Lollapalooza 2025 has wrapped up and it left us with many great music memories. While there’s always love for the festival as a whole, we like to give a shout out to those who make their respective year of the festival most memorable.
Check out our picks of The Top 12 artists of Lollapalooza 2025.
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso
Their laid-back vocal delivery is like the syrupy-sweet outer layer of an eclectic set with wide-ranging sounds and eye-catching showmanship, making this duo one of the most interesting acts I’ve seen play Lolla in years. I want to see more of them but they’ve already proved themselves to be stars.
– Oscar
Doechii
The future of Hip Hop is safe now that it’s found its new headlining flag-bearer. I’m salty I didn’t get to shoot photos of this set, but that hardly mattered after seeing the second half of her performance. She’s a bona fide star.
– Oscar
Flipturn
Flipturn performed on Friday at Lolla, kicking off Day 2 with their hit song “August” , a perfect entrance on August 1st. That timing couldn’t have been more fitting. Their set brought massive energy to Tito’s Stage in the afternoon, with the crowd packed to the max.
They played a wide range of tracks, and fans sang along to every single one. The band was especially excited to perform their song “Chicago,” an homage to the city based on their own experiences. It held special meaning for them, a dream come true. This indie rock band from Florida has been giving fans love since Day 1 back in 2015, and they brought it full force at Lolla.
– Jojo
Olivia Rodrigo
She really rocks.
– Oscar
Fuji Kaze
If you haven’t heard of Fuji Kaze, that’s okay I hadn’t either until I saw the huge crowd packed in for his set. Making his festival debut at Lolla on Day 3, Fuji Kaze came all the way from Japan. His music blends J-pop with R&B, and even though I don’t understand Japanese, his performance was absolutely captivating.
From his piano playing to an incredible saxophone outro, he completely drew me in and made me curious about music beyond rock. One standout moment was his performance of “Love Like This,” one of his English songs, which sent the crowd into an uproar. I couldn’t help but put my phone down and let the atmosphere take over.
– Jojo
Joey Valence & Brae
Mixing Rap and Rock with a youthful energy that can get just about anybody to throw their hands in the air and let loose. This duo is on a mission to remind people to dance and enjoy themselves, and this set succeded at that.
– Oscar
The Marías
There’s no doubt left that this is truly one of the best bands out today. María Zardoya’s has an impeccable voice and it’s no surprise how many tears (happy & sad) that I saw running down people’s faces.
– Oscar
Rachel Grae
Rachel Grae’s songs delivered pure teenage angst-pop energy, and fans screamed every lyric at the top of their lungs. Seeing her live for the first time made me realize that the teenager in me is still alive and listening to her music brings that feeling back.
Her vocal range is really insane and I honestly can’t compare her to anyone else. Whenever I’m in a pop mood, I’ll definitely be looping Rachel Grae on my phone for that nostalgic hit of what it felt like to be a teenager again.
– Jojo
Ratboys
Ratboys gave one hell of a performance at the Bud Light Stage on Day 1 of Lolla. Not only are they a local legend, making music for almost a decade, but playing Lolla for the first time was a major milestone for them. Everyone enjoyed their set sitting alongside friends, families with their kids, or solo soaking in the indie vibes from Ratboys.
Their iconic song, “I Go Out at Night,” closed their set. Julia Steiner, the band’s lead vocalist, told fans, “This song is dedicated to Chicago and the energy of just ‘touching grass’” a modern way of describing the feeling of being alive. Julia’s ethereal vocals added a unique blend to their indie rock sound, with a subtle chill country twist. Who doesn’t love listening to indie rock on a day with perfect weather, it just felt meant to be.
Ravyn Lenae
The lovely Ravyn Lenae made a major debut at Lolla as it was her first festival performance, and being from Chicago made it all the more special. Her album Bird’s Eye has been gaining recognition, especially for the hit song “Love Me Not,” which really pulls at the heartstrings.
Her dreamy vocals fuse R&B with a touch of psychedelia, creating a sound that reminds me of the early 2000s. Though she’s no longer considered an underground artist, her performance at Lolla proves that her music deserves the spotlight and should never be overlooked.
– Jojo
Tyler, the Creator
He’s on a legendary run musically and this stop at Lolla was further proof of his stronghold on his fans.
– Oscar
Yana
Yana’s performance at the BMI Stage took my breath away with her unique blend of folk-pop. This was her first festival performance of the year at Lolla. I noticed several fans wearing t-shirts with the word “Yanapalooza,” bedazzled and hyping her up and showing how proud they were of how far she’s come.
She performed her latest single, “Never Notice,” which had just been released on July 30 one day before her performance. Yana’s gratitude didn’t go unnoticed; she was clearly moved and thankful for the opportunity. I hadn’t heard of her before, but I decided to check out her set without knowing any of her music. Now, I’m a fan and will definitely keep her on my radar when she returns to Chicago.
– Jojo
