The Festival Good News Keeps Coming! Lollapalooza Just Announced They'll Be At Full Capacity, Riot Fest Has A Monster Lineup, Including NIN Headlining, And Lyrical Lemonade's Summer Smash Is Stacked

Block Club - Lollapalooza is returning to Grant Park this summer — at full capacity.

The fest will be held July 29-Aug. 1 at Grant Park, according to a Mayor’s Office news release. It typically attracts about 100,000 people per day, leading to its cancellation last year as gathering has proven dangerous during the coronavirus pandemic.

This year, attendees will have to be fully vaccinated or provide a negative COVID-19 test result to get in. The result must be obtained within 24 hours of going to Lolla each day.

Organizers previously said they wanted to return this summer — but with a limited capacity to ensure attendees’ safety.

“Here in Chicago, the word ‘Lollapalooza’ has always been synonymous with summer, great music and four days of unforgettable fun – which made last year’s decision to postpone it all the more difficult,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a news release. “Now, less than a year later and armed with a vaccine that is safe, effective and widely available, we are able to bring back one of our city’s most iconic summer music festivals.”

Mayor Lightfoot dropped another one of her zany videos with her sidekick this morning that also featured Perry Ferrell to announce the news-

Guys I'm trying to "follow the science" here. I really am. But I guess I'm just an idiot because nothing makes sense to me anymore.

Lollapalooza will "be at full capacity" 9 weeks from now. "Science" has predicted it will be completely safe to allow 400,000 people to party but isn't sure whether we should all be wearing masks or not today, May 18th? When diners enter a restaurant, even one with a patio, and big garage doors that open up, they're required to wear a mask. And can't be in groups larger than 6 people. And can only take their mask off to eat or drink. When they're not eating or drinking or need to get up their mask has to go back on. 

But we can go overdose on molly and rage out to Louis The Child in 90 degrees sweating all over each other, and sharing water bottles, and smuggled in booze?

Whatever, not going to be a pessimist and focus on the negative. As I wrote last week, this summer is a full go, with Lolla leading the way. I guess today's news was just a formality that they had to "officially announce"?

But today's news wasn't the only positive announcement we've received since the last update. No, we got way more.

Riot Fest loaded the fuck up this year, and in spite of NIN declaring the only shows they would be playing this year would be in Cleveland during their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction weekend, they are heading this bitch. Check this lineup out.

I am disturbingly excited to see My Chemical Romance in person for the first time in my life. If you don't fuck with Black Parade kindly see yourself out.

We've also got another burner in Chicago August 20-22nd, Lyrical Lemonade's Summer Smash Festival which popped up a few years ago and gained a TON of steam. Look at this lineup

We've also got the Pitchfork Fest returning in September

AND Northcoast in September which begs the question, is Chicago the center of the music universe in 2021 now?

p.s. - get ready