From Machine Gun Kelly’s Surprise Set to Journey, Here Are the Most Memorable Lollapalooza Moments - Rolling Stone

Despite all the drama surrounding the 2021 festival, it was packed with life-affirming live moments.

Lollapalooza 2021 was packed with about as much drama as one might expect from a massive festival held during a pandemic.

Chicago rapper Vic Mensa joined him to perform “Oh No!!!” and later, Jessie Reyez and Grandson performed “Rain,” a song he penned for the upcoming The Suicide Squad film.

And on his most recent return to Lollapalooza, he ascended to headliner on the main stage.

Machine Gun Kelly performs a surprise set on the Bud Light Seltzer Sessions stage on day three of the Lollapalooza Music Festival on Saturday, July 31, 2021, at Grant Park in Chicago.

“My bad, I fucked up,” Roddy Ricch laughed during “Down Below.” The fans who flooded his stage on Friday seemed to forgive him.

After all, things picked up from there with an assist from Chicago rapper Polo G, who had just performed on the other side of Grant Park, to deliver Polo G’s “Fame & Riches,” and later Roddy linked up with Mustard for “High Fashion.” Mustard also stuck around for “Late at Night” and Roddy Rich’s collab with the late Nipsey Hussle, “Racks in the Middle.” He shouted out Nipsey and also the late Pop Smoke when he performed their “The Woo.” One song he dropped without addressing the collaborator was megahit “Rockstar” with DaBaby, who was set to perform on Sunday before he was dropped by the festival mere hours before the gates opened for the final day.

G Herbo performs at Lollapalooza in Chicago.

G Herbo may have been a pinch-hitter added last-minute to the official festival lineup to step in for Young Thug, who was bumped up to a headlining slot in place of DaBaby on Sunday, but adoring fans knew he was where he belonged.

He had already performed with Miley Cyrus on Thursday, and he previously played the festival in 2018.

“We need to normalize, destigmatize and talk about mental health,” he said, before dropping “PTSD,” a song that features late Chicago rapper Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert, and Chance the Rapper.

Foo Fighters are veterans of Lollapalooza and a quintessential festival band.

For the 2021 edition, they didn’t venture far from the material they’ve performed at other recent sets and featured their greatest hits — “The Pretender,” “Learn to Fly,” and “My Hero” among them — and that might’ve been exactly what festivalgoers needed.

During the early hours of Lollapalooza’s first day back, he was quick to make fans — especially those with Mexican flags draped around their shoulders — swoon with his effortless guitar work and old-spirited, heart-tugging voice.

Flo Milli performs at Lollapalooza in Chicago.

2021 Lollapalooza, Billy Idol, direct, Ed Maverick, Flo Milli, Foo Fighters, G Herbo, Grandson, Hip-Hop, Journey, Kim Petras, live music, Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Thee Stallion, Miley Cyrus, Mustard, Polo G, Roddy Ricch, the Creator, Tyler