life is really hard and I think coming to shows is a really beautiful escape,” Case said. “Getting to be in an energy where you’re with all these people that are from totally different walks of life, but you’re here in this moment, getting to be a part of this thing where we’re celebrating, we’re singing, we’re smiling.” 

Throughout their set, Case danced around the stage and onto the catwalk, crouching down and singing to those below. Case and Smith weren’t just performing at Lollapalooza, but performing for their fans. 

New Constellations managed to transform one of the festival’s biggest stages into their own celestial universe, one where they hoped everyone watching left with a stronger feeling than when they came.

“We like to say that we like to help aid our fans in feeling hope, but not telling them where to spend that hope,” Case said, sharing a nod with her bandmate. 

As the final hours of the fest began to creep up, after days of overcast, the clouds finally parted, the piercing orange sun contrasting the delicately blue Chicago sky. 

“It’s so fun. Just making art is so fun,” Case remarked with a smile, mirroring the ethereal scene above. 

While it seemed like an inconsequential quip, Case’s words ring true as a thesis for all the up-and-coming acts at the festival. An innate passion for making, performing and experimenting with music, paired with unwavering persistence, is the true key to success for these self-motivated musicians who push themselves to become better and better, day by day.